Dempster Highway or Dalton Highway

[colorider]

We will be making a trip to Alaska this summer and would like to take either the Dempster Highway from Dawson City to Inuvik or the Dalton Highway from Fairbanks to Prudhoe Bay. We are interested in which one may offer the best scenery, plus unique things/locations to see. I realize that the weather may play a VERY big part in any case and could make or break our plans.

Has anyone taken both (or either) of these routes? Suggestions? Comments? Must sees? Dos and Don'ts?

TIA

[sblvro]

that is one of my future project. post pics as I am planning to travel in that region too.

[whizmo]

A couple of issues back, the Car and Driver editors wrote up their trip on one of these roads.... in a Corvette of all things.

From my motorcycling friends who have gone, expect a long/rough trip through some very desolate country, particularly the Dempster. It's no big deal in good weather, but is can get VERY nasty if the weather is bad. Don't just plow on regardless of the skys. There are many times, even in the summer, where these roads should be left to people who get paid to drive them.

I'd definitely mount the toughest tires you can buy and carry a couple of full-size spares. Your car will get absolutely trashed by the gravel from passing trucks.

The roads up to Anchorage and around the area are much more interesting. The road from Stewart/Hyder up N to meet the Alcan is supposed to be superb. I went up to Hyder a few years back on a bike and it was very nice.

This is one of those things I may do some day just to say I've done it, but mostly because I like feeling small in big country now and then. I'm not expecting a terribly pleasant trip - just a long ride through desolate country on rough roads.

- Mark

[colorider]

Originally posted by whizmo
A couple of issues back, the Car and Driver editors wrote up their trip on one of these roads.... in a Corvette of all things.

From my motorcycling friends who have gone, expect a long/rough trip through some very desolate country, particularly the Dempster. It's no big deal in good weather, but is can get VERY nasty if the weather is bad. Don't just plow on regardless of the skys. There are many times, even in the summer, where these roads should be left to people who get paid to drive them.

I'd definitely mount the toughest tires you can buy and carry a couple of full-size spares. Your car will get absolutely trashed by the gravel from passing trucks.

The roads up to Anchorage and around the area are much more interesting. The road from Stewart/Hyder up N to meet the Alcan is supposed to be superb. I went up to Hyder a few years back on a bike and it was very nice.

This is one of those things I may do some day just to say I've done it, but mostly because I like feeling small in big country now and then. I'm not expecting a terribly pleasant trip - just a long ride through desolate country on rough roads.

- Mark

I have read several trip reports on ADVRider that speak of very difficult rides. I have also read a few of HD riders that made it without incident. As you say, so much depends on the weather. My sister and her family made the Dempster highway back in '86 in a new Subaru. Their entire trip was 7 weeks long and 20K miles. They needed new tires by the time they got home. I had wanted to do at least part of one of the roads last July on my V-Strom, but we just did not have enough time. I was riding with my nephew (he was on a HD).

Thanks for the feedback.

[whizmo]

Yes, there are a bunch of threads on advrider with lots of pictures. If you're reading these, you know what you're getting into. If I ever do it, it will be by motorcycle. I have no interest in subjecting a car to the abuse and since the "I did it" angle is the predominate reason, it would more challenging to do it on the bike.

If you decide to take the bike, the Strom is about perfect - tough, dependable, simple, nice on the pavement, okay on gravel, etc. I have an 06 650.

- Mark

[colorider]

Originally posted by whizmo
If you decide to take the bike, the Strom is about perfect - tough, dependable, simple, nice on the pavement, okay on gravel, etc. I have an 06 650.

- Mark

Ah, you know very well why I own TWO V-Stroms!!! I'm selling the 1K as the little 650 does everything I want. I'm also considering getting a ST1100 again (I can't seem to get them out of my blood).

[Loaded Blue 04]

And got the T shirt.

The Dempster is a great road, but make sure you pack extra fuel and tires (don't ask how I know). When I was last at the museum in Dawson, they had a photo essay on a small town on the Dempster that ran out of gas for a week and travellers were "stopped".

This is a great part of the world with many things to see no matter where you go or look. Just go and enjoy yourself. The people up there a great too.

Oh - locals really move on the highways out of town so be prepared to boogie (and have a car bra for the rocks!).

Enjoy,