Today, the highway provides access to the communities of Faro and Ross River and various mining operations. It also provides adventurous travelers with an extraordinary alternative to the Alaska Highway route between Whitehorse and Watson Lake, taking them through the remote, spectacular wilderness of the Yukon.
| Length | 583 km (362 mi), Watson Lake to the North Klondike Highway just north of Carmacks |
|---|---|
| Highway number | Yukon Highway 4 |
| Surface & season | Mix of gravel and chip seal (roughly 40% sealed, 60% gravel). Open year-round; can be rough and slippery in winter. |
| Fuel & services | Watson Lake · Ross River (11 km off the highway) · Faro (9 km off) · Carmacks (3 km south of the west end) |
| Longest gap | About 360 km between Watson Lake and the Ross River turnoff, with very little traffic. Carry extra fuel. |
| Connecting roads | Nahanni Range Road (km 108) · South Canol Road (km 354) · North Klondike Highway (west end) |
| Road conditions | 511 Yukon (official, live). Ask at the Watson Lake Visitor Information Centre before you set out. |
| Stop | Approx. km |
|---|---|
| Watson Lake (Alaska Highway junction) | 0 |
| Simpson Lake campground | 81 |
| Nahanni Range Road junction (Tuchitua) | 108 |
| Frances Lake campground | 171 |
| Finlayson Lake viewpoint | 233 |
| South Canol Road junction | 354 |
| Ross River turnoff (11 km) | 363 |
| Faro turnoff, Mitchell Road (9 km) | 414 |
| Drury Creek campground | 468 |
| Little Salmon Lake campground | 502 |
| North Klondike Highway junction (3 km north of Carmacks) | 580–583 |
Kilometres are approximate (Government of Yukon kilometre posts; campground figures converted from The MILEPOST). Always check 511 Yukon before you travel. Last updated: October 2026.
583 km (362 miles), from the Alaska Highway at Watson Lake to the North Klondike Highway just north of Carmacks. It passes the turnoffs for Ross River and Faro on the way.
Only partly. It is a mix of gravel and chip seal, roughly 40 per cent sealed and 60 per cent gravel, with ongoing improvements. Expect dust and washboard on gravel sections and soft shoulders, and drive with your headlights on.
In Watson Lake, Ross River (11 km off the highway), Faro (9 km off) and Carmacks. The stretch from Watson Lake to the Ross River turnoff is about 360 km with very little traffic, so start with a full tank and carry extra fuel. Motorcyclists should carry auxiliary tanks.
Yes, it is open all year, but it can be rough and slippery in winter and services are far apart. Check 511 Yukon before you leave.
A Hudson’s Bay Company fur trader who explored the region in the 1840s, following the Liard and Frances rivers and building trading posts along the way. In 1843 he reached the Yukon River. The highway, completed in 1969, follows parts of his route.
Yes, if you want a quieter, more remote route. Combined with the North Klondike Highway, it links Watson Lake and Whitehorse through the Yukon’s interior. Travel Yukon allows about 7 hours from Watson Lake to Faro (426 km) and 5 hours from Faro to Whitehorse via Carmacks (358 km).
Lake scenery and wildlife are the main draws. Stops include Frances Lake, the Finlayson Lake viewpoint with panels on the Finlayson caribou herd, the Ross River footbridge and Pelly Barge, Faro’s Campbell Region Interpretive Centre and Fannin sheep, and Little Salmon Lake. There are at least eight campgrounds along the way.
Use 511 Yukon (511yukon.ca), the Government of Yukon’s official source for road conditions, closures and construction. You can also ask at the Watson Lake Visitor Information Centre before you set out.