Travel to the Heart of the Klondike Gold Rush - Dawson City

Dawson City, Yukon (50ish, rain most of the time, one sunny day)

Traveling to Dawson City from Chicken Alaska involves going over the Top of the World Highway. This is a challenging stretch of road with sections of pavement, gravel, and pot holes. Lots of pot holes. From what we have gathered you either arrive in Dawson City covered in dust or covered in mud. We got mud!

The road climbs to over 4000 feet and the views are spectacular. On a clear day it must be really beautiful. John had to be very careful and stay on the road even when large trucks passed by. The shoulders of the road are very soft and steep. We had heard rumors of a few motorhomes toppling over this season. We crossed into Canada at the top of the highway and entered the Yukon Territory. It rained most of our trip and although it was only 108 miles it took us 5 hours to accomplish. It was our toughest drive.

The road ends at the Yukon River and we waited for a free ferry to take us over to Dawson City. The river was rushing and the ferry looked so small as it approached. However, we quickly got on with the expert help of the crew.

Here is a brief video of our Dawson River Crossing

Within minutes it bumped into the shore and we were off. Our campground was only a few minutes from the port. It was a welcome site.











Speaking of sights....when we arrived our motorhome and Jeep were covered in mud. People stopped to take pictures. I couldn't stop laughing at how it looked. That evening a heavy rainstorm came through and John went out and was able to brush off a lot of the mud on the motorhome during the storm. Sweet!

We really like Dawson City. It's had had an extensive renovation by Parks Canada and local residents. This historic gold rush town has been lovingly restored. It's a gem. You may remember our earlier visit to Skagway where the gold prospectors originally landed. They eventually floated down the Yukon River with all their goods to try and strick it rich.  This is where all that took place.

Here is a link to our earlier post in Skagway.

S.S. Keno

Excellent place for dinner

Yukon poet Robert Service cabin

Pretty hanging baskets adorn ths lovely home

Commissioners Rescidence

Good example of the false fronts of many of the buildings

A must see show is Diamond Tooth Gerties. It's a non-profit gambling casino which offers three completely different shows each night. It's a Klondike style, can can show and lots of fun. We went with our friends Bob and Becky for the 10 pm and midnight show. Next thing we knew Bob was commandeered to be part of the show.  He was a great sport.  Check  out his special hidden talents we were unaware of in the video below. He is the fourth person from the right. 

Lots of people have told us to be sure and stop at the Downtown Hotel and join the Sourtoe Club. Currently, believe it or not, there are over 100,000 members who have drank a cocktail which includes a shot of alcohol where your lips touch a "dehydrated" toe. "You can drink it fast, or drink it slow, but your lips gotta touch the toe".  Well, of coarse we had to check this out one evening. Barry, Becky, John, and I are now certificate carrying members. I thought there would only be a few of us who would show up. I was mistaken. There was a long line of people down the stairs and out the door most of the night waiting for their turn.  

We also enjoyed a tour of the Gold Dredge #4. This was a more effectve way to get gold and was utilized  in Dawson City and other areas from 1914 to 1959. The mechanics of this "digger" was made in Ohio and was carried by ship to the mouth of the Yukon and then by a river boat upstream where it was assembled. In today's money it cost $16.5 million dollars.  Our friend Becky called it "the largest pac man like dirt eating gold sifting monstrosity".

There were 64 two ton buckets which basically scooped up the dirt from just above the bedrock. It then entered into this structure where it was sifted.  Huge amounts of water washed the dirt and mud away and they were able to clear 200 ounces of gold per day. Amazing!

Slues where the water separated out the rock and gold

You can probably tell we had a great time n Dawson Coy. It really exceeded our expectations and ts a fun place to visit. It's not the easiest place to get to but well worth the effort. 

Campground Review:  Gold Rush Campground, 3 stars, 30 amp gravel full hook up, parking lot style, sites very close together, terrible WiFi. good Verizon signal. What is great about this campground is it's location. You can walk downtown and visit all the attractions and restaurants. 

We Love Chicken!

Chicken, Alaska (52 degrees, rain, cloudy)

As we drove to Chicken Alaska along the Taylor Highway the crazy chicken dance song went round and round in my head. So the fun continued when we arrived and saw chickens everywhere around town. I loved this travel day as we drove across a very remote area with stunning views. This is the area Jack London loved so much and we can  understand why. 

So if you want to get this ear worm (warning its hard to get rid of) in your head click here!

Here is a short video of the Taylor Highway

L to R (me, Bob, Becky, Jann, and Barry)

Chicken Alaska is very small with a population of 3. Yes, three full time residents. The post mistress, her gold mining husband and a child. During the summer there are about 30 residents running a few shops and restaurants. All electricity is provided by generators .We had fun stopping at all the gift shops and really enjoyed the restaurant at our campground. There are three small business areas to visit. We were going to stay two nights but one night is just about right. 

There is a popular book, Tisha, written about a school teacher who wanted to live in the frontier. She taught here in a one room school house. It gets very cold here in the winter and there is a story of her bundling up all the children and teaching them in her bed one very chilly day. We hiked out to the historic home, school house, roadhouse, and a few other odd buildings on a tour. All of the buildings are in very sad shape and if not preserved soon will be lost to decay and frost heaves. It would be sad to loose this part of history. 

Gold mining is still going on in this area in a big way. One of the merchants actually takes gold as payment from local miners. You can also learn to pan for gold and tour a gold dredge. 

Gold Dredge

Campground Review:  Chicken Gold Camp and Outpost  3 stars, 30 amp electric only, you are encouraged to come with a full tank of water and empty grey/black tanks, no dump, take your trash out with you, dirt site with a little landscaping, electricity provided by a generator, very friendly and helpful staff, good restaurant with outdoor seating. No Verizon signal, limited WiFi provided.

The time we spent in Chicken was lots of fun and definitely worth the effort to get there. We are now heading out on the Top of the World Highway to Dawson City. This is where the prospectors came to try and strick it rich during a gold rush. 

Relaxing At Chena Hot Springs

Chena Hot Springs, Alaska (46 degrees with lots of rain)

If you have followed our blog for awhile you will know we love hot springs. They can be so relaxing and there is something about being close to nature at the same time which makes them special. This hot spring is about 56 miles north of Fairbanks and an easy drive. Barry and Jann had been here six year ago and were amazed how much it's grown since their last visit. 

There is now a lodge, restaurant, Ice Bar, reindeer farm, chickens, and soon to open zip line and airplane bar. The campground is without hook up and a short walk to the pool. John and I quickly set off for the hot springs after setting up. There are flower gardens with mass displays everywhere. 

We were disappointed with the condition of the hot springs and found a thick layer of algae on the walls, rocks, and ramp leading into them. The showers were also not very clean. Sheesh!  It was a let down for sure. I think in the massive expansion of the resort they are not paying attention to details. 

There is a interesting free tour of the thermoelectric plant which heats the buildings very inexpensively. We were impressed by the hydroponic greenhouses where they are raising lettuce and tomatoes for the restaurants without using soil. They are able to keep this going even when it's 60 degrees below zero in the winter.

Tomato vines are over 45 feet long all raised in water and nutrients. No soil

Lettuce garden

Ice Bar

For fun we all signed up for the Ice Bar Tour. It's a huge white igloo building which is maintained inside at 25 degrees year round. Everything is made of ice, including the bar and four ice suites where you can stay overnight if you dare. Our tour lasted about 1 1/2 hours with some time spent trying a appletini martini. It was poured into a ice martini glass. Cool! We had a fun time. 

Ice studio where everything is created

"cool" fireplace

Barry and me enjoying a  appletini

Ice Bar

delicate ice rose

chandeliers made of ice

martini glasses are made on a lathe

The owner recently acquired three planes which are being hoisted up in the air for some type of zip line and bar. They were in the process of installing some of this while we are there plus preparing for a renewable energy conference where the Governor of Alaska was speaking. It's a busy place.

Upcoming zip line and bar

The resort has lots of potential, however, due to the lack of attention to the hot spring we cannot recommend going here. However, the ice bar was fun and very unique. 

Campground Review:  2 stars, worn out primitive campground with lots of potholes. It was very muddy during our stay and rain is frequent here. Sites are close together. Water and dump available. $20 per night, no Verizon signal. WiFi available at lodge for $1/hour. I paid for one hour and it didn't work.