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Where can I access checkpoints and see the Race?
Some checkpoints are road accessible.
Whitehorse
Population: 22,241. First Avenue in the Yukon’s capital city is the starting point of the race. The Yukon River runs through its downtown core. Whitehorse is home to the Ta’an Kwäch’än and Kwanlin Dun First Nations. The city was long a staging point for shipping and transportation to the gold fields of the Klondike.
Viewing opportunities between Whitehorse and Braeburn 100 miles/161 km
This portion of the trail runs on the Old Dawson Trail, today part of the Trans Canada Trail. Teams may be seen following the trail under Takhini River Bridge (km 4.5) of North Klondike Highway (Mayo Road).
Braeburn
Braeburn Lodge, famous for its very large cinnamon buns, has been an official checkpoint since 1999. Mandatory layover: 8 hours. Viewing opportunities Braeburn to Carmacks 77 miles/124 km Mandatory layover 2 hours. Upon leaving Braeburn, the trail takes the musher deep into the bush and along a chain of lakes. They can next be seen as they arrive at Carmacks.
Carmacks
Population: 450. Named for George Carmack, one of the original discoverers of gold in the Klondike in 1896. Situated on the Yukon River, the community is in the traditional territory of the Little Salmon/Carmacks First Nation. Viewing opportunities Carmacks to Pelly Crossing 73 miles/118 km Teams can be seen traveling along the Free Gold Road as they leave Carmacks. The teams can next be seen along the Klondike Highway in the Minto area, as they head for the hot moose stew at McCabe Creek, about 34 miles from Pelly. A working farm, McCabe Creek is an official dog drop.
Pelly Crossing
Population: 350. This village along the Pelly River first got involved as a checkpoint for the Yukon Quest during the 1996 race. The town’s main industries are fishing and tourism. Pelly Crossing is in the traditional territory of the Selkirk First Nation.
Viewing opportunities: Pelly Crossing to Dawson City 201 miles/324 km Musher and their teams climb through the Black Hills, a series of rolling knolls, until they reach the rustic Scroggie Creek dog drop, 99 miles (159 km) from Pelly Crossing. Then it’s down a mining road to the cabins at Stepping Stone, where teams often stop for a hot meal and a rest. Near Dawson City, the trail winds up 4,002-foot King Solomon’s Dome, the only trail viewing is from the air.
Dawson City
Population: 1,876. The site of the Klondike gold rush at the turn of the last century, Dawson City has a unique character. Many miners still spend the summer scouring for gold in the surrounding hills and creeks. Visit Diamond Tooth Gerties, open for Yukon Quest weekend. Dawson City is in the traditional territory of the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in First Nation.
Considered the halfway point in the race, this is the only location where mushers may receive outside help. Handlers arrive early, and pick a spot in the Yukon Government campground across the Yukon River. Some set up elaborate camps for their teams, and the race veterinarians set up shop in a cooking shelter. Access to the campground may be restricted to certain times, at the discretion of the race officials.. Mandatory layover: 36 hours. Viewing opportunities Dawson City toEagle 147 miles/237 km At the confluence of the Fortymile and the Yukon Rivers is the historic townsite of Fortymile, where the teams might stop after running 50 miles down the Yukon River from Dawson City. Then the teams travel up American Summit and then it is about 18 miles into Eagle.
Eagle
Population: 115. On the Yukon River, Eagle is accessible only by air, snow machine or dog team in the winter. The Yukon Quest is one of the biggest events of the winter for area residents, and they come out in full force to support the race. Viewing opportunities Eagle to Circle City 159 miles/256 km The trail follows the flat, sometimes soft, sometimes icy, Yukon River. The route is exposed to wind, and markers may be blown over or hard to spot, especially at night. About half-way, musher travel past the cabin of Charlie Biederman, a legendary figure in the Yukon Quest, who died in 1995. View this section from the air.
Circle City
Population: 73. Circle, on the Yukon River, is the most northerly point on the race. It was the site of a major gold rush as well as a supply stop for prospectors. The first phone system in Alaska was installed here. It claims to be the largest log cabin city in the state. Viewing opportunities Circle City to Central 74 miles/119 km At Mile 147 Steese, from Circle City, teams can be seen as they travel under the Birch Creek Bridge.It is 30 miles of narrow winding road between Circle City and Central. Musher travel over 70 miles of taiga and frozen swamps after leaving the banks of the Yukon River. As you travel towards Arctic Circle Hot Springs, you can view the teams right after they leave Central.
Central
Population: 113. Heart of the Central Mining District, Central is the base for a number of placer mining operations. Teams rest here after the trip over Eagle Summit. Nearby Arctic Circle Hot Springs has been a popular gathering spot for tourists and locals since the late 1800s. Viewing opportunities Central to Chena Hot Springs 70 miles/116 km After leaving Central teams can be seen at Mile 116 before they start up Eagle summit, they can also been seen at Mile 106 as they come down off the summit, and at the Dog Drop at 101 Mile.
Chena Hot Springs
Viewing opportunities Chena Hot Springs to North Pole 66 miles/106 km Mandatory layover 8 hours Once the teams leave Central, they aren’t visible from the highway again until until Mile 94 on the Steese Highway. Mile 101 is a dog drop. Mushers like to rest their teams here and warm up after the steep climb over the famous 3,650-foot Eagle Summit. . At Mile 24 on the Chena Hot Springs Road, the trail runs near the road. Valley Center is a good location to see the teams pass. There are other easily recognized locations on the road between Valley Center and Chena Hot Springs, such as the campground at 40-mile, the East Fork bridge and the state shooting range.
North Pole/Chena Lakes
Viewing opportunities North Pole to Fairbanks 33 miles/53 km. The Chena Lakes boat landing is the North Pole dog drop, and is an excellent place to view teams. Located east of North Pole, just off the Richardson Highway and East of the community of North Pole, there is good signage to direct you to the dog drop
City of Fairbanks and Fairbanks North Star Borough
Population: 84,979. This is Alaska’s second-largest city and the starting point for the Yukon Quest 2006 race. Fairbanks is the transportation, education and supply distribution centre for the region. It is home to both the Fort Wainwright U.S. Army Post and Eielson Air Force Base, and its airport is a transpolar air commerce hub. The finish line (below) is on the Chena River, which runs through the city’s downtown core. The race stays on the Chena River from the North Pole Dog drop in the chena Lakes Conservation Area. There are a number of locations to watch the teams pass, starting with the Wendell Street bridge. Check for viewing locations on Fort Wainwright and the Nordale bridge on Nordale Road.
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