Hi there,
I'm on a f800gs but 2 friends of mine are on street bikes.
We have 6-7 days.
Want to ride up BC to Alaska and back, or just up BC.
Where can I find info on routes and so forth. We are limited to only about 160km per fill up, and have to stick to pavement this trip.
Really appreciate any help, this would be the first big trip any of us have taken, any tips or where we can stay (camping)... fly fishing recommendations, etc would be amazing.
Well, if you want to get all the way up to the main part of Alaska (via Whitehorse and the Alaska Highway), you'd better have a tough butt already. With 6-7 days to get there and back, you'll be packing on the mileage (approx 1000km/day).
If, on the other hand, you're just looking to say you've been to Alaska, Hyder would be an excellent choice, located right beside Stewart, BC, just a little ways up the Stewart-Cassiar highway. I don't exactly know what you're expecting for mileage, but this route would be much more pleasant, and you could also do a great little loop by heading up the Island, ferrying from Port Hardy to Prince Rupert, and then exploring central/southern BC as you make your way back home.
That'd be my recommendation if you want a small taste of the north. If you want to have the full Yukon experience, take two weeks at the very least.
Travis
Planning a similar trip - I've been searching various sites and while our route hasn't been confirmed I have found some good reference sites which might be helpful in your planning.
http://www.milepost.com/features/motorcycling_the_north
Go to the highway info section and you can scroll through a description and maps of various highways (with mileage, rest stops, fuel, camping, etc noted)
http://www.blm.gov/ak/st/en/prog/recreation.html
Another good one on a few of the highways.
At least with this info you're know which routes to stick to for full tarmac vs gravel highways.
Hope this helps and good luck,
M.
Hamon nailed it. I did an 8 day round trip from Victoria to Stewart/Hyder, then up to Telegraph Creek west of Dease Lake. It's mostly paved except for good gravel into Telegraph Creek and worth the detour.
We did in June 2011 a trip to Alaska and Inuvik (me, michelangelu and a guy from Colorado). You can check it out on our blog: our route, pictures and some good tips. We did it in 24 days (12000km) but of course, for 8 days you have to cut a lot. I highly recommend Skagway and the White Pass but it might be a bit too far away. You can do Hyder (don't miss Salmon Glacier), Dease Lake etc.
http://68degreesnorth.blogspot.com/
(or, to get to this blog you could easily google "Hello, it's Alaska calling")
Those places are just awesome!!!
I use Microsoft MapPoint for trip planning or you can go to google map, it is quite good. Hyder is the closses entry Port to Alaska, it is over 1400 Km. from Vancouver via Prince George, Hwy 1 to Cache Creek, 97, 16 west to 37 north on 37 to Meziadin Lake and west to Stewart and Hyder Alaska. The next closest entry Port is Skagway and it is over 2400 Km. Hope this helps.Originally Posted by Nauticalsland
Hi
I have a map that says that travel is restricted north of Dietrich Camp (somewhere about 67.68111,-149.73861) to Prudhoe Bay.
Does anybody know if it still requires some special permission?
Great blog and lots of tips. Thanks! Planning to ride to Alaska this summer in June.
Well, not sure this would be the route for you if you're buddies are on street bikes but this is the route I took.
New westminister to pemberton on the harrison west.
Pemberton to lilooet on the Hurley.
Lilooet to Clinton over the Pavillion pass.
Clinton to 100 mile on the highway.
100 mile to Quesnel on the best logging road I have ever seen, mainly to the west of the highway
Quesnel to Vanderhoof following the Blackwater river (beautiful area)
Vanderhoof to the Cassiar hwy all on pavement (not much choice)
Kitwanga to Dease lake (the truckers are nuts)
Dease lake to Telegraph creek
Tried to get to Atlin from Telegraph creek but had to turn back, beavers flooded the road, but later found out its a winter road only anyway.
Back to Dease Lake, ran out of gas 25k out of town, got a lift into town on a flat deck truck by a couple local native guys, thats a story in itself.
The next day headed to whitehorse (with a pounding headache)
Turned back 100k past White horse by a freaking blizzard in August
Decided to head down to Skagway a.k. to get out of the cold (accidently ran the border, whoops).
Took the ferry down to Jeaneau.
From Jeaneau to Prince Rupert
Then back tracked my way home.
The only things I would do differently are to take more time, bring a buddy and not ride such a small bike (DT-200 two stroke)
Haha.. I have a DT200, 96, but I won't ride it that far! I know it could though.I haven't seen the OP return so we might as well continue this thread for the benefit of all. We'll be on 650 single dualsports, possibly four of us. Have 24 days in late June. Thanks for the route tips! Farthest north I've been is Stikine River valley...to Telegraph Creek (spectacular!) west of Dease Lake and Stewart-Hyder including Salmon Glacier. Fly fishing is great just past the Grizzly viewing area near Hyder. My cousin caught a dozen Dolly Varden there. (catch and release in his case). That was about 6 years ago so really looking forward to this trip. My only goal is to hit the Arctic Circle, don't care if it's by the Dalton or Dempster. Will depend on weather.. and explore the usual routes, see the sights. Chif recomended Skagway and White Pass. Also Top of the World Hwy through Chicken. Any others?
Heading up north the Robert Campbell is a nice ride as is the Canol Road.Head into Keno city is a nice side trip.If the A circle is your goal i would suggest the dempster over dalton,go all the way to inuvik.Paved but very cool is the haines jct to Haines then ferry to skagway then up to whitehorse.Its all easy to figure out its just time and trying to cram it all in.Heck im goin back up this summer for my 6th time,very addicting country.
Sounds like great riding! I'd be in for an Alaska ride with a few other riders - I have time from late May to around 21 June and will be watching this thread.
I'm heading to Inuvik too! I have a month and I'm leaving June 15. I want to be in Dawson City for Dust to Dawson June 21 and 22. Atlin, Hyder, Chicken, Skagway and Telegraph Creek are all on my list although I haven't put it all together on a route yet. I'll be riding the Wee. I'll have to keep an eye on this thread for suggestions.
With only 6-7 days, you won't be doing much fly fishing I'm afraid! I'd limit your riding to just BC with that time frame. Also, and more importantly, if you head up the Stewart-Cassiar Highway with only 160-km fuel range... "You shall not pass!"
It's 215 km from Kitwanga to Stewart, and 250 km from Kitwanga to Bell II - so you'll need extra gas no matter where you decide to make your first stop. In fact, heading north of 60 with only 160 km fuel range will require you to take extra gas in quite a few areas. I would suggest 225 km worth of gas as an absolute bare minimum (much more if you ever plan the Dempster, Robert Campbell or Prudhoe Bay routes).
I rode from Vancouver to Inuvik and back in '10, and with only one day off (in Inuvik) it took me 13 days... 8,000 km round trip. The north is really big... you'll see ;-). Good luck!
Just going to cast a Stewart-Cassiar vote. I agree that 6-7 days isn't enough to go to alaska and back, but either way, you should take the Stewart-Cassiar. I rode my wr450f (in supermoto trim no less) to Whitehorse last summer and that section of highway was by far the highlight of the trip. Take the west side of the river on your way through williams lake and on up to prince george.
Cam
Another important thing to factor up there is forest fires.Ive been stuck in places due to routes shutdown for days. That can majorly alter your schedule and planned route.
Well you could always cheat and ride to Hyder, then you could say you've been to Alaska... While your there keep going, cross back into Canada and go up and see the Salmon Glacier, this will for sure be a trip highlight...
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