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DALTON HIGHWAY: Great Work Road of the Arctic
Livengood to Deadhorse
Distance: 414 miles (666 kilometers)
A remote and challenging road, the Dalton Highway connects Fairbanks to Deadhorse, the support center for the North Slope oil fields a few miles from the Arctic Ocean. Named for James William Dalton, a North Slope engineer, the Dalton was originally developed as a haul road connecting the Yukon River and Prudhoe Bay during construction of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline.
Highlights:
- Watch for signs of active gold mining near Livengood!
- At first sight of the Yukon River, look for the Trans-Alaskan Pipeline crossing the Yukon and Pump station No. 6. The Dalton is the only highway in Alaska that crosses this great river.
- Seize a unique photo opportunity at the Arctic Circle BLM Wayside in front of the sign displaying N 66° 33' W 150º 48', or in layman's terms, the first place where the sun doesn't set on summer solstice and doesn't rise on the winter solstice! Take five in "the farthest North saloon in North America" in Coldfoot.
- North of Wiseman, you will pass by Gates of the Arctic National Par to the west and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to the east.
- Take advantage of the turnout at the summit of Atigun Pass. This Brooks Range pass is the highest pass in Alaska, at 4800 feet (1463 meters)!
- Look for Dall sheep on Slope Mountain, gateway to the treeless coastal plain.
Visit the BLM Dalton Highway website at http://www.blm.gov/ak/st/en/prog/recreation/dalton_hwy.html for more information.
DENALI HIGHWAY: Old Road to the Park
Although it was once the original travel rout to Denali National Park, the Denali Highway is often overlooked by many tourists. Yet this highway rewards the traveler with some spare time with outstanding scenery, good chances to view wildlife, and best of all, glimpses of Alaska as it used to be - wilderness in all directions!
Highlights:
- Camp on a BLM managed campsite - they fill on a first-come, first-serve basis, so come early!
- Some spectacular camping can be discovered along the route, so bring some hiking shoes and don't forget your topographic maps.
- Lake trout and grayling are found in many lakes and streams, making for good fishing as well! Consult an Alaska Fish and Game office for more info.
- Keep an eye out for scenic views of the Alaska Range, boreal vegetation, glacial features, and wildlife like caribou, moose, fox, ptarmigan, trumpeter swan, and other waterfowl
Visit the BLM Denali Website at http://www.blm.gov/ak/st/en/prog/recreation/denali_highway.html for more information.
GLENN HIGHWAY - National Scenic Byway: Formed by Fire & Ice
Anchorage to little Nelchina River
Distance: 139 miles (224 kilometers)
The Glenn Highway National Scenic Byway follows a path carved by ancient glaciers. Following the braided Matanuska River for over half of its length, this Byway winds through the 139 miles of the most impressive terrain on earth!
Highlights
- Start your journey in downtown Anchorage, where you see the Chugach Mountains that parallel the Byway along its entire route!
- Visit the Alaska Native Heritage Center off Muldoon Road, which provides the visitor a glimpse at Alaska's five major Native groups.
- Access the 500,000 acre Chugach State Park and its many trails and attractions from Eagle River/Chugiak!
- Enter historic Palmer and its many colony farms dating back to FDR's 1935 Depression era farming experiment! Palmer comes alive in late August with the annual State Fair.
- You enter the glacier-carved Matanuska River Canyon as you leave Palmer. The historic coal mining community of Sutton provies a look at early 1900's Alaska.
- Drop in at one of the many lodges that dot the Byway. You will soon see the 18,000-year-old Matanuska Glacier!
- At Eureka Summit, see for of Alaska's major mountain ranges: the Alaska Range, the Chugach Mountains, the Talkeetna Mounains, and the Wrangell Mountains.
Visit http://www.glennhighway.org/ for more information.
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HAINES HIGHWAY: Bald Eagle Byway
Alaska Marine Highway Terminal to the US/Canada Border
Distance: 44 miles (71 kilometers)
This Byway is encompassed by the lush coastal rain forest as it makes its way up the St. Elias Mountains and into Canada, where the forest gives way to alpine tundra and the Haines Highway connects with the Alaska Highway at Haines Junction.
Highlights:
- In Haines, take a walking tour of Fort William H. Seward.
- Take advantage of a great photo opportunity at the Welcome Totems in Haines!
- Established in 1982, the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve is a seasonal home to 3000 bald eagles! The eagles are attracted by fall and winter runs of salmon in the Chilkat River. It is common to view hundreds of thes regal birds roosting in the cottonwoods along the Haines Highway between October and January.
- Watch for fish wheels being used on the Chilkat River in June.
- To the west is Canada's Tatshenshini-Alsek Park, home to grizzlies, Dall sheep, rare glacier bears and birds. many Haines operators offer adventures in this park, including hiking, fishing, and river rafting.
Visit the Haines Highway Website http://www.haines.ak.us/hainesweb/abouthns/hnshighway.php for more information!
PARKS HIGHWAY: Gateway to Denali
Denali State Park border to Healy
Distance: 116 miles (187 kilometers)
Completed in 1971, the parks highway shares some of Alaska's most memorable and spectacular scenery with travelers. Access to Denali National Park and Preserve is via the Parks Highway. Major side road include the Denali Highway and the Denali Park Road.
Highlights:
- Hike the 48 miles (77 kilometers) of trails in Denali State Park.
- Just past scenic Byers Lake, pause at the Alaska Veterans Memorial for a few moments.
- Locate a photographer's dream photo at teh south end of Hurricane Gulch Bridge, and don't forget to pick some berries along the way!
- For the adventurous, hike the 27-mile Little Coal Creek Trail!
- Imagine summiting the majestic Mount McKinley (at 20,320 feet - 6194 meters) while you look at the mountain at Broad pass, a 2400 foot (732 meter) pass featuring divers growth and a unique perspective! There's also an incredible photo opportunity of the Alaska Range here.
- Stop at the entrance to Denali National Park, home to Mount McKinley, North America's tallest peak.
- Whitewater rafting is popular in the turbulent Nenana River.
- Stop in Healy and learn more about Alaska's largest coal-mining operation!
Visit the Dot website on the Parks Highway at http://www.dot.state.ak.us/stwdplng/scenic/byways-parks.shtml for more information.
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RICHARDSON HIGHWAY: North Segment
Fairbanks to Ft. Greely
Distance: 101 miles (163 kilometers)
The Northern Richardson Highway route is part of Alaska's oldest transportation corridor and coincides with the historic trail systems that allowed the Native groups, such as the Ahtna, Chugach, Tlingit, and Eyak to conduct trade for thousands of years. General Wilds Preston Richarson upgraded the corridor to a wagon road in 1910 after the Fairbanks gold strike. It was made suitable for automobiles in the 1920's and finally paved in 1957.
Highlights:
- Visit the Santa Claus House in North-Pole, home of a 42-foot-tall, 900 pound Santa Claus dating back to the early 1960s. The family-run gift shop offers Christmas year-round with holiday memorabilia from last century.
- Visit the Birch Lake State Recreation Area for excellent fishing, in season, for rainbow trout, king salmon, grayling, and arctic char.
- Take a step back in time when you visit the big Delta State Historical Park! The park features turn-of-the-century including the beautifully restored Rika's Roadhouse, the military telegraph station, and original highway work camps.
Visit the DOT website on the Richardson Highway at http://www.dot.state.ak.us/stwdplng/scenic/byways-richardsonnorth.shtml fore this segment of the Richardson Highway.
RICHARDSON HIGHWAY: South Segment
Valdez to Glennallen
Distance: 115 miles (185 kilometers)
The southern Richardson Highway passes through the Thompson Pass and the scenic Chugach Mountains from Valdez to Glennallen. The Chugach Mountains, which receive 600-900 inches of fresh snow each year, provide for world-class ice climbing and extreme skiing opportunities. Summer activities available include unforgettable fishing, hiking, biking, glacier trekking, and rappelling opportunities.
Highlights:
- The Chugach Mountains, surrounding Valdez, provide world-class ice climbing and extreme skiing opportunities!
- Worthington Glacier is the most visited stop on the highway and is a great place to learn more about these rivers of ice.
- At the visitor's center, near copper Center, plan an adventure to America's largest national park, Wrangell-St. Elias. The park lies to the east of the Richardson and was designated a World Heritage Site in
1979.
Visit the http://www.dot.state.ak.us.stwdplng/scenic/byways-richarsonsouth.shtml fore this segment of the Richardson Highway.
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SEWARD HIGHWAY: An All-American Road
Anchorage to Seward
Distance: 127 miles (204 kilometers)
Connecting Anchorage to Seward, the Seward Highway is Alaska's first All-American Road and one of the most scenic drives in the US. The first 50 miles (80 kilometers) skirts the base of the Chugach Mountains and the shores of Turnagain Arm, where it's common to see beluga whales, Dall's sheep, waterfalls, and eagles. The remainder of the drive winds through the mountains of the Chugach National Forest, offering dramatic views of wild Alaska.
Highlights:
- Learn about moose eating habits, the boreal forest, and the Alaska Railroad at Potter Marsh Wildlife Viewpoint
- Look for bore tides and note the effects of the 1964 Good Friday 9.2 earthquake along the road. Hundreds of spruce trees were killed when the ground dropped into the salt water.
- Check out the picturesque town of Girdwood or pan for gold at Crow Creek Mine.
- Do ice worms really exist? Find out at the Chugach National Forest Begich-Boggs Visitor Center!
- Hike a portion of the 23 mile (37 kilometer) Johnson Pass Trail, which follows the path of the Iditarod Trail.
- Drive to the historic mining town of Hope, a beautiful 18 mile (29 kilometer) side trip from Canyon Creek Bridge.
- Summit Lake gives you a taste of alpine Alaska where swans rest both on their spring and fall migrations!
- Moose Pass and Trail Lake offer recreation and flight-seeing opportunities. Visit the hatchery at Trail Lake.
- Don't miss a bit of the port town of Seward - go fishing, participate in the 4th of July Mount Marathon Run festivities, take a walking tour, and visit the Alaska Sea Life Center!
Visit the DOT Seward Highway website at http://www.dot.state.ak.us/stwdplng/scenic/byways-seward.shtml for more information.
STEESE HIGHWAY: Nature's Ultimate Road Trip
Fox to Circle
Distance: 151 miles
The Steese Highway carries travelers north from Fairbanks to within 50 miles of the Arctic Circle. Unforgettable sights, vistas, and natural wonders along the route include the midnight sun at summer solstice, the Chatanika River and Circle Hot Springs! The White Mountains National Recreational Area and Birch Creek National Wild and Scenic River are accessible from the Steese.
Highlights:
- Tour the 5-deck, 250 foot (76 meter) long Gold Dredge Number 8 at the National Historyic Site where more than 75 million ounces of gold were produced!
- Take in the midnight sun at summer solstice (June 21) at Eagle Summit. View pre-glacial Alaskan mammal remains found in Mammoth Creek at one of the most active mining districts in the state. The museum also offers a history of mining in the area.
- Take a side trip to Circle Hot Springs for a dip!
- Circle City (now just Circle) was the largest cettlement on the Yukon River before the Klondike Gold rush. Miners thought the town was on the Arctic Circle, but it is actually about 50 miles south of that mark.
Visit the DOT Steese Highways at http://www.dot.state.ak.us/stwdplng/scenic/byways-steese.shtml for more information.
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STERLING HIGHWAY - North Segment: Angler's Paradise
From the Seward Highway All-American Road, follow the Sterling Highway as it plays tag with the Kenai River. The north section of the Sterling Highway affords drivers beautiful, natural scenery as well as unlimited recreation and world-class fishing opportunities on the Kenai and Russian rivers.
Highlights
- Drive along the ice blue-green Kenai Lake until you get to Cooper Landing. Here you can buy your fishing license and try your hand for record size red salmon in the nearby Russian River confluence!
- The Kenai River Boasts major runs of four Pacific salmon species - king, red, silver, and pink - in addition to trophy-sized rainbow trout and Dolly Varden. Kenai River Kings or Chinook salmon, are among the largest North Pacific salmon, often weighing from 50 to 85 pounds!
- Kenai River floats trips and hiking through the Chugach National Forest on the historic Resurrection Trail are two great day or multi-day adventures.
- Skilak Lake Road is an 18-mile scenic alternative route that winds through the Skilak Lake Special Management Area, providing camping, canoing and fishing opportunities.
STERLING HIGHWAY - South Segment: Land's End
Tetlin Junction to Boundary
Distance: 105 Miles (169 kilometers)
This section of the Sterling Highway begins north of the Anchor Point on the bluffs overlooks the Cook Inlet and terminated at the "End of the Road" on Homer Spit. Along this byway you will find outstanding views of Cook Inlet, Kachemak Bay, and the surrounding vocalizations of the Aleutian Range. Travelers flock to this byway for its spectacular views, recreation, and, in particular, its salt water fishing.
Highlights:
- The Chugach Mountains, surrounding Valdez, provide world-class ice climbing and extreme skiing opportunities.
- View Bridal Veil Falls in Keystone Canyon
- Worthington Glacier is the most visited shop on the highway and is a great pace to learn more about these rivers of ice!
- Turn onto Edgerton Highway for great views of Mount Drum, Mount Wrangell, and Mount Blackburn.
- At the visitor center, near Copper Center, plan an adventure to America's largest national park, Wrangell-St. Elias. The Park likes to the east of the Richardson Highway and was designated a World Heritage Site in 1979.
Visit http://www.sterlinghighway.net/ for more information.
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TAYLOR & TOP OF THE WORLD HIGHWAYS: The High Plateau
Tetlin Junction to Boundary
Distance: 105 miles (169 kilometers)
The Taylor Highway provides access to the historic Fortymile gold fields, made famous by Jack London novels. It's a beautiful road that joins the Top of the World Hghway, which leads to Dawson City in the Yukon Territory.
Highlights:
- Keep your camera ready for spectacular views of the Alaska Range and the Menasta Mountains as you head out of Tetlin Junction.
- The Fortymile River system is a National Wild and Scenic River with miles of exciting whitwater!
- Visit Chicken, a town named by early settlers unable to spell Ptarmigan!
- June brings brilliant displays of poppies and lupine along much of the route.
- The Top f the World Highway joins the Taylor at Jack Jade Junction.
- Continue on to the US/Canada border at Boundary, then to Dawson City, 78 miles (126 kilometers) farther. Look for old mine workings along the way!
Visit the BLM Taylor Highway Website http://www.blm.gov/ak/st/en/prog/recreation/taylor_hwy.html for more information.
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