636:
621:
597:
648:
1746:
609:
573:
561:
495:
road, then known as Yukon
Territorial Road No. 11, began at Dawson City in January 1959. The northern terminus of the road was changed to the new town of Inuvik. Due to high costs and ongoing funding disagreements between the federal and Yukon governments, progress was slow until 1961. Once the Eagle Plains oil discovery was found to have no commercial potential, construction stopped in 1962 after 115 km (71 mi) of roadbed had been built.
476:
1734:
549:
825:
718:
257:
235:
103:
63:
37:
247:
585:
422:
922:
870:
788:
953:
126:
834:
302:
280:
42:
1471:
292:
522:; heat transfer from the highway to the ground had to be prevented so the permafrost would not melt. To address this, the road was built on top of a gravel berm, ranging from 1.2 to 2.4 m (3 ft 11 in to 7 ft 10 in), to insulate the permafrost from the road above. Some construction was completed by the
498:
Seasonal maintenance of the existing road continued but no further work was done. In 1964, the road was renamed the
Dempster Highway, after petitions by Vancouver Yukoners Association and the Yukon Order of Pioneers. Construction resumed in 1970 as the Canadian government sought to assert sovereignty
494:
With the August, 1959, discovery of oil in the Eagle Plains area, the government granted concessions to the oil industry to stimulate more exploration in the area. This provided more motivation for a road to transport equipment, infrastructure, and revenue to and from the sites. Construction of the
466:
led three men on the annual winter patrol from Fort McPherson to Dawson City. They became lost on the trail, and subsequently died of exposure and starvation. When they failed to arrive in Dawson City as expected, Corporal
Dempster and two constables were sent out on a rescue patrol in March 1911.
635:
1771:
647:
1053:
452:
620:
596:
669:
1352:
608:
537:
The final section of road was completed in 1978, at a cost of $ 132 million. The highway was officially opened on August 18, 1979, at Flat Creek, Yukon.
397:. There are no highway or major road intersections along the highway's route. It extends 736 km (457 mi) in a north-northeasterly direction to
459:
patrols between outposts and communities. One such patrol followed a route from Dawson City to the NWMP outpost at Fort McPherson, established in 1903.
1781:
1664:
1393:
1337:
209:
886:
433:
491:
in the
Northwest Territories. The road was intended as an overland, year-round supply link to southern Canada. Survey work began in 1958.
904:
641:
The
Dempster Highway approaching the MacKenzie River ferry crossing, from the south, with buildings of Tsiigehtchic visible to the right
1684:
1550:
1384:
1002:
964:
185:
1541:
1098:
1500:
956:
129:
1028:
305:
283:
1460:
960:
363:
133:
1347:
1065:
137:
1724:
1155:
560:
1328:
1627:
1643:
1455:
548:
527:
402:
572:
463:
441:
374:
193:
503:
in 1968. Work was further motivated by speculation that an oil pipeline might be built in the
Mackenzie Valley.
1612:
1495:
1342:
1211:
748:
1766:
1587:
1505:
1440:
506:
At the time of its construction, the highway was the most northerly major road project to date. Weather and
1674:
1377:
1534:
1399:
844:
515:
479:
Expedition by Cpl. William
Dempster in search of the Lost Patrol, Dawson City, Yukon Territory, 1911.
426:
410:
1776:
1648:
1425:
864:
759:
584:
500:
347:
1362:
1669:
1617:
1435:
1320:
729:
448:
114:
1237:
1420:
1415:
1370:
1094:
925:
733:
701:
406:
1710:
1679:
1577:
1527:
1121:
725:
437:
394:
378:
335:
110:
1332:
916:
828:
791:
721:
523:
484:
475:
366:, creating the first all-weather road route connecting the Canadian road network with the
343:
260:
238:
106:
1582:
1572:
1490:
1430:
1263:
1007:
531:
453:
North-West
Mounted Police established a presence in the Yukon and Northwest Territories
499:
over their Arctic territories after the
American discovery of oil and gas deposits at
1760:
1750:
1445:
1353:
Detailed
Dempster Highway article by Dallas Morning News travel writer Dave Levinthal
849:
807:
1184:
1738:
1622:
1348:
Dempster Highway road trip article on the Economist's More Intelligent Life website
983:
626:
367:
1088:
1607:
507:
467:
Dempster and his men found the bodies of Fitzgerald's patrol on March 22, 1911.
432:
The Dempster Highway roughly follows the old dog sled route from Dawson City to
390:
359:
1010:– the only other all-season highway to cross the Arctic Circle in North America
487:, the Canadian government decided to build a road from Dawson City in Yukon to
62:
17:
1602:
1597:
1519:
1485:
1357:
932:
878:
519:
421:
355:
246:
36:
1325:
381:, who earned renown for discovering the fate of a lost NWMP patrol in 1911.
534:
built bridges over the Ogilvie River in 1971 and the Eagle River in 1977.
1029:"GCR - News - First ever road to Canada's Arctic coast to open this week"
511:
456:
1292:
510:
conditions presented challenges. In 1979, a work crew was trapped in a
488:
331:
940:
653:
Pavilion marking where the Dempster Highway crosses the Arctic Circle
398:
339:
156:
1556:
695:
474:
420:
351:
166:
1470:
291:
41:
1523:
1366:
822:
973:
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
27:
Highway in Yukon Territory and Northwest Territories, Canada
483:
In 1958, as oil and gas exploration were expanding in the
1156:"Building the Dempster Highway: an engineering challenge"
518:
and was almost lost. Construction had to account for the
350:
and the Mackenzie rivers using a combination of seasonal
1722:
447:
During the late 19th century, and in response to the
75:
Maintained by Department of Highways and Public Works
362:
opened in November 2017, with the completion of the
1693:
1657:
1636:
1565:
1478:
1408:
1212:"An Engineering Memoir: A Bridge in the Yukon 1971"
614:
Sign in Eagle Plains: "High winds and blowing snow"
389:The highway begins 40 km (25 mi) east of
201:
176:
162:
152:
147:
120:
97:
92:
79:
69:
32:
1238:"Colonel Commandant, BGen S.M. Irwin, CD (Ret'd)"
1700:Yukon Department of Highways and Public Works
1535:
1378:
8:
1090:The Lost Patrol: The Mounties' Yukon Tragedy
796:Uses a portion of the highway as its runway.
436:and is named for Corporal (later Inspector)
1242:The Canadian Military Engineers Association
602:Mt. Tombstone in Tombstone Territorial Park
1772:Northwest Territories territorial highways
1542:
1528:
1520:
1385:
1371:
1363:
662:
272:
227:
1709:Hwy 1 is signed as BC 97 along the Yukon-
1244:. Canadian Military Engineers Association
401:, Northwest Territories, passing through
1358:Video of winter crossing at Tsiigehtchic
1287:
1285:
358:. Year-round road access from Inuvik to
1729:
1338:Dempster Highway at Inuvik Town website
1218:. Royal Military College Club of Canada
1020:
544:
1162:. Yukon News and Black Press Group Ltd
29:
1179:
1177:
1116:
1114:
1112:
1110:
1052:Morrison, William R. (January 1986).
950:
944:
914:
908:
896:
890:
862:
856:
816:
806:
800:
785:
779:
769:
763:
754:Highest point on the Dempster Highway
747:
741:
715:
709:
7:
1149:
1147:
1145:
1143:
814:Yukon – Northwest Territories border
1297:Government of Northwest Territories
1270:. Spectacular Northwest Territories
455:. Their activities included winter
1665:Alcan–Beaver Creek Border Crossing
1003:List of Yukon territorial highways
899:Second and last available services
839:One hour time change (summer only)
677:
83:737.5 km (458.3 mi)
25:
462:In December 1910, NWMP Inspector
1744:
1732:
1501:Tibbitt to Contwoyto Winter Road
1469:
1343:Dempster Highway at Travel Yukon
1033:www.globalconstructionreview.com
951:
920:
868:
832:
823:
786:
716:
646:
634:
619:
607:
595:
583:
571:
559:
554:Dempster Highway south of Inuvik
547:
300:
290:
278:
255:
245:
233:
124:
101:
87:NWT-8: 271 km (168 mi)
61:
40:
35:
1461:Highway 10 (Inuvik–Tuktoyaktuk)
1321:Opening of the Dempster Highway
1154:Gates, Michael (4 March 2015).
346:delta. The highway crosses the
342:, Northwest Territories on the
328:Northwest Territories Highway 8
85:YT-5: 465 km (289 mi)
56:Northwest Territories Highway 8
1782:Roads within the Arctic Circle
1685:Skagway–Fraser Border Crossing
751:– 1,289 m (4,229 ft)
210:Northwest Territories highways
1:
682:
629:over the Dempster near Inuvik
186:Territorial highways in Yukon
1628:37 (Stewart–Cassiar Highway)
1613:9 (Top of the World Highway)
1210:Gray, Don (5 January 2014).
1064:(2): 190–191. Archived from
334:in Canada that connects the
1588:4 (Robert Campbell Highway)
1441:Highway 6 (Fort Resolution)
837:Highway 8 southern terminus
1798:
1122:"Dempster Highway History"
961:Inuvik–Tuktoyaktuk Highway
425:Dempster Highway near the
403:Tombstone Territorial Park
364:Inuvik–Tuktoyaktuk Highway
134:Inuvik–Tuktoyaktuk Highway
1707:
1467:
972:
968:
947:
939:
911:
903:
898:
893:
885:
859:
853:
848:
843:
819:
813:
803:
795:
782:
776:
771:
766:
758:
753:
744:
737:
712:
706:
699:
694:
689:
686:
681:
676:
673:
668:
665:
464:Francis Joseph Fitzgerald
442:North-West Mounted Police
375:North-West Mounted Police
373:The highway is named for
271:
226:
222:
205:
181:
172:
143:
74:
60:
53:
979:
935:(late November to April)
881:(late November to April)
772:First available services
566:Sign on Dempster Highway
1618:10 (Nahanni Range Road)
1506:Tuktoyaktuk Winter Road
1426:Highway 3 (Yellowknife)
1637:Other roads and trails
1436:Highway 5 (Fort Smith)
480:
429:
322:, also referred to as
1421:Highway 2 (Hay River)
1416:Highway 1 (Mackenzie)
1401:Northwest Territories
845:Northwest Territories
528:3 Field Squadron, RCE
478:
424:
1593:5 (Dempster Highway)
1578:2 (Klondike Highway)
1566:Territorial highways
1509:(permanently closed)
1451:Highway 8 (Dempster)
1431:Highway 4 (Ingraham)
1268:The Dempster Highway
1087:North, Dick (2004).
931:(June to October) •
877:(June to October) •
831:northern terminus •
516:Richardson Mountains
427:Richardson Mountains
1649:List of Yukon roads
1456:Highway 9 (Tłı̨chǫ)
659:Major intersections
501:Prudhoe Bay, Alaska
1583:3 (Haines Highway)
1573:1 (Alaska Highway)
1552:Roads and highways
1395:Roads and highways
1331:2012-04-23 at the
1326:Map of the highway
1185:"Dempster Highway"
481:
449:Klondike Gold Rush
430:
1720:
1719:
1670:Dawson City Ferry
1658:Roadside features
1623:11 (Silver Trail)
1517:
1516:
1446:Highway 7 (Liard)
1191:. PR Services Ltd
1128:. PR Services Ltd
1068:on 6 October 2015
1054:"W.J.D. Dempster"
994:
993:
413:mountain ranges.
405:and crossing the
385:Route description
316:
315:
312:
311:
267:
266:
70:Route information
16:(Redirected from
1789:
1749:
1748:
1747:
1737:
1736:
1735:
1728:
1713:
1712:British Columbia
1680:Sign Post Forest
1559:
1553:
1544:
1537:
1530:
1521:
1473:
1402:
1396:
1387:
1380:
1373:
1364:
1308:
1307:
1305:
1303:
1289:
1280:
1279:
1277:
1275:
1260:
1254:
1253:
1251:
1249:
1234:
1228:
1227:
1225:
1223:
1207:
1201:
1200:
1198:
1196:
1181:
1172:
1171:
1169:
1167:
1151:
1138:
1137:
1135:
1133:
1118:
1105:
1104:
1093:. Globe Pequot.
1084:
1078:
1077:
1075:
1073:
1049:
1043:
1042:
1040:
1039:
1025:
987:
980:
955:
954:
924:
923:
872:
871:
836:
835:
827:
826:
790:
789:
726:Klondike Highway
720:
719:
684:
679:
663:
650:
638:
623:
611:
599:
590:Dempster Highway
587:
575:
563:
551:
438:William Dempster
395:Klondike Highway
379:William Dempster
336:Klondike Highway
320:Dempster Highway
308:
304:
303:
294:
286:
282:
281:
273:
263:
259:
258:
249:
241:
237:
236:
228:
128:
127:
111:Klondike Highway
105:
104:
65:
47:Dempster Highway
44:
39:
30:
21:
1797:
1796:
1792:
1791:
1790:
1788:
1787:
1786:
1757:
1756:
1755:
1745:
1743:
1733:
1731:
1723:
1721:
1716:
1711:
1703:
1689:
1653:
1632:
1608:8 (Tagish Road)
1561:
1557:
1551:
1548:
1518:
1513:
1496:Ragged Ass Road
1474:
1465:
1404:
1400:
1394:
1391:
1333:Wayback Machine
1317:
1312:
1311:
1301:
1299:
1291:
1290:
1283:
1273:
1271:
1262:
1261:
1257:
1247:
1245:
1236:
1235:
1231:
1221:
1219:
1209:
1208:
1204:
1194:
1192:
1183:
1182:
1175:
1165:
1163:
1153:
1152:
1141:
1131:
1129:
1120:
1119:
1108:
1101:
1086:
1085:
1081:
1071:
1069:
1051:
1050:
1046:
1037:
1035:
1027:
1026:
1022:
1017:
999:
990:
982:
978:
974:
952:
921:
919:
917:Mackenzie River
875:Abraham Francis
869:
867:
838:
833:
824:
792:Wiley Aerodrome
787:
749:North Fork Pass
717:
661:
654:
651:
642:
639:
630:
624:
615:
612:
603:
600:
591:
588:
579:
576:
567:
564:
555:
552:
543:
524:Canadian Forces
485:Mackenzie Delta
473:
419:
393:, Yukon on the
387:
377:(NWMP) officer
344:Mackenzie River
324:Yukon Highway 5
301:
299:
279:
277:
256:
254:
234:
232:
125:
115:Dawson City, YT
102:
93:Major junctions
88:
86:
55:
54:Yukon Highway 5
49:
48:
45:
28:
23:
22:
18:Yukon Highway 5
15:
12:
11:
5:
1795:
1793:
1785:
1784:
1779:
1774:
1769:
1767:Roads in Yukon
1759:
1758:
1754:
1753:
1741:
1718:
1717:
1708:
1705:
1704:
1702:
1701:
1697:
1695:
1694:Highway agency
1691:
1690:
1688:
1687:
1682:
1677:
1675:Overland Trail
1672:
1667:
1661:
1659:
1655:
1654:
1652:
1651:
1646:
1640:
1638:
1634:
1633:
1631:
1630:
1625:
1620:
1615:
1610:
1605:
1603:7 (Atlin Road)
1600:
1598:6 (Canol Road)
1595:
1590:
1585:
1580:
1575:
1569:
1567:
1563:
1562:
1549:
1547:
1546:
1539:
1532:
1524:
1515:
1514:
1512:
1511:
1503:
1498:
1493:
1491:Deh Cho Bridge
1488:
1482:
1480:
1476:
1475:
1468:
1466:
1464:
1463:
1458:
1453:
1448:
1443:
1438:
1433:
1428:
1423:
1418:
1412:
1410:
1406:
1405:
1392:
1390:
1389:
1382:
1375:
1367:
1361:
1360:
1355:
1350:
1345:
1340:
1335:
1323:
1316:
1315:External links
1313:
1310:
1309:
1281:
1255:
1229:
1202:
1173:
1139:
1106:
1099:
1079:
1044:
1019:
1018:
1016:
1013:
1012:
1011:
1008:Dalton Highway
1005:
998:
995:
992:
991:
989:
988:
975:
970:
969:
967:
949:
946:
943:
937:
936:
928:Louis Cardinal
913:
910:
907:
901:
900:
897:
895:
892:
889:
887:Fort McPherson
883:
882:
861:
858:
855:
852:
847:
841:
840:
821:
818:
815:
811:
810:
805:
802:
798:
797:
794:
784:
781:
778:
774:
773:
770:
768:
765:
762:
756:
755:
752:
746:
743:
739:
738:
736:
714:
711:
708:
705:
698:
692:
691:
688:
685:
680:
675:
672:
667:
660:
657:
656:
655:
652:
645:
643:
640:
633:
631:
625:
618:
616:
613:
606:
604:
601:
594:
592:
589:
582:
580:
577:
570:
568:
565:
558:
556:
553:
546:
542:
539:
532:CFB Chilliwack
472:
469:
434:Fort McPherson
418:
415:
386:
383:
314:
313:
310:
309:
296:
287:
269:
268:
265:
264:
251:
242:
224:
223:
220:
219:
218:
217:
214:
213:
203:
202:
199:
198:
197:
196:
190:
189:
179:
178:
177:Highway system
174:
173:
170:
169:
164:
160:
159:
154:
150:
149:
145:
144:
141:
140:
122:
121:North end
118:
117:
99:
98:South end
95:
94:
90:
89:
84:
81:
77:
76:
72:
71:
67:
66:
58:
57:
51:
50:
46:
34:
33:
26:
24:
14:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1794:
1783:
1780:
1778:
1775:
1773:
1770:
1768:
1765:
1764:
1762:
1752:
1742:
1740:
1730:
1726:
1714:
1706:
1699:
1698:
1696:
1692:
1686:
1683:
1681:
1678:
1676:
1673:
1671:
1668:
1666:
1663:
1662:
1660:
1656:
1650:
1647:
1645:
1642:
1641:
1639:
1635:
1629:
1626:
1624:
1621:
1619:
1616:
1614:
1611:
1609:
1606:
1604:
1601:
1599:
1596:
1594:
1591:
1589:
1586:
1584:
1581:
1579:
1576:
1574:
1571:
1570:
1568:
1564:
1560:
1554:
1545:
1540:
1538:
1533:
1531:
1526:
1525:
1522:
1510:
1507:
1504:
1502:
1499:
1497:
1494:
1492:
1489:
1487:
1484:
1483:
1481:
1477:
1472:
1462:
1459:
1457:
1454:
1452:
1449:
1447:
1444:
1442:
1439:
1437:
1434:
1432:
1429:
1427:
1424:
1422:
1419:
1417:
1414:
1413:
1411:
1407:
1403:
1397:
1388:
1383:
1381:
1376:
1374:
1369:
1368:
1365:
1359:
1356:
1354:
1351:
1349:
1346:
1344:
1341:
1339:
1336:
1334:
1330:
1327:
1324:
1322:
1319:
1318:
1314:
1298:
1294:
1288:
1286:
1282:
1269:
1265:
1259:
1256:
1243:
1239:
1233:
1230:
1217:
1213:
1206:
1203:
1190:
1186:
1180:
1178:
1174:
1161:
1157:
1150:
1148:
1146:
1144:
1140:
1127:
1123:
1117:
1115:
1113:
1111:
1107:
1102:
1100:1-59228-573-2
1096:
1092:
1091:
1083:
1080:
1067:
1063:
1059:
1055:
1048:
1045:
1034:
1030:
1024:
1021:
1014:
1009:
1006:
1004:
1001:
1000:
996:
985:
977:
976:
971:
966:
962:
958:
942:
938:
934:
930:
929:
918:
906:
902:
888:
884:
880:
876:
866:
851:
846:
842:
830:
812:
809:
808:Arctic Circle
799:
793:
775:
761:
757:
750:
740:
735:
731:
727:
723:
704:
703:
697:
693:
671:
664:
658:
649:
644:
637:
632:
628:
622:
617:
610:
605:
598:
593:
586:
581:
578:Arctic spruce
574:
569:
562:
557:
550:
545:
540:
538:
535:
533:
529:
525:
521:
517:
513:
509:
504:
502:
496:
492:
490:
486:
477:
470:
468:
465:
460:
458:
454:
450:
445:
443:
439:
435:
428:
423:
416:
414:
412:
408:
404:
400:
396:
392:
384:
382:
380:
376:
371:
369:
365:
361:
357:
354:services and
353:
349:
345:
341:
337:
333:
329:
325:
321:
307:
297:
295:
293:
288:
285:
275:
274:
270:
262:
252:
250:
248:
243:
240:
230:
229:
225:
221:
216:
215:
212:
211:
207:
206:
204:
200:
195:
194:Miscellaneous
192:
191:
188:
187:
183:
182:
180:
175:
171:
168:
165:
161:
158:
155:
151:
146:
142:
139:
135:
131:
123:
119:
116:
112:
108:
100:
96:
91:
82:
78:
73:
68:
64:
59:
52:
43:
38:
31:
19:
1592:
1508:
1450:
1300:. Retrieved
1296:
1272:. Retrieved
1267:
1258:
1246:. Retrieved
1241:
1232:
1220:. Retrieved
1215:
1205:
1193:. Retrieved
1188:
1164:. Retrieved
1159:
1130:. Retrieved
1125:
1089:
1082:
1070:. Retrieved
1066:the original
1061:
1057:
1047:
1036:. Retrieved
1032:
1023:
981:
927:
915:Crosses the
905:Tsiigehtchic
874:
863:Crosses the
760:Eagle Plains
700:
687:Destinations
627:Midnight sun
536:
505:
497:
493:
482:
471:Construction
461:
446:
431:
388:
372:
368:Arctic Ocean
338:in Yukon to
327:
323:
319:
317:
289:
244:
208:
184:
1479:Other roads
1302:October 31,
1274:26 November
1264:"The Route"
1248:26 November
1222:26 November
1195:26 November
1166:26 November
1132:26 November
1072:24 November
965:Tuktoyaktuk
730:Dawson City
702:unorganized
391:Dawson City
360:Tuktoyaktuk
356:ice bridges
1777:Inuvialuit
1761:Categories
1486:Canol Road
1189:Yukon Info
1160:Yukon News
1126:Yukon Info
1038:2017-11-23
1015:References
986:transition
957:Highway 10
933:Ice bridge
879:Ice bridge
865:Peel River
829:Hwy 5
734:Whitehorse
722:Hwy 2
520:permafrost
411:Richardson
261:Hwy 6
239:Hwy 4
138:Inuvik, NT
130:Highway 10
107:Hwy 2
1715:boundary.
1293:"Ferries"
1216:e-Veritas
963:) –
728:) –
666:Territory
306:Highway 9
284:Highway 7
1409:Highways
1329:Archived
997:See also
674:Location
512:blizzard
508:daylight
457:dog sled
163:Province
148:Location
1725:Portals
1398:in the
959:north (
854:
777:
707:
541:Gallery
514:in the
489:Aklavik
440:of the
417:History
407:Ogilvie
332:highway
330:, is a
153:Country
113:) near
1751:Canada
1097:
1058:Arctic
941:Inuvik
850:Inuvik
670:Region
451:, the
399:Inuvik
340:Inuvik
157:Canada
80:Length
1739:Roads
1644:BC 97
1558:Yukon
984:Route
696:Yukon
690:Notes
530:from
352:ferry
167:Yukon
1304:2018
1276:2017
1250:2017
1224:2017
1197:2017
1168:2017
1134:2017
1095:ISBN
1074:2017
409:and
348:Peel
326:and
318:The
1555:in
948:457
945:736
926:MV
912:378
909:608
894:340
891:550
873:MV
860:335
857:539
820:289
817:465
804:252
801:405
783:243
780:391
767:229
764:369
713:0.0
136:),
1763::
1295:.
1284:^
1266:.
1240:.
1214:.
1187:.
1176:^
1158:.
1142:^
1124:.
1109:^
1062:39
1060:.
1056:.
1031:.
745:51
742:82
732:,
683:mi
678:km
526:;
444:.
370:.
298:→
276:←
253:→
231:←
1727::
1543:e
1536:t
1529:v
1386:e
1379:t
1372:v
1306:.
1278:.
1252:.
1226:.
1199:.
1170:.
1136:.
1103:.
1076:.
1041:.
724:(
710:0
132:(
109:(
20:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
