Dalton Highway to Deadhorse Alaska

[South Texas 97]

Has anyone driven up from the lower 48 and then up the Dalton Highway (Alaska Pipeline Highway) all the way to Deadhorse?

Not particularly challenging in a true 4x4 off roading sense, but it looks like it could be a nice drive in an old FJ40.

 

[charliemeyer007]

There is some guy with a old diesel F350 with a home made cabin on the back. He goes all over up there even in the winter. Nice looking country. My F150 had done the AlCan 2 twice with the PO. He flew his Talor Craft home from the airbase up there.

 

[Chilkoot]

I’ve got a decent amount of experience driving up and down the Alcan a handful of times. (Grew up in SE Alaska, went out of state to college, now live in Southcentral Alaska.) I’ve never made the drive up to Deadhorse.

The Alcan in present day form is doable in any car that will make it the few thousand miles to get from A-B. It’s all paved, a few sections where frost heaves are nasty forcing you to slow down for a couple hours at a time if you value your vehicle.

The winter driving is another animal entirely but I’m assuming you arent wanting to drive a few thousand miles in negative degree Fahrenheit in an 40. Otherwise it’s an easy drive and extremely scenic. With a 40 I would have at least a few extra gas containers. During the late fall and winter a few of the gas stations can close I believe more along the Cassiar highway.

If you take the Alcan all the way up make sure to stop at the Liard River Hot Springs. You drive right by it so it is not out of the way at all and it is the best place to take a break and a quick soak.

The second stretch to Deadhorse I have no experience but I’m sure others will chime in. Hope you’re able to make the trip into reality!

 

[sogncab]

(Grew up in SE Alaska, went out of state to college, now live in Southcentral Alaska.)

2026, a few of us are talking about taking chitty old Toyotas from Minnesota up to Prudhoe Bay. We don't have dates set yet.
I've always wanted to go to the STOL competition in Valdez and I thought that would be a good first stop for the trip.
I think that's in middle of May typically.

Is that a dumb AF time to try and visit the arctic circle?

 

[cbmontgo]

2026, a few of us are talking about taking chitty old Toyotas from Minnesota up to Prudhoe Bay. We don't have dates set yet.
I've always wanted to go to the STOL competition in Valdez and I thought that would be a good first stop for the trip.
I think that's in middle of May typically.

Is that a dumb AF time to try and visit the arctic circle?

I may just have to follow you up there in Pikachu. That sounds like an absolute blast.

 

[oregonfj]

2026, a few of us are talking about taking chitty old Toyotas from Minnesota up to Prudhoe Bay. We don't have dates set yet.
I've always wanted to go to the STOL competition in Valdez and I thought that would be a good first stop for the trip.
I think that's in middle of May typically.

Is that a dumb AF time to try and visit the arctic circle?

The roads always open. I see motorcycles in deadhorse sometimes that early. You cant get on the lease to see the ocean though.

 

[Mark W]

There are handful of guys on Mud who have made the trip up the Dalton. Not sure how many are still here.

I did it a couple of years ago on the spur of the moment. We have a long weekend and the trail we planed to hike near Fairbanks was being devoured by a wildfire. So we decided to keep going north since we have not gotten around to doing it. We stopped at a department store in FAI and picked up a 5 gallon gas can to toss in the back of the Subaru and took off. IIRC, we took two days going up, but rallied harder on the way back and made FAi at the end of one longer day.

It is really no big deal. The only concern I would have is that if you do break down or have any problems, there is no services or support. Better be ready to deal with things yourself.

Mark...

 

[Mark W]

When you go, plan to stop for a meal in Coldfoot for the daily buffet. The menu is... whatever the cook feels like cooking. It will be basic. and it will be GOOD. Ya gotta stop there anyway, because that is the only fuel to be had.

Mark...

 

[Chilkoot]

2026, a few of us are talking about taking chitty old Toyotas from Minnesota up to Prudhoe Bay. We don't have dates set yet.
I've always wanted to go to the STOL competition in Valdez and I thought that would be a good first stop for the trip.
I think that's in middle of May typically.

Is that a dumb AF time to try and visit the arctic circle?

Valdez is an awesome place to stop. If you want a scenic and cheap campground look at Blueberry Lake campground. It’s in Thompson pass before you descend down ~24 miles into Valdez. You will also pass by Worthington Glacier ~28 miles from Valdez which warrants a stop and quick hike.

Might be a little muddy depending on the winter and break up that year. Probably will get into the 30s at night up north by Deadhorse according to the interwebz. Should be as good a time as any to make that journey!

 

[rkymtnflyfisher]

I have been thinking about taking the Alcan up to AK recently, I think it would be an amazing trip in a reliable 40.

From what I've heard chatting with a buddy who has been working up there for a while, most traffic goes one way or the other for the trip. Either drive up and ferry back, or ferry up and drive back. Depending on ferry schedules and driver schedules, usually peeps ferry up and drive back.

I may be interested if this turns into a bonafide trip.

 

[Mark W]

I have been thinking about taking the Alcan up to AK recently, I think it would be an amazing trip in a reliable 40.

From what I've heard chatting with a buddy who has been working up there for a while, most traffic goes one way or the other for the trip. Either drive up and ferry back, or ferry up and drive back. Depending on ferry schedules and driver schedules, usually peeps ferry up and drive back.

I may be interested if this turns into a bonafide trip.

Almost everyone who comes up drives both ways. I am sure that *some* people use the ferry system, but I have only ever talked to one person who has. And I talk to a lot of people who come up for the trip.

Mark...

 

[devo]

Back in 1995 we drove the Dempster all the way to the end at Inuvik–Tuktoyaktuk .
On the same trip we drove the Dalton.

(I’m bragging here!)

 

[Jonathan Hanson]

We ran across this fellow at the hotel in Deadhorse. Pretty much kills the argument that you need a butch 4x4 to drive the Dalton. At least in summer. He was running awesome Pirelli Scorpion rally tires.

 

[sogncab]

Valdez is an awesome place to stop. If you want a scenic and cheap campground look at Blueberry Lake campground. It’s in Thompson pass before you descend down ~24 miles into Valdez. You will also pass by Worthington Glacier ~28 miles from Valdez which warrants a stop and quick hike.

Might be a little muddy depending on the winter and break up that year. Probably will get into the 30s at night up north by Deadhorse according to the interwebz. Should be as good a time as any to make that journey!

Noted.

I'm from Minnesota. I can deal with 30º pretty easily. Hopefully some cold keeps the bugs at bay.
Another concern is some freak storm comes through. But any snow that does land won't be hanging around that long.

 

[Engineer8000]

Got as far as just north of Livengood in 2000 on a bike (from Omaha). We went in July. The skeeters are tiny but there a gillion of them. We were on street bikes and not equipped for a flat so did not chance the gravel up to Prudhoe. The Alcan is not as challenging as it once was. I would like to take the 40 up the Dalton Highway. Will be following this.

You have to stop in Dawson City for the sour toe cocktail.

 

[1911]

2026, a few of us are talking about taking chitty old Toyotas from Minnesota up to Prudhoe Bay. We don't have dates set yet.
I've always wanted to go to the STOL competition in Valdez and I thought that would be a good first stop for the trip.
I think that's in middle of May typically.

Is that a dumb AF time to try and visit the arctic circle?

I used to live and work out of Deadhorse Base Camp, right next to Prudhoe Bay.

The good news about the middle of May, is that the sun will be up - it doesn't rise at all that far north until February or March - but by May, it will be light pretty much 24 hours a day. It will be warming up by Arctic standards, i.e. about freezing or even a little above. But that brings the ice breakup at that time of year. The ice breakup won't affect your driving on the AlCan, but it will mean a bunch of extra traffic and activity at Deadhorse and Prudhoe Bay, as all of the oil and gas exploration on the ice has to cease for the season so as not to bugger the permafrost.

 

[Ditcherman]

This would be a dream trip for me.

It’s wild to think that at the artic circle or even Alaska in general there would be general accessibility, when the passes in SW Colorado are still closed.

I suppose it’s all about elevation?

 

[AlaskanWheeler]

I've done it a few times, with a short wheelbase, I would be very couscous. That road can be slicker than snot... Have breakfast and dinner at Coldfoot, I wouldn't stay there though. Right up the road is Wiseman, there are a couple B&B's, and the town has a great historical museum. Also the Fish and Wildlife visitors center is a diamond in the ruff, definitely a must stop. The weather is very unpredictable, typical Alaskan summer... North of Atitgun Pass the road has been in absolutely horrid conditions. I wouldn't not be surprised at all, if you break something in this stretch of road, it's beat to dog sh*t... If you plan on doing this with a 40 series, have it sealed as best you can, you're going to get mud literally everywhere. Mud mixed with a stiffener called calcium carbonate also makes it a pain in the ass to wash off...

Depending on your cell phone carrier, there is also cell service in the vicinity of Coldfoot.

 

[South Texas 97]

Thanks for all the replies - it looks like it will be fun.
Seeing the Ferrari reminds me of the time I drove up to Hurricane ridge in Olympic National park and then along Obstruction Point road - thought I was doing pretty well in my 1997 series 80, get to the end of the road and here parked was a Fiat 500 and a Mercedes 2 door sports model!

Drive Up and Drive Back from Houston.
Extra Gas - for sure a 12 or 20 gallon tank mounted properly. with the Sniper I am getting around 15/gallon now.
Extra spare tire
tools
Communications
some recover gear - but mainly just tow straps I think.
Something for the bears and the mosquitos.
Wonder if I can make a flat bed to sleep on inside the truck if I need to spend the night.

 

[OlYellr]

Thanks for all the replies - it looks like it will be fun.
Seeing the Ferrari reminds me of the time I drove up to Hurricane ridge in Olympic National park and then along Obstruction Point road - thought I was doing pretty well in my 1997 series 80, get to the end of the road and here parked was a Fiat 500 and a Mercedes 2 door sports model!

Drive Up and Drive Back from Houston.
Extra Gas - for sure a 12 or 20 gallon tank mounted properly. with the Sniper I am getting around 15/gallon now.
Extra spare tire
tools
Communications
some recover gear - but mainly just tow straps I think.
Something for the bears and the mosquitos.
Wonder if I can make a flat bed to sleep on inside the truck if I need to spend the night.

I will see if I can find the thread - basically someone made a platform that goes over the passenger seat (reclined) back over the jump seat.