📷 Photo by Mario Gogh on UnsplashTop of the World Highway
The Top of the World Highway links the Taylor Highway in Alaska, via the Poker Creek border crossing, with the ferry at Dawson City. It is open only in summer.
- State
- Alaska and Yukon
- Length
- About 79 miles
- Start / end
- Jack Wade (Taylor Highway) – West Dawson
- Best season
- Summer; border crossing seasonal
- Open
- Summer only
What should you know before visiting Top of the World Highway?
- The road is about 79 miles (127 km) long. The U.S. side is partly paved, while most of the Canadian side is unpaved. Plan for gravel stretches and slow driving in a motorhome.
- Little Gold Creek is usually open from mid-May to mid-September. In 2026 it opened on 22 May after a weather delay. Check the Canada Border Services Agency and US CBP before you go.
- Yukon time is one hour ahead of Alaska. The Yukon River ferry between West Dawson and Dawson runs in summer, so check the Yukon government for sailing times.
The drive
The route leaves the Taylor Highway (Alaska Route 5) at Jack Wade Junction. On the Yukon side it is Highway 9. It ends at the ferry landing in West Dawson on the Yukon River. Alaska DOT&PF describes the Poker Creek–Little Gold Creek crossing as the northernmost international border crossing in North America. A summer ferry links West Dawson with Dawson City.
Planning
According to Alaska DOT&PF, the Taylor Highway is accessible roughly from April to mid-October; the first 60 miles are paved and the rest is gravel. Check the department's page and the border agencies of both countries before you go. No reliable information was found on wild camping or on vehicle size limits.
FAQs
How long is the Top of the World Highway?
About 127 km (79 miles) from the junction at Jack Wade to the ferry landing in West Dawson. Total travel time also depends on the approach via the Taylor Highway and on the ferry.
When is the border open?
Usually from mid-May to mid-September. The Yukon government set those dates in 2024, and in 2026 the crossing opened on 22 May after a weather delay and was due to close on 15 September. It is closed in winter. Check the border agencies beforehand.
Is the road paved?
Partly, according to older published data. Sections of the U.S. side are paved, while most of the Canadian side is unpaved with a few paved stretches. Check current condition and travel time with the responsible agencies beforehand.