It’s not your typical tourist must-see list, but here are a few of my personal favorites, from north to south.
- Kluane National Park
Kluane National Park is a big park, a sister park to Wrangell St. Elias in the U.S. The tallest mountain in Canada , Mt. Logan, is here, along with an awful lot of other REALLY tall mountains. There are glaciers, lakes, rivers, Dall’s Sheep, grizzly bears, etc., etc., etc. You’re driving by it for about 75 miles as you drive down the AlCan, you may as well make a stop and take a few pictures even if you don’t take the time to hike. But take a hike if you can.
- Village Bakery & Deli in Haines Junction.
Really good coffee can be a little hard to come by on the AlCan. This place has great coffee – as well as fantastic breads, yummee sweet treats, savory snacks, and delicious meals. And then there’s the vibe. Such a happy welcoming place. They also have free wifi if you’ve been out of touch for a few days and need to check your e-mail.
The Village Bakery is a seasonal business, usually opening in late April and closing in mid-September. At one time or another I’ve hit both their first day and last day of the season, and I’m always sad if I’m too early or too late in my travels to catch them open. Best coffee shop on the AlCan – a don’t miss if you’re traveling through during the warmer months of the year.
- Whitehorse
The only real city on the highway, it’s got everything you need. Time for an oil change or need some car repair? You can get it here and not have to wait til sometime next week for your appointment. Need to buy a few things to get you through? There are grocery stores as well as big box stores like Canadian Tire and Walmart. There are specialty businesses. For instance, my computer bit the dust and there was an Apple dealer in town so I could get it looked at.
There’s culture and nightlife – some, at least. There’s a lot of history, being an epicenter of Klondike Gold Rush activity. There’s a good library. All the things a city is good for, but not a lot of the bad things about cities.
I don’t like cities, but Whitehorse is small enough to not stress me out. Traffic ain’t bad, there are beautiful places to go quite close to town. You can camp in the center of town, or stay at a youth hostel or a B&B. It’s a good place to land for a night.
- Contact Creek
Cheapest place to buy gas for hundreds of miles in either direction. ‘Nuff said.
- Liard Hot Springs
I love it, and not just cuz my name is Mil-liard! Everyone’s #1 favorite stop along the AlCan, these semi-developed, but not overly developed hot springs are just a short walk along a boardwalk trail away. You can camp at the nearby campground and visit the hot springs at any time of the day or night. It’s just a sweet spot in the middle of nowhere.
There’s lots of wildlife nearby. You’ll often see Wood Bison on the road and it’s not unusual to run into a moose near the boardwalk. Once when I was there, some folks even saw otters playing at the lower pool! Be very aware of bears, though.
- Muncho Lake
Beautiful turquoise lake with very cool mountains and glacial rivers surrounding it. Great place to see caribou and Stone’s Sheep. Maybe one day I’ll actually go through when a campground is open and spend a little more time. I sure would like to!
- Toad River Lodge
A beautiful setting with very nice and relatively inexpensive cabins if you’re looking for a bed for the night. Toad River Lodge has a restaurant, too, with typical diner food.
- Stone Mountain Provincial Park
The day you see both Stone Mountain and Muncho Lake is by far the most beautiful day on the AlCan. Another great place for Stone’s Sheep and caribou sightings.
- Tetsa River
See Ben at Tetsa River Lodge (tetsariverlodge@gmail.com) for the best cinnamon rolls on the AlCan – Ben’s boast about the best cinnamon rolls in the galactic cluster is true – they may very well be the best cinnamon rolls you’ve ever had! They are humongous and delicious – a full meal, maybe two! Ben also has a bed for the night if you need one, makes and sells homemade sausages, and has a nice gift shop with lots of books and local crafts.
Just past Tetsa River Lodge is Tetsa River Campground. This is a great place to camp, especially as the next few hundred miles take you through the oil patch between Fort Nelson and Fort St. Johns – definitely NOT my favorite part of the AlCan!
- Kiskatinaw Provincial Park
A surprisingly nice little area tucked away off the beaten track between Dawson Creek and Fort St. Johns, It’s very peaceful and quiet here. Look for ruffed grouse and black bears in the spring.
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