High mountain road over the Coast Mountains Updated June 2022
After my four-day Alaska Ferry trip from Prince Rupert, British Columbia, to Skagway, Alaska, I headed inland towards Whitehorse. Getting from Skagway to Whitehorse, in Canada’s Yukon Territory, means going over the White Pass.
Click here for information on getting to Skagway on the Alaska Ferry.
Click photos to enlarge.
White Pass is a high mountain road through the Coast Mountain Range with an elevation of 873 metres (2,864 feet).
Winter Driving
No problem during summer, but going over White Pass in winter could be dangerous. I was worried about pulling a trailer up the mountain. If the road was icy, I might not be able to get enough traction to pull the trailer up the hill. Nor would I be able to drive backwards down the mountain with a trailer. I would be stuck there. I was confident that my truck alone could make it, but pulling a trailer uphill on ice is difficult for any vehicle.
Do not attempt this trip unless you have experience with winter driving on snow and ice and a vehicle with a four-wheel drive. Of course, you could do it in summer, but the scenery would be less spectacular, and even then, the weather in the high mountains is unpredictable.
Fortunately, I was lucky. It had not snowed in several days, and the sun was shining. The road was mostly bare with just a few icy and snow-covered patches. I used my four-wheel drive in these places.
At the Summit
After crossing the summit, I parked and went for a walk. This road is busy with tourists in the summer, but hardly any traffic in winter. So I was alone in a vast valley, surrounded by majestic mountains. Not just snow-capped mountains, but mountains buried in snow. I felt so small and insignificant in this magnificent place. After taking some photos, I went to sit in my truck as it was freezing (minus 26 C., minus 15 F.). I sat there for a long while, happy to be in such an incredible place.
Any car could have made it over the pass on this day. The road was dry, and the sun was shining. But all days in the White Pass are not like this one. The road could be covered in ice and snow, and it could be snowing so hard that visibility is abysmal. If you are unfamiliar with winter driving, this is known as a “whiteout” when the road, the fields, the sky and everything between all looks the same – white! Perhaps that is why it is called the White Pass. If you plan on driving this road, check the conditions before you go. You may need studded winter tires or chains. Or be prepared to wait a few days in Skagway until the conditions improve.
Also, remember that this road crosses the border between the United States and Canada. Therefore, you will need your passport.
If you are lucky and get a sunny day as I had, you will be in for a treat that can be seen in very few places worldwide. This is one of the reasons I travel. To get to such majestic places as this!
Why Do I Have a Canoe in the Mountains in the Middle of Winter?
I was on a long two-year drive from Guatemala to the Arctic coast. I plan to arrive at the coast in summer and go canoeing in the Arctic Ocean.
The White Pass was named after Canadian Interior Minister Thomas White.
From one Tom to another, thank you very much for the information.