Driving the Alaska Highway and Yukon Winter Roads as a New Driver

Photo: Susan Drury, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Alaska Highway and other Yukon highways are long, often far from services, and rough in places from permafrost damage. In winter they are snow-covered and dark for much of the day, and caribou, bison and moose use them year-round. If you are a new Yukon driver, or a parent planning a first long trip with one, start here. It covers checking conditions, following distances, permafrost and wildlife hotspots, and what to carry.

Key facts (Yukon, as of November 2026)

• Check road conditions with 511 Yukon: 511yukon.ca, the 511 Yukon app, or phone 511.
• In winter, the Government of Yukon advises increasing your following distance from 3 to 4 seconds to 8 to 10 seconds.
• Permafrost causes dips and waves on the Alaska Highway, especially between Haines Junction and Beaver Creek.
• Caribou are often seen along the highway from December to April on some stretches.
• Don’t use cruise control in winter driving conditions.

Before you go: check 511 Yukon

Road reports, closures and wildfire impacts are posted on 511 Yukon. You can also set up notifications for your route. Check it the night before and again before you leave. Conditions change fast, and in summer, wildfire activity can affect highway access.

New drivers: learners must be off the road by midnight and always have a co-driver. Novices need a co-driver from midnight to 5 a.m. Plan long trips in daylight, inside those hours. See Yukon novice driver rules.

Following distance and stopping on Yukon winter roads

• Allow about twice the time to stop in winter. On ice, the handbook warns braking distance can be 10 times normal.
• All-wheel drive and four-wheel drive help you get moving, but they do not help you stop on snow and ice.
• Winter tires marked with the mountain snowflake symbol improve traction and stopping.
• Expect longer stopping distances on gravel, too. Leave more space and slow down for loose surfaces.

Permafrost and rough highway sections

Thawing permafrost causes waves, dips and heaves that can make the road feel like a roller coaster. The Government of Yukon highlights the Alaska Highway from Haines Junction to Beaver Creek, near the Alaska border. On the Shakwak corridor section it also reports cracks, bumps and potholes.

• Watch for warning signs and slow down before the dip, not in it.
• Keep both hands on the wheel. A heave at speed can unsettle the vehicle.
• Give oncoming trucks space. Their loads move over heaves too.

Wildlife hotspots

Yukon winters make animals hard to see, especially at dawn, dusk and night. The Yukon Wildlife Viewing Guide flags these stretches of the Alaska Highway corridor:

• Little Rancheria caribou: often seen along the highway from December to April.
• Carcross caribou near Judas Creek: often on the highway in winter. Slow down through this section.
• Bison near Muncho Lake (on the British Columbia section): groups may cross at any time and are very hard to see at night.
• Horseranch caribou: identified as a high collision area.

For what to do when an animal is on the road, and after a collision, see moose, deer and caribou: avoiding wildlife collisions in Canada.

What to carry: a Yukon winter emergency kit

The Government of Yukon says every vehicle should carry a winter driving emergency kit. Its list includes:

• shovel
• traction aids such as sand and tire chains
• spare tire and tire tools
• warning lights
• warm clothing
• food and water
• first-aid kit
• survival blankets

On the Dempster Highway, a gravel road with long winters from October to April, flat tires are common. Carry a spare.

A first long-trip checklist for new drivers

1. Check 511 Yukon and the weather.
2. Tell someone your route and arrival time.
3. Fill up whenever you can. Distances between services can be long.
4. Do your pre-trip check: lights, tires, wipers, washer fluid, clear windows.
5. Pack the emergency kit and charge your phone (for emergencies only while driving).
6. Drive in daylight, within your GDL hours, with cruise control off in winter conditions.
7. Take breaks before you feel tired, and swap drivers if your co-driver is fully licensed.

Common questions

Is the Alaska Highway open in winter?

Winter conditions and closures change quickly. Check 511 Yukon for the current status of your route before every trip.

Do I need winter tires in Yukon?

The Government of Yukon recommends winter tires with the mountain snowflake symbol for better traction and stopping. You must use winter tires or chains wherever a regulatory sign says so.

Can a learner drive the Alaska Highway?

Yes, with a qualified co-driver and only between 5 a.m. and midnight. Highway practice also counts toward your 50 hours.

Can I use cruise control on Yukon highways?

Not in winter driving conditions. It doesn’t adjust for road conditions.

When are wildlife collisions most likely?

At dawn, dusk and night, when animals are hardest to see. In winter, caribou are often along certain stretches.

Back to the full guide: learning to drive in Yukon. For winter skills across Canada, see winter driving in Canada for new drivers. Related: Yukon road test.

Sources

• Government of Yukon, “Winter driving road-safety awareness” (yukon.ca)
• Government of Yukon, “Driving on permafrost-affected roads” (yukon.ca)
• Government of Yukon, “Restoring the Shakwak corridor” (yukon.ca)
• Government of Yukon, “Yukon Wildlife Viewing Guide” (yukon.ca)
• Government of Yukon, “The Dempster Highway Travelogue” (yukon.ca)
• Government of Yukon, “Yukon Driver’s Basic Handbook: Cars and light trucks” (yukon.ca)
• Government of Yukon, “Get a driver’s licence” (yukon.ca)
• Government of Yukon, 511 Yukon road conditions (511yukon.ca)