August 5, 2025 – Tombstone – Dempster Highway from Dawson City, Yukon
2025 Yukon & Northwest Territories
Tombstone & Oglivie Mountains – South Dempster Hwy
As we drive to the start of the Dempster Highway, our local guide shares that the Klondike Highway to Dawson was built in 1953. Previously, traffic between Whitehorse and Dawson City used river boats during warm weather and a wagon road was used in winter. As we cross the Klondike River bridge and start our journey north on the Dempster Highway, she tells us the story of The Lost Patrol – the ill-fated mission to Fort McPherson by an experienced North West Mounted Police dog sled team that lost their way in the winter of 1911. All froze to death on this very route we are on.
This southern section of the gravel, all-season Dempster Highway follows the North Klondike River, however the highway continues all the way to Inuvik and onward to Tuktoyaktuk in the North West Territories. Legends are shared about pioneers Joe and Annie Henry, who lived at Wolf Creek, which is in the area we drive through today. The Oglivie Mountains are spectacular in the summer light along this route. By noon we arrive at the Tombstone Territorial Interpretive Centre and Campground, where we have a rest break and a picnic lunch. I pop my drone up to capture some panoramas and video of this beautiful area.
After lunch, we continue north through the beautiful Blackstone Valley, arriving at Two Moose Lake at 1:30pm, the most northerly point in our drive today. On our return drive south, we stop at the Tombstone Mountain lookout, where we catch glimpses of that iconic mountain to the south through the heavy clouds. We continue south, arriving back in Dawson City in the late afternoon. Despite the overcast skies and a few rain showers, it was great to experience “The Dempster” as this route is referred to by locals. Our bus is covered in mud from this gravel highway, so our driver has to make a trip to the local vehicle wash!
Dawson City
I have drinks and dinner with a couple from our tour group this evening. We start at Bombay Peggy’s for Naughty martinis: Midnight Cowboy (cacao & espresso), Bloomer Remover (classic gin martini) for me, and a Big Speak (cranberry). Although expensive, all three cocktails meet our exacting standards in this funky bar with a history! We decide on the Drunken Goat Taverna – Greek Couzina for dinner. We sat with others from our group as we enjoyed the tasty food on the street-side patio.
