Taylor Highway

Introducing Taylor Highway

Taylor Hwy runs 161 miles north from Tetlin Junction, 13 miles east of Tok on the Alcan, through the lovable tourist trap of Chicken and on to the sleepy, historic community of Eagle on the Yukon River. Save for recent wildfire scarring it's a scenic drive, ascending Mt Fairplay, Polly Summit and American Summit, all over 3500ft. Until recent years the route was infamously rough, though these days the only white-knuckle stretch is the last 65 miles from Jack Wade Junction to Eagle.

The highway takes paddlers to both the Fortymile River and the Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve, and also offers much off-road hiking. As on the Denali Hwy, many of the trailheads are unmarked, making it necessary to have the appropriate topographic maps. Many trails are off-road-vehicle tracks that hunters use heavily in late summer and fall.

By Alaskan standards summer traffic is light to moderate until you reach Jack Wade Junction, where the majority of vehicles continue east to Dawson City, Yukon, via the Top of the World Hwy. Hitchhikers aiming for Eagle from the junction will have to be patient. If you're driving, leave Tok or Dawson with a full tank of gasoline, because roadside services are limited.

The first section of the Taylor, from Tetlin Junction (Mile 0) to just shy of Chicken, is now paved. Within 9 miles of Tetlin Junction you'll begin to climb Mt Fairplay (5541ft). At Mile 35 a lookout near the summit is marked by trash cans and an interpretive sign describing the history of Taylor Hwy. From here you should see superb views of Mt Fairplay and the valleys and forks of Fortymile River to the north. The surrounding alpine area offers good hiking for those wanting to stretch their legs.

The first state campground is the 25-site West Fork Campground (Mile 49 Taylor Hwy; sites $8), which recent forest fires nearly incinerated. Travelers packing gold pans can try their luck in West Fork River, which is the first access point for a canoe trip down Fortymile River.

Last updated: Mar 2, 2009