- Dawson Creek
Dawson Creek marks the beginning of the Alaska Highway and is therefore a must-stop. There is a large sign that makes for a perfect photo opportunity to begin your trip. I recommend taking a stroll through Leoppky Park to stretch your legs before the long trip. This park has flat, easy, mowed trails through fields and forest. There are typically lots of other dogs there so it also gives your dog an opportunity to meet and play with other dogs and burn some energy.
2. Tumbler Ridge
Now Tumbler Ridge is a bit off the beaten path, but well worth an overnight stay. Tumbler Ridge is about a one hour drive off the Alaska Highway. However, it has some interesting history where you can see dinosaur tracks and fossils. There are also tons of hiking trails and waterfalls. The area is designated as a UNESCO Global Geopark. We stayed at the Trend Mountain Hotel, which is dog-friendly. The staff was very welcoming of Max. There is even a yummy steakhouse attached to the hotel where I ordered take-out from for dinner. There is a lot of wildlife around Tumbler Ridge. We saw bears and a coyote, and spotted lots of moose tracks.
3. Charlie Lake
Charlie Lake is a Provincial Park and Campground. There is a great nature trail that leads down to the lake, where there is also a boat ramp. The trail is about 1 mile through a beautiful grove of birch trees. It is downhill the whole way to the lake and uphill on the way back. This was a great spot to take Max for a walk and for him to go for a swim. There were wildfires in the area when we went, so I could not get a good view of the lake as my view was obstructed by thick smoke.
4. Sikanni Chief Falls
There is a 9.2 mile gravel road to drive down to get to the trailhead that I do not recommend unless you have a high clearance vehicle, as there are two very bad sections of the road with very large, deep potholes that were impossible to get around. The entrance of the trail is a very steep, slippery descent with no traction, so I recommend walking on the side of the trail on the long grass for a more stable descent. The downhill trail to the falls is a bit confusing at times and can be slippery with loose gravel. The hike back is all incline, so quite the workout. The view of the falls, however, is gorgeous.
5. Summit Lake
Summit Lake Trail is a 3 mile loop and the trailhead is located right off the highway at the campground. The first mile heads up a gravel trail and was spotted with lots of sheep poop, as this is a popular area for wild sheep. The second mile takes you across and down a forested mountain. The third mile continues along the shore of Summit Lake and includes a stream crossing, muddy sections, and stepping over rocks and roots. I recommend going clockwise around the loop and wearing hiking boots for the mud/stream crossing.
6. Muncho Lake
You cannot miss Muncho Lake, as it is a massive blue lake right alongside the Alaska Highway. There are two campgrounds on the lake: Strawberry Flats and MacDonald. I parked in the Strawberry Flats parking lot and walked Max around the campground. It was pretty deserted, with only one camper there so I was able to walk him through an empty campsite to the water so he could go for a swim. There are signs cautioning that no day use is allowed, so I’m not sure if walking through the campsite is allowed but I felt like it was well worth it as the campsite is so beautiful and offers direct lake access. There are also multiple scenic overlook pull-offs along the highway where you can stop and get good views of the lake. We went on a warm day, so Max was grateful to be able to go for a swim.
7. Wildlife Stops
Perhaps our favorite stops were when we pulled over on the side of the highway to view wildlife. On our trip, we saw black bears, moose, elk, deer, bison, porcupines, sheep, and foxes. Sometimes we were able to get pictures and videos and other times the animals darted off quickly before we could capture the moment. Max was wildly entertained the whole ride up the Alaska Highway, sticking his head out the window and staying alert and focused on spotting animals. I loved how excited he was by all the wildlife sightings.
8. Watson Lake
Watson lake has a lot to offer for such a small town along the Alaska Highway. A must-see is the Sign Post Forest. This tourist attraction consists of signs, license plates, street signs, and memorabilia left behind by travelers along the Alaska Highway. There is a store right next to Sign Post Forest called TAGS that is a great stop for gas and snacks. Another great attraction is Wye Lake. The Wye Lake Loop is a 2 mile trail that takes you around Wye Lake. The foliage around the lake in the fall is beautiful. In Watson Lake, we stayed overnight in a cabin in the Nugget City RV Park. They have two designated cabins that are pet-friendly. This is a popular spot for viewing the northern lights from if you hit it right. Nugget City offers cabins, camp spots, and RV sites. It also has an on-site restaurant with a dog-friendly patio and a gift shop.
9. Rancheria Falls
Rancheria Falls is a 0.7 mile out and back trail right off the Alaska Highway. There are bathrooms in the parking lot, so it makes a nice stop to both stretch your legs and use the bathroom. The trail begins in a mossy, deep forest and then transcends over a boardwalk to two waterfalls. The boardwalk makes it tough to pass other people, especially if you both have dogs, but we made it work. Max had a good time sniffing here and I even allowed him to run down to the river for a quick swim.
10. Teslin Lake
Teslin Lake is a campground right off the Alaska Highway. There is parking available diagonal from camping site #19. A trail leading down to the water begins right beside campsite #19. I had cell reception here, which was nice. Max enjoyed exploring the lakeshore before we got back on the road.
11. Marsh Lake
Similarly, Marsh Lake offers a campground and lakeshore exploring. However, Marsh Lake had larger ground and also a playground. There is a large parking lot off the highway with a trail leading to the campground and another trail leading to the lakeshore. This was a great stop to stretch our legs and explore.
12. Whitehorse
Whitehorse is a large city that was convenient for getting gas, hitting the grocery store, and grabbing more treats and food for Max at the pet store. It also has a wide variety of hiking trails on the outskirts. We stayed at The Nook, an airBnB tiny house located just outside town. The Nook offers a fire pit, a trail right outside the backdoor, and a deck overlooking a beautiful forest. It was a very peaceful, relaxing place to get some rest and Max loved staying in the forest. We hiked Hidden Lakes Loop and Fir Street Forest Loop, although there are many trails to choose from in the area.
13. Pine Lake
Pine Lake offers a campground, playground, beach, dock, and boat launch. There is a short trail along the lakeshore with a boardwalk and viewing deck. This was a beautiful place to stretch our legs. The views from the dock are stunning, especially in the fall with the foliage around the lake. I highly recommend Pine Lake if you need a quick stop to stretch and get back on the road or if you have kids.
14. Kluane National Park
We stayed in Haines Junction in a dog-friendly motel called Alcan Motor Inn. Haines Junction is right off the Alaska Highway and is the doorway to Kluane National Park. The motel is the nicest in the town and it is located walking distance from Frosty’s, a restaurant and ice cream place that has an outside ordering window and patio seating that is perfect for bringing your dog with you. This was the perfect place to get gas, a bite to eat, take Max on a quick hike in the national park, and then get a good night’s rest before hitting the road again. We hiked Saint Elias Lake, Kathleen Lake, and the Dezadeash River Trail. Check out my blog post “3 Dog-Friendly Trails in Kluane National Park” for more information.
15. Liard River Hot Springs
Liard River Hot Springs charges $5 for entry, but that gives you access to the entire campground and the hot springs. I first pulled in and parked at the hot springs parking lot. I then took Max for a long walk around the campground, then back to the car. Dogs are not allowed inside the hot springs, so once I knew he had been walked and peed I left him in the car to nap with the windows cracked while I went to the hot springs. After passing through the gate, you will walk down a long boardwalk through a beautiful marsh to get to the hot springs. There are often moose and bears spotted here, but I did not get to see any. There are changing rooms right beside the hot springs. Between getting changed into my bathing suit, taking a soak in the springs, then drying off and getting changed into dry clothes I spent one hour at the hot springs, which is all I felt comfortable leaving Max in the car for. I hate going places that I can’t take him with me, but I will say these hot springs are absolutely worth the stop and leaving your dog for an hour.
