25D The Great Alaska Highway Ride!
Edmonton, Alberta -> Fairbanks, Alaska
USD $3570 per rider, Single Supplement USD $750
2008 Dates: Jun 09 - Jul 03
The 10th Great Alaska Highway Ride, presents the best of this famed highway (formerly known as the Al-Can). We’ll be starting at Milepost 0 in Dawson Creek, British Columbia and finishing almost 1400 miles later at Milepost 1422 in Delta Junction, Alaska. Your monumental bicycle tour winds it’s way through thick forests, over rolling hills and down river valleys surrounded by towering glacial shrouded mountain ranges.
Our ride starts in the rolling forested hills of British Columbia, where small towns still pop-up along our route and rivers carve wide valleys for the road to follow. Once we crest Steamboat Mountain on Day 06 the grandeur of the Nothern Rockies envelopes our route for the weeks to come. Explore the wildlife of Stone Mountain Provincial Park and the scenic beauty of Muncho Lake Park.
As we enter the Yukon Territory the towns become fewer and farther between. But the unbelievable alpine scenery more than makes up for the lack of civilization… nothing better than relaxing in a campground’s hot tub, after a day of riding, with blue Kluane Lake to your left and towering snowcapped peaks to your right. The snowcapped peaks keep getting closer and closer as we work our way along side the Wrangrell - St Elias Mountain Range and into Alaska.
We’ll relax in comfortable motels on our layover days along our route. . . Whitehorse and Muncho Lake Provincal Park. You’ll enjoy an afternoon of soaking-away-the-miles in the soothing Liard Hot Springs. And some added bonuses… the wildlife still dots the roadsides… traffic is light… and some of our campground hosts bake the best cinnamon rolls and pies you’ll ever encounter. Enjoy the ultimate wilderness road bike tour!
Day 01 - We will gather in Dawson Creek in late afternoon, where you will have a chance to get your bike ready, meet your fellow riders and review the weeks to come. (breakfast & lunch on your own).
Day 02 - We’re off heading up the Alaska Highway. You’ll pedal past Charlie Lake and along a stretch of the original highway to check out the curved Kiskatinaw Bridge. We’ll wind down today’s ride at the Shepherd’s Inn where you can check out some of the great baked goods after dinner. 72 mi
Day 03 Civilization bids us adieu as we continue north today. Old timers and guidebooks talk about Suicide Hill and the wooden Sikanni Chief Bridge along today’s route, but they are only remembered with plaques now. We will camp on the banks of the Sikanni River tonight. 88 mi
Day 04 Moose are known to frequent our next stretch of road, perhaps we will be lucky and see these forest giants. Our camp tonight is in Prophet River site of Lum & Abner’s, one of the first cafes along the Alaska Highway (the current cafe still bakes great pies). 68 mi
Day 05 Our last day in the rolling hills of British Columbia takes us to the Muskwa River (lowest point on the Alaska Highway) then into our first town Fort Nelson and a relaxing night in a motel (with a pool, a rare commodity up here). 57 mi (motel) (dinner on your own)
Day 06 Your first big climb takes you up and over Steamboat Mountain. From our lunch spot on top you will catch a glimpse of the awesome Rocky Mountain grandeur that you will be riding through for the rest of the tour. We’ll camp at Tetsa River Ranch tonight, the “Cinnamon Bun Center of the Galactic Cluster” (and yes they are that good !). 71 mi (breakfast on your own)
Day 7 We reach the highest point along the highway today, as we climb to Summit Lake, then descend into Stone Mountain Provincial Park. You have some great opportunity to see and photograph the Stone Mountain Sheep today. We’ll finish the day in Muncho Lake Provincial Park. 84 mi (motel) (dinner on your own)
Day 08 A layover day in Muncho Lake Provincial Park, perhaps some hiking, fishing, flightseeing or just lounging around on the porch of the lodge enjoying the spectacular views. (motel) (all meals on your own)
Day 09 An easy day with a great finish. It’s a downhill run out of Muncho Lake Park as we head for the Liard River Valley. Here we will find Liard Hot Springs, an almost tropical enclave in the wilderness. A long afternoon soak in the hot springs is sure to work out all the kinks. 36 mi (breakfast on your own)
Day 10 Well rested and refreshed, we tackle our first century ride of the tour. Pretty much following the Liard River, we will be passing such colorful watering holes as Fireside and Contact Creek, before arriving at our stop, Iron Creek and its delightful lake side camp. 96 mi
Day 11 It’s a short 37 miles to Watson Lake today, giving you ample time to explore the Signpost Forest, Museums and Northern Lights Theatre. 36 mi (motel) (dinner on your own)
Day 12 You’ll pick up the Rancheria River today, following its course as it winds back and forth between British Columbia and the Yukon Territory. We’ll be camping tonight at Rancheria Campground (and if you want a couple miles further down the road is Rancheria Falls, not very imaginative with their names eh?) 75 mi (breakfast on your own)
Day 13 We’ll follow the Rancheria River for a while longer before crossing the Continental Divide today. Our camp tonight enjoys scenic views of Teslin Lake and canoes are available for an evening paddle. 83 mi
Day 14 You’ll be pedaling along the shores of Teslin Lake for most of today, with a chance to explore the museums of Teslin town, home of the Tlingit Indians. We’ll set camp at Johnsons Crossing tonight on the banks of the Teslin River. The bakery here runs neck and neck with Tetsa for the best cinnamon buns in the world. 41 mi
Day 15 The last day of this leg takes us to the only real city along the Alaska Highway, Whitehorse (but still small with only 21,000 people; 31,000 in the entire Yukon Territory). 81 mi (motel) (dinner on your own)
Day 16 A free day in Whitehorse. There are museums to explore, trails to hike, rivers to canoe, coffee shops to relax in and more. Folks doing the shorter 10 day trip will be joining us today. (motel) (all meals on your own)
Day 17 Our other century day. This ride takes us from the rolling hills around Whitehorse to the foot of the glacial shrouded St Elias Range. The scenery just gets better and better as your day progresses. We’ll be camping in Haines Junction tonight at the foot of this spectacular mountain range. 97 mi (breakfast on your own)
Day 18 After yesterday’s long ride, we have a couple of leisurely fifty milers. Today we are enroute to the turquoise colored Kluane Lake and the most beautiful of all our campgrounds, Cottonwood. You can enjoy a soak in their hot tub, with the lake on one side and the towering rugged mountains on the other. 50 mi
Day 19 This morning’s ride continues along Kluane Lake, with a stop at the Burwash Landing Museum. Afternoon will find us pedaling through the immense landscapes that characterize the next section of highway, untouched wilderness for as far as the eye can see. We’ll stop at Kluane Wildness Village tonight. 50 mi
Day 20 - Our last full day in Canada, takes us deeper into this wilderness region, with the Wrangrell St Elias Range to our south and miles of untouched rolling forestlands to the north. We’ll be bedding down indoors in Beaver Creek tonight. 84 mi (motel) (dinner on your own)
Day 21 We made it to Alaska ! Twenty miles outside Beaver Creek we cross the border, then enjoy a ride across the Tetlin Wildlife Refuge enroute to our camp located on the shore of a beautiful lake within the refuge. 54 mi (breakfast on your own)
Day 22 A leisurely day takes us to Tok Junction. A popular stopping point for Alaska Highway travelers, it’s a good chance to start picking up those mandatory gifts for folks back home. 57 mi
Day 23 We’re heading for Delta Junction and the end point of the Alaska Highway. A relatively flat but long ride through the Alaska Buffalo Range will bring us to Milepost 1422, the official end to the highway. Before everyone changes out of cycling gear, we will gather for some group photos to celebrate an awesome ride. 112 mi
Day 24 We will pack the bikes before a late morning shuttle folks to Fairbanks. You have most of the day free to explore as you see fit. We will gather at dinner time and enjoy a delicious Salmon Bake . . . all you can eat Salmon and Halibut . . . a cyclist’s dream meal. (lunch on your own)
Day 25 Shuttles will be available to Fairbanks Airport, throughout the day. See you next ride.
Tour Cost
- US$3570 per rider
- US$750 for Single supplement
- Deposit US$600 per rider
Lodging
- Camping and motels
What’s Included
- 9 nights in motels (double occupancy) includes night before tour starts in Nisku
- 17 nights in campgrounds
- Most meals (breakfast, lunch & dinner) except as noted in itinerary
- Sagwagon
- Baggage transport
- Guide staff
- Shuttle from Nisku (Edmonton Airport) to Dawson Creek
- Shuttle to Fairbanks Airport
- Morning route notes
Meeting + Flights
Meet at the Ramada Inn in Nisku 8 am on Day 01
Fly into Edmonton (YEG) before 0700 on Day 01
Fly out of Fairbanks (FAI) after 0900 on Day 25
NOTE Guests will probably need to schedule their arrival in Edmonton the day before the tour starts, as currently there are no flights that arrive early enough. A room at the Ramada Inn is included in the tour price.
Camping Equipment Rentals
- For folks without camping gear, we offer a rental package that includes tent, sleeping bag with liner, inflatable ground pad and storage duffel.
- The cost for this is: $125 for a single person package, $220 for a two person package.
Commemorative Jersey
- A special jersey is being produced for the 10th running of the Great Alaska Highway Ride. The cost will be $45 for registered riders and for former Great Alaska Highway Riders ($70 for anyone else). Sign up right away … the first ten registered riders will get their jersey FREE.
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