
Road trip guide: Conquering the Haines Highway
Canada, north-america
245 km
1,012 m
easy
Year-round
Dude, you HAVE to check out the Haines Highway. Seriously, this drive from Alaska to the Yukon is mind-blowing, especially in the fall!
It's also known as Haines Cut-Off or just Haines Road. The whole thing is paved, so no need to worry about gravel. Clocking in at 152 miles (245 km), it links Haines, Alaska, with Haines Junction in the Yukon, and it follows the old trails used by the Chilkat/Tinglit First Nations. Pretty cool, huh?
The highway is open all year and usually clear of snow by May. It's a good, two-lane road. If you're thinking of driving between September 15th and June 1st, peep the weather forecast first.
Built way back in 1943 by the U.S. Army, this road hugs the Chilkat River for over 20 miles north of Haines. It climbs to a max elevation of 3,320 feet (1.012m). The views? Epic! Think crazy mountains with glaciers. You’ll cruise past high peaks, glaciers, rivers, and lakes the whole way. You’ll go from coastal forests to alpine tundra, climb up to the summit, cruise through an alpine valley, and then gently descend to Haines Junction. Word of warning: there aren't any services along the way, so fuel up and stock up on supplies before you hit the road!
Where is it?
Road trip guide: Conquering the Haines Highway is located in Canada (north-america). Coordinates: 53.1724, -106.9646
Road Details
- Country
- Canada
- Continent
- north-america
- Length
- 245 km
- Max Elevation
- 1,012 m
- Difficulty
- easy
- Coordinates
- 53.1724, -106.9646
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