Yukon Road Map

Description:
This map shows cities, towns, highways, main roads, secondary roads, rivers, lakes, national parks, and provincial parks in Yukon.

Yukon Roads

The road network in Yukon consists of approximately 5,000 kilometers of roads, including paved highways, gravel roads, and seasonal access routes. Due to the territory's sparse population and challenging terrain, most roads connect major communities along established corridors, with vast areas remaining roadless wilderness.

Road Classification and Maintenance

Yukon roads are classified into several categories. Primary highways include the Alaska Highway, Klondike Highway, and other main routes that receive regular maintenance and winter clearing. Secondary roads connect smaller communities and resource extraction sites. Many of these are gravel-surfaced and may have limited maintenance during winter months.

The territorial government maintains most public roads through the Department of Highways and Public Works. Maintenance includes snowplowing, grading, dust control on gravel sections, and bridge upkeep. Winter road conditions can be severe, with temperatures dropping below -40°C and requiring specialized maintenance equipment.

Surface Types

Approximately 40% of Yukon's highway system is paved, primarily consisting of major routes serving Whitehorse and connections to Alaska and British Columbia. The remaining highways and roads have gravel or crushed rock surfaces. Paving projects continue gradually, though the high costs of northern construction and permafrost conditions slow progress.

Seasonal and Resource Roads

Winter roads provide temporary access to remote areas and mining operations. These ice roads typically operate from January to March when ground and water surfaces freeze sufficiently to support vehicle traffic. Summer access to some communities relies on ferry services across major rivers, with ice bridges replacing ferries during winter freeze-up and spring break-up periods creating temporary road closures.

Resource roads built for mining and forestry operations comprise a significant portion of Yukon's road infrastructure. These roads typically have restricted public access and varying maintenance standards.