Taylor Highway Alaska

Taylor Highway Alaska
“The Top Of The World Highway”

Top of the World Highway : at US Customs & Border Patrol Milepost 13.2 customs point closed - until 8:00 AM, 05/01/06

Alaska’s Top of the World Highway Camping and RV Parks. Taylor Highway starting at the turnoff from the Alaska Highway at Tetlin Junction to Eagle (partially on the Klondike Loop), Alaska Route 5 is 161 miles beginning on the Alaska Highway and traveling to the small communities of Eagle and Eagle Village. This is often referred to as the “Top of the World” and is truly a scenic and spectacular drive. The highway is narrow and winding, so allow plenty of time.

Turn off on the Alaska Highwat onto the Taylor Highway

To break this down a little, the actual Taylor Highway and The Top Of The World Highway are two separate roads but intersect at Jack Wade Junction between Chicken and Boundary on the Yukon border.

At times, this road can be rough, narrow, and a little nerve-racking. This gravel road with steep hills and hairpin turns, climbs three times to over 3500 feet of elevation during your journey to the fascinating native village of Eagle on the banks of the mighty Yukon River.

Yukon-Charley Rivers

Eagle Village is the gateway to the Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve. Numerous rustic cabins and historic sites are reminders of the importance of the Yukon River during the 1898 gold rush. The Charley, a 100-mile long wild river, is considered by many to be the most spectacular river in Alaska.

Access by Vehicle, The Yukon Charley Rivers National Preserve is primarily a wilderness and there is no direct road access to the area. There are two Alaska highways that access towns near the Preserve boundaries. The 161-mile Taylor Highway begins at Tetlin Junction on the Alaska Highway and ends at Eagle, 12 miles from the preserve. It is usually open from mid-April to mid-October and is suitable for vehicle traffic. The Steese Highway is open year round. It begins in Fairbanks and travels 162 miles to the town of Circle, 14 miles from the preserve. In good weather it takes about five hours to drive either of these gravel roads. Check locally about road conditions before setting out. Proper precautions need to be taken whenever driving these wilderness roads.

Camping on the Taylor and Top Of The World Highways.

The Original Chicken Gold Camp: Relaxing retreat in Chicken (Airport Rd), close to attractions (active goldmine, golddredge, ghost town, saloon, hiking, river recreation). Dumpstation, water, some electric & pull thru sites. Park includes café, espresso/smoothie bar, gift shop and gold panning. Seperate caravan area with pavillion in 2004. The community of Chicken lies in the Mosquito Fork valley, 66 miles north of the Alaska Highway by way of the Taylor Highway, and 108 miles southwest of Dawson City, Yukon, by way of the Top of the World Highway. Both directions offer breathtaking vistas of millions of acres of wilderness with only a handful of hardy souls savoring the solitude. The "Gold Camp" is located within easy walking distance of all of Chicken's attractions. The camp provides a friendly, relaxed, off-the-road retreat.

Also see: Taylor Highway Camping areas: Alaska State Parks for State and Federal campground information.

Use the same map used by Campgrounds-Alaska. The Alaska Atlas and Gazetteer includes topographic maps of an entire state. Excellent coverage of the Taylor Highway. The road information runs the entire spectrum, from major highways, to dirt roads and trails. Ideal for finding those out-of-the-way campsites, remote lakes and hidden treasures. This Atlas has a complete gazetteer for quick and thorough reference. Also included: information about wildlife, scenic drives, parks, campgrounds, boat launches, fishing, historic sites, and now GPS grids! When you head off the main road, take an Alaska Atlas and Gazetteer with you.
Special Features: Temperature, Precipitation, Daylight Hours Chart, Mileage Chart, Shaded Relief Map for entire state. This is the one must for all Alaskan Adventurers
Index: Full Index of Place Names and Physical Features such as lakes, rivers, mountains, trails, float trip charts etc.