Tour Arctic

Ride in Canada's Northern Lands

From a start on the shores of the Pacific ocean in Vancouver we go to Tuktoyaktuk on the Arctic Ocean.

Vancouver, B.C. to Tuktoyaktuk, N.W.T.

Cycling is be on paved and unpaved roads.

Services in some areas can be minimal and riders will pass through remote areas with spectacular scenery.

For Tips about riding Tour Arctic please visit: Tour Arctic FAQ

To learn more about the level of support on Cycle Canada's tours please visit Frequently Asked Questions

  

Tour Itinerary

Two start points, Vancouver or Prince Rupert

Vancouver Island

The first leg of the tour travels north on Vancouver Island.Leaving Vancouver there is a cross-town ride to catch the ferry to the Nanaimo on the Island. This is a short warm-up day and the terrain is gentle. From Nanaimo head north to Port Hardy.

Leaving Port Hardy travel by ferry through the spectacular Inside Passage to northern British Columbia.

Dease Lake and Alcan Highways

After some rest and relaxation time on the B.C. ferry and a rest day in Prince Rupert travel east on the Yellowhead Highway. Turn north onto the Dease Lake Highway to go through a a scenic and remote section of the Northern Interior of British Columbia. After a rest day at Dease Lake continue north to the Alcan Highway also known as the Alaska Highway, and then it's on to Whitehorse.

Whitehorse to Dawson

Whitehorse is a big city in the Yukon but not by southern standards.

The ride then continues to head north and as you travel the days become longer and the nights shorter. This section of the tour is mostly paved. Follow the Klondike Highway to Dawson, passing through long-established First Nation territories. It's the old goldrush route and remnants of that era are evident in Dawson today.

Dawson was the boom town during the gold rush and we'll have a rest day here. Diamond Tooth Gerties, the gambling hall and saloon, still is a hopping place, especially in summer.

Leaving Dawson City in the Yukon follow the Dempster Highway to Inuvik - in the Northwest Territories. The Dempster Highway is an unpaved road that stretches 734 km (456 miles) through Arctic wilderness to reach the delta of the Mackenzie River. Along the highway travel through the Gwich'in land, and cross the Arctic Circle.

There are two short ferry rides, crossing the Peel River and the MacKenzie where it is joined by the Arctic Red River.

There are few services along the route and the riding is extremely challenging. Daily distances for this portion of the trip are reduced.