flylipsdaddy
Michigan
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We went from Mich. to Tampa to start our 3 month trip around April 28th.Go into Canada anywhere Except the 93 crossing in Montana.Hardly anybody crosses there and they have nothin better to do than THROUGHLY check you out.Dam near strip searched.Every other border crossing is better.There are Millions of places to dry camp and save a buck.Look for a turn off at least 20 miles from any major town.Generally gravel pits are the best places if theres no signs for private property or No Camping or Overnite Parking.We literally saved more than $1,000.00 with that and had some of the best campin spots ever.Reservations??Too much hassel with tryin to get there.You really don't need em up there unless your goin in July or August,especially with a Dry Campin attitude.Start lookin for a spot after dinner--it never gets Dark up there in case they didn't tell you about that.It gets to twilight about midnight and rarely gets any darker until the end of July.Takes a while to get used to.Pull in at 9:00-10:00PM and still see great.No problem.Take everything you'll need to get thru Canada though--BEER,CIGARETTES,anything & everything is REAL Expensive.Most expensive part of our trip was goin thru there.Gas $5.50gal.and up,Beer--$13.00 a 6 pack,Cigs--$7.50pack,Milk $5.50gal.You get the idea.It is beautiful and you'll see lots of wildlife before you get to Alaska.We didn't see anything but Moose in Alaska except for Denali.Saw everything there--its a Wild Zoo.Great people you'll meet along the way too.The best.But,its nice to be back in the states cause we really are spoiled.We've got everything down here--so don't expect much up there and you won't be disapointed.Beautiful Scenery and you can find that in SD.WY.MT.northern Ca.Or.coast or maybe in your own backyard if ya look hard enough.
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Aktravler
Retired from Alaska, On the road
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Joined: 05/16/2002
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Ummmmmmmmmmm, "back in the "states"?....................
Hanging in N. Arkansas, Surfing on Hughes.net
Mine-'02 Ram 3500, CTD DRW
S&S Avalanche 11DBS-Torklift TD's,SH & FG's
His-'03 F350 PSD SRW & Raptor 3612DS TH
Air Hitch -Edge Juice w/Attitude
Gas & Gumption!!!
26' Alweld, 200hp jet & prop
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sue.t
Vancouver Island, BC, Canada
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Joined: 08/05/2004
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We just returned from 4 weeks in Yukon. And we've driven to the Yukon and Alaska numerous times.
We've never made reservations. In British Columbia we prefer provincial park campgrounds http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/, and in Yukon we stay at the Yukon Territory Gov't (YTG) campgrounds http://www.environmentyukon.gov.yk.ca/camping/campgrounds.php.
Sights to see? There are many highlights and everyone seems to enjoy different highlights. We prefer the routes less-travelled and usually travel when others aren't. Here are some of our favorites:
Hwy 37, British Columbia
- the road into Stewart BC, which then continues into Hyder AK, bear viewing and the Salmon Glacier. Salmon Glacier is a must-see. The Meziadin Lake provincial campground is a nice spot to stay while touring this area.
-- There's also a small recreation site on the highway to Stewart, about 8 miles from Stewart that would be particularily well-suited to a truck/camper and is free. Clements Lake Recreation Site is signed and about a mile in. Visit http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/dkm/recreation/Stewart/rec_stewart.htm for more info.
- the "bus" in Hyder for fish & chips. Look for the signs.
- Boya Lake provincial park & campground. Stunning.
- black bear sightings any time and all the time along the highway.
Alaska Highway
- Liard Hot Springs provincial park & campground in BC. We usually spend two nights for two days of soaking. Winter, spring or fall are best times to enjoy as the weather is cooler and the springs are not so busy.
- between Fort Nelson and Liard River for animal viewing. Best after August.
- Kluane National Park. The scenery is second to none, IMHO. The Congdon Creek YTG campground along the shores of Kluane Lake is one of the best for location. Great spot to hike from too.
- Kathleen Lake in Kluane NP, on the Haines Hwy just south of Haines Junction. Average campground but good hiking and sights.
North Klondike Hwy, Yukon
- Dawson City. Plan two or three days in this area to fully explore the historic sites.
- Keno. Odd but nice little spot. Only bad thing about it is, it's one road in and the same road out. Nice scenery though. And great mining history in the area. Five Mile Lake YTG CG is a nice stay. We left our fifth wheel at the campground and drove the truck into Keno, and then took the "backroad" back to the campground. Interesting and scenic.
Dempster Highway, Yukon & NWT
- nice. Very nice. At least drive to the Arctic Circle.
- not paved with a variety of gravel and shale surface, but usually in good condition.
Denali Highway, Alaska from the Cantwell to Paxson
- very, very nice. Extremely scenic.
- gravel road.
We have also greatly enjoyed the South Canol Road and Nahanni Range Road in Yukon. Definitely roads less travelled. See the link in my signature for pictures. I haven't posted pics from 2008 yet, but will do so as time permits.
TIPS:
- Don't have a specific schedule ... road conditions change daily and it's best if you have some flexibility. You might find a campground that suits you well and wish to stay an extra day too.
- Meet the locals and chat. The Yukon has a different flavor than most areas. Some like it, some don't. If you like it, you'll get great pleasure in meeting folk and learning more about their lifestyle.
- If you're there in June and July, have a good quantity of your favorite bug repellant on hand. Darn mosquitoes are overbearing in some places. Our two June visits to Frances Lake YTG CG were impossible. Mosquitoes there are immune to any type of bug repellant. They just want your blood. However, Congdon Creek YTG CG was fine, maybe due to the light wind.
joe b. will likely provide some tips soon. He travels from Florida to Alaska regularly.
sue t.
Pictures from our many RV Adventures to Yukon & Alaska
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JCGibson
Anchorage, Alaska
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Joined: 08/01/2006
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Aktravler wrote:
Ummmmmmmmmmm, "back in the "states"?....................
 I know I thought we ARE part of the states up here too  I have been asked while on the phone with people back in the lower 48, "Are you able to speak the language there?"
DH and I
2 teenagers
Buddy (dog) and Boo (cat)
'08 Dodge 3500 Megacab w/Cummins Diesel
'09 Heartland Big Horn 3400RE
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joe b.
Florida
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Joined: 08/24/2002
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OTRA, On the subject of reservations I differ from some of the comments made above. I make reservations anywhere there is a specific campground where we wish to stay. Normally we will start making reservations a few days ahead of time starting in Whitehorse. A poster on this forum made the comment that Whitehorse was full this summer when they got there. Some forum members don't mind staying in parking lots, etc. but we tend to prefer organized campgrounds, be they state, provincial, city, federal or private. If the weather is nice we will pull off by a stream or river/lake some times also. If you don't care where you end up "parking" (different than camping IMHO) then don't make reservations. We will make reservations a few days ahead of time in Whitehorse, Fairbanks, the Kenai,(during fish runs), Valdez, and in the Palmer/Wasilla area. Other times we take what we can find. The weather is a big part of the decision, hot and smoky from forest fires, we look for a CG to plug in to run our AC, normal summer, not as important.
I figure on about 10 driving days from Stuart, Florida to Fairbanks, running about 500 mile days. Most days we are on the road by 7 AM at the latest. We will take off 3 or 4 days along the way so about 2 weeks puts us in Fairbanks and about the same home. We have made the trip enough times, 11 round trips to/from, by RV, that we know where we like to stop and what interests us.
The Milepost is a good resource to have with you and to read up on ahead of time. It has changed over the years and is "bloated" with ads. Also read any comments on business with some skepticism as the owners write their own narrative descriptions of their business. World famous, normally is just in the dreams of the business owner. The Church camping book is my favorite along with Bell's Alaska Travel guide.
Border crossings are usually a "non-event" and I somewhat enjoy them. Many good threads on this forum about crossing. Read up ahead of time on what is allowed, speak when spoken to, answer all questions honestly, don't elaborate on your answers, remember the officers are there to safeguard the borders of both countries, not to socialize with tourists or practice their social skills. LOL
Driving to Alaska is a great experience for most people, go with an open attitude, be flexible, slow down and drive at a speed appropriate to the road conditions and most of all remember you are on a great adventure trip and have fun. A trip of a life time you can do every year if you desire.
There are hundreds, if not thousands, of people on this forum that have made the trip, most are highly enthusiastic about their trip. Some are not, just like any other situation we all run across in life.
Driving to Alaska is not for everyone, IMHO, but 99 per cent love the trip and can't wait to go back, it is addictive to most people.
Yes, Alaska is one of the states but to understand all the residents you would have to speak many different languages, with English being the most common. But some people also greet each other as they meet on the path by saying "Ganah, do enday." Athabascan Koyukon for "how are you."
joe b.
South Florida, Stuart
Formerly of Colorado and Alaska
Driving a Dodge/Cummins
www.jbpacooper.com web site
http://www.picturetrail.com/jbpacooper Alaska 2004 - Alaska 2006 - Colorado photos
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JCGibson
Anchorage, Alaska
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Joined: 08/01/2006
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Joe b.
I was just teasing with the other poster. I have a sarcastic sense of humor.
As a teacher here, I know that there are over 90 different languages spoken among kids in the school district. A very close colleague of mine is Aleut and teaches her students some of the language.
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joe b.
Florida
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JCGibson, I suspected as much, bet you and I have similar funny bones when it comes to humor. LOL
Many a time while living in Alaska I would send off an order for some product only to receive a return letter stating, "sorry but we don't sell or ship to foreign countries...." Almost like the folks that live in Yukon Alaska, as mentioned by sue t. some time back.
Over the years I have known many Anchorage School District administrators and have heard of the situations that occur with having so many different language groups among the students.
At one time, there was a school in Anchorage, operated in the Japanese language, to serve the children of employees of Japan Airlines. They were keeping almost 60 full aircraft crews there to serve their planes coming through to Europe, etc.
We are currently setting in Ridgway State Park, Colorado with my wife's sister and her husband, planning our trip to Alaska next summer. My SIL and BIL lived in Anchorage for 17 years and never drove the Alaska Highway, like many other Alaska residents that I have known. Think we have talked them into going back up with us next summer, 2009.
To the original poster: If you can tell the group here, more of what you like to do and see, you will get some good answers from them. Do you enjoy the history, photography, wildlife (Chilcoot Charlies is fun), birding , fishing, etc.? Alaska and northern Canada have something for every taste or lack thereof. LOL
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OTRA
USA
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Joined: 08/26/2003
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I have printed out all of the replys, along with some other good information I found here, so I can highlight and study it. This forum has been so helpful to us in planning some great trips (2006-northwest-Yellowstone, Tetons, Glacier-5 weeks, 2007-southwest-Grand Canyon, Arches, Zion, Monument Valley, Messa Verde, Capital Reef, Canyonland, Bryce Canyon,-etc. 6 weeks, 2008 New England-Niagara Falls-Blue Ridge, Skyline Drive, Washington DC, Glouster, Rockport, Arcadia NP, Baxter, Lilly Bay, Four Mile Creek State Park (wonderful plus free parking) etc.-7 weeks. Wouldn't have had much idea where or how to plan had it not been for the good information I found here and even though we all have different modes of travel, different likes and dislikes it is wonderful becoming aware of things you didn't even know existed then deciding what appeals to you. Thank you all very much.
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sirdrakejr
Las Vegas, Nevada
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Joined: 11/18/2001
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For more info for traveling thru the US, post a similar question in Roads & Routes too. That will get some other insights for trips.
Frank
RV.net blog
For those of you looking for expert advice, here ya go!
Frank
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