Day: June 26, 2009

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The Paddlewheel Graveyard

The reason I crossed the Yukon last week was to visit Dawson’s paddlewheel graveyard, where the great old ships of yesteryear were beached and left to die once their usefulness ended. The end of the steamboat era marked the end of an age for the Yukon, as the road network became larger and more reliable. The proverbial nail in the coffin were low-lying bridges under which these ships could not pass. It’s sad to know that this was the insurmountable obstacle for ships that made it through the Five Finger Rapids. Access to the graveyards is from a trail that starts at the Yukon River Territorial Campground; most easily found with a local guide.

trailhead from site 50something :)

trailhead from site 50something 🙂

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Crossing the Yukon

Last week, I crossed the Yukon on the Dawson ferry for the first time. The ferry runs 24/7 during the summer except for a 2 hour shut down for maintenance in the wee hours of Wednesday morning. During freeze-up in the fall and break-up in the spring, residents are trapped on their side of the river for about a full month. During winter, the ice is thick enough to drive on and there is an ice bridge. Crossing on the ferry is free and the boat can accommodate very big vehicles, including RVs. The ferry is small and wait times for RVs can be long since locals have priority.

waiting to get on (I crossed over on foot)

waiting to get on (I crossed over on foot)

heading across the Yukon

heading across the Yukon

Dawson is getting to be pretty small :)

Dawson is getting to be pretty small 🙂

the ferry

the ferry

The beginning (and the end) of the Top of the World highway

The beginning (and the end) of the Top of the World highway

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The Ninth Ave and Lookout Trails

Dawson has a fabulous mostly level cross-town trail called the ‘Ninth Ave Trail’, thusly named because it runs parallel to Eighth Avenue, the last road before the Dome. The Ninth Ave Trail ends at Mary McLeod Road. Kitty corner to the left from the end of the trail is the beginning of the Lookout Trail (just before the yellow sign). This gently sloping trail takes you up to the Lookout (hence the name), which offers a more intimate view of Dawson and the Yukon River than does the view from the very top of the Dome. I’ve been up this trail a few times and never grow weary of it as it offers an almost jungle-like experience before emerging into the open Lookout. From the top, you can continue up to the Slide, and from the Slide, you can reach the Dome’s summit.

Yukon River

Yukon River

Yukon River

Yukon River

Poplars at the Lookout

Poplars at the Lookout

Dawson City and the Yukon River

Dawson City and the Yukon River

Yukon River (looking up river towards Eagle, Alaska)

Yukon River (looking up river towards Eagle, Alaska)

the Slide (seen from the opposite side of the Yukon River on another day)

the Slide (seen from the opposite side of the Yukon River on another day)