If your ideal road trip involves getting way off the beaten track then this is the drive for you. Canada’s only all-season public road to cross the Arctic Circle, the Dempster Highway, is 740 km (458 mi.) of unpaved road that traverses some of the most beautiful scenery on the planet. It starts near Dawson City and heads due north to Inuvik in the Northwest Territories. Dramatic tundra landscapes, mountain ranges and abundant wildlife are all part of the Dempster experience. Early summer brings a variety of young animals, mid-summer heralds long days under the midnight sun, while late summer visitors are treated to vivid crimson and gold tundra vegetation.

We started in Whitehorse (2 nights), the capital of the Yukon Territory. Then drove 533 km/331 mi. to Dawson City (2). We finally got on the Dempster and drove all day (409km/254 mi) with a one-night stop in Eagle Plains (1), then onto Inuvik (265km) for 2 nights. One day in Inuvik we did a return trip (152km each way) to Tuktoyaktuk on the Arctic Ocean. We flew back to Whitehorse from Inuvik.

Drive from Whitehorse to Dawson City (and the start of the Dempster)

Our driver Reinhard Semmel navigated the old Chevy van along the gravel surface

Crossing into the Northwest Territories – only 281 miles to go

Over 3 mountain ranges: North of the tree line

Crossing the mighty Mackenzie River by ferry

Travel companions: Clarence & Margie from Cold Lake, AB and Angela from Munich

Finally reached the Arctic Ocean — only dipped my feet in it

Our new friends, Roger & Winnie, live in Tuktoyuktuk invited us for lunch – Here they show us their winter wardrobe