I'm planning my Alaska trip .... leaving TN on May 6 (weather permitting) and flying up the highway (or moving over to the trench if the weather permits / dictates).

I'm considering diverting up to Dawson City after Whitehorse.... just because I've never been there.

Other than drinking whisky with a petrified toe in it, is Dawson City worth a visit? it looks like there are a couple of museums that open in May.

What is the best way to get from the airport to town? Suggestions on a place to stay?

I don't mind visiting the famous saloons but I don't drink enough to make that my primary reason for visiting. Local history, the stern wheel boat, Jack London, and Robert Service are more my taste.

Any advice?
Thanks,
Keith

Prefacing by saying I have not flown the route, but I've driven the Alaska Highway 4 times, the first smack in the middle of May. My only comment is your timing. I think you're a week or so early, if your plan is to travel through Canada around May 7, 8, or 9 (assuming you do leave home on the 6th). Beyond that, all I can say is, I'm jealous. I'm likely to run out of life before I can take that trip. Oh well, I've done so many other things that I have no regrets.

Cary

Yeah, a week or two later would be nice but that's when I'm off work.... so I'm going to make hay while the sun shines and go....

Flying the route in May is great, you miss the summer traffic, plenty of light, most places are open, and the bugs aren't bad yet. Camping can be chilly and there is a chance you will need your covers. beats the heck out of January!

Some of the hotels will drive you in and back to the airport if you book them.

Campground across the road from the airport, but then you’d miss out on the whisky toe thing.

What else? Can Can dancers and cabaret at Diamond Tooth Gerties, burger was ok. The torch singer was bigger than Jabba the Hutt, and couldn’t convince me, no matter how much whiskey I drank.

Might be a little early for the sternwheeler , riverside, near the museum (with good free WIFI)

We were there three years ago in October. Great place for a day or two but not a whole lot to do there.
If I was making the trip, I'd make it a point to stop tho.

Jack London's cabin was neat to see but the whole ordeal is a half hour including the walk.
Can Can dancers and cabaret at Diamond Tooth Gerties three years ago was a great show. Stay late as the show gets better as the evening gets on.

A walk along the river... There is a paddle boat tour there but chose to go hiking instead.

Seeing the old gold mines (strip waste) was eye opening from the ground so probably incredible from the air.

Dawson is a great little town. I worked up there for 25 years. You will be a little early in the season but still worth the trip. The Eldorado or Downtown hotels are both good and will pick you up at the airport.

Stop by the visitors center on front street.....not sure if tours will be started for dredge #4 but well worth it if it is open. Stop by Gerties for a drink and see the show. If you can it would be great to drive up to the dome above town....spectacular views of the town and valley.

Also stop by at Braeburn Lodge (strip right beside the highway about 30 min from Whitehorse on your way to Dawson) great place to get a cinnamon bun larger than your head! If you have time Ft. Selkirk is a great place to visit as well. Good grass/gravel airstrip along the river. It was a large settlement at one time that has a lot of neat old buildings left to see. About a 15 min walk from the strip.


Kevin

Thanks!

If the weather and time permit, I'll probably add a day to my trip and go check it out.

Dawson City is great. The tour of the gold fields was impressive. The wealth that came out of such a small area was astounding. It has been some years since I was there but the Robert Service readings would make the hair on your arm stand up. Another neat place in the area is Eagle. There is a runway right in the middle of town. There is an old mule barn that I think is the best museum in the state. It is FILLED with all kinds of great stuff and still smells like the mules are in there for the effect. Again several years ago but there was a couple hour walking tour that a local did and you could go through the Customs house and mule barn/museum. I think the Customs house was lost in the flood a few years ago but the other stuff was higher up. Eagle is missed by a lot of visitors to Alaska. There is also a Gold Dredge at Chicken you can tour as well. You will run out of time long before places to visit! Enjoy the trip!

I sure wouldn't miss Dawson. My wife and I used to fly over there for the weekend on occasion, from Fairbanks, and it's well worth the trip. It's a small touristy town, but they do it well, not tacky, and the people are super friendly.

As others have noted, the mining history of the area is simply amazing. Hit Diamond Tooth Gerties, for sure, and there are a few other places to visit for night life.

Read Jack London's stuff--even though he never actually got to Dawson, the stories ring true and they're entertaining and fun stuff. Don't miss the readings in Dawson.

Don't know if the Claims Cafe is still called that, but that used to be my favorite restaurant/bar.

Airport is ~ 26 Km out of town, so definitely book a hotel/B&B that provides you with a ride to town. A cab ride will cost big $$.

Last time I was there, my wife and I were in the casino, playing the slots.....My machine lit up, and paid off. Gina came over and was watching the thing spit out coins. She picked up one of the coins and looked at it. She said "So, what are these things?" I replied that they were Toonies......two dollar coins. She emphatically said "You're done gambling now, right?" And, I was. Trip was paid for in full, with plenty left over for gas back in FAI.

Dawson is one of my favorite places. As others have said, it's not the kind of place you want to spend a week, but a couple days and nights--Absolutely!

MTV

Thanks for the replies! That's exactly the kind of info I needed.

I've done the trip up the highway several times but have always just followed the highway from Whitehorse to Northway, with the exception of one year staying overnight in Beaver Creek due to weather. I thought Dawson looked interesting but have just never heard of anyone flying in but it definitely sounds like it's worth a visit.

Of course, as always, it depends on the weather. I don't plan too firmly on these trips, preferring to look at the weather a day or two in advance and deciding what to do then. This year, just because I want to experience something different, I'm planning to either go to Dawson out of Whitehorse or turn south to Haines and take the coastal route from there, whichever route looks best. Destination is Kenai. I've never been to Haines or flown the coast either so I guess I should start a thread for info for that option.

There is a chance I'll have a friend with me by that point. We are planning to leave TN on or around May 6 with two airplanes. Me solo in the 180 and 3 Alaskans in the 170. I'm expecting that at some point I'll be ready to enjoy the cruise speed of the 180 and make my way ahead and my buddy JP might ditch his friends in the 170 and join the fast plane. I have plenty of time to meander around but he might have to get back for work so we'll have to see how we are doing for time, check the weather, and plan our route then.

Thanks again for the replies!
Happy Flying,
Keith

Good advice from Yukoner. Interesting cafe at Braeburn, owner sold an Indian to Steve McQueen? Plus the cinnamon rolls. Fort Selkirk is cool too, no road access, plane or river Here’s some pics to try sway you.

Just a heads up the Dawson city airport will be closed for paving May 19th till the 26th.

Like everyone else I recommend making it a stop. Lots to see and do.

Enjoy your trip!

Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

Dclings wrote:Just a heads up the Dawson city airport will be closed for paving May 19th till the 26th.

That's good to know! Thanks. I expect I'll be earlier than that unless I get seriously delayed.

Paving? You mean paving the runway?

I'm glad I asked and appreciate all the replies! I'm surprised I haven't heard much about Dawson City before but it sounds like a must-stop, along with Ft Selkirk and Braeburn.

Yukoner wrote: If you have time Ft. Selkirk is a great place to visit as well. Good grass/gravel airstrip along the river. It was a large settlement at one time that has a lot of neat old buildings left to see. About a 15 min walk from the strip.

Kevin

Thanks Kevin! Is Ft. Selkirk still inhabited?

kg wrote: Paving? You mean paving the runway?

Yeah they are paving the runway and won't even let us locals fly off the grass. It's shut down to everyone but heli traffic.



Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

There is one guy that lives there that has a trapline and there are a few caretakers for the summer.