Alcan Highway Stories that will capture your imagination, by people who have driven and experienced this incredible highway.

Alcan Highway -

On the highway, 1947

It All Begins Right Here

The Alcan Highway, also known as the Alaska Highway,  Alaska Canadian Highway, or the "Alcan", officially begins in Dawson Creek, Canada and ends at Delta Junction, Alaska.

On the Canadian side, when you're driving the highway up to Alaska, the famous sign above is the perfect place to stop and take a picture or even a "selfie", just to prove you were there.

The Old "Highway" When It First Opened

The rough Alcan Highway that greeted travelers when the road first opened around 1947, and for many years that followed, was nothing more than a barely two lane gravel-covered dirt road that curved around all over the place.

In the summer it was dusty, and when it rained, the fine dust turned into a slick slim. And the rocks on the road were a constant source of flat tires.

Back then, gravel constantly pelted your car

As cars and trucks passed you on the other side, gravel flying through the air, caused many a broken headlight and cracked thousands of windshields.

In fact, replacing headlights, windshields and repairing flat tires became a great way to make money for the few service stations along the way.

But gas stations weren't the only thing that was scarce.

Grocery stores and places to eat and stop for the night were few and far between. If you were driving at night and you stopped your car and turned off the motor, what you heard was total silence, especially in the Yukon Territory where there are miles and miles of wilderness.

When you had a breakdown out in the middle of who knows where, you were totally at the mercy of others who were driving the road. Fortunately, drivers would always stop to offer assistance.

In the winter, the Alcan Highway gave you different problems. Ice and snow covered the road and driving conditions and cold temperatures were dangerous.

The original road was 1,700 miles long. But over the years, construction on the highway has straightened out many of the curves, twist and turns. So today's Alaska Canadian Highway is 1,387 miles in length, or about 313 miles shorter.

Today, if you look closely while traveling the now paved highway, you can still see a few sections of the original dirt road. And if you can, pull over, stop and take a look at the old road. And try to imagine what driving that narrow "highway" must have been like back in the day.

The early days on the Alcan in 1947

Photos below courtesy of Erik Park

Erik's mom traveled the Alaska Highway with her family in 1947 from Boulder, Colorado, and the next year she graduated from Anchorage High School in 1948.

On the highway in 1951

Photo below, courtesy of Nick Daggart

Just look at the early day Alcan travelers in the photos above.

Can you imagine?

But the difficulties and trials encountered in the highway's early days, did not keep those pilgrims from their goal of reaching Alaska.

What are your memories?

Alaska Highway Movie

Check out the Free Movie Below

A movie about the construction of the highway

Because the Alcan was constructed during World War II, a Hollywood movie was produced about the highway's construction titled "Alaska Highway."

The movie starred Richard Arlen and Jean Parker.

You can watch the entire movie right here. Just turn up the sound, sit back and enjoy Hollywood's version of the highway.

Alcan Highway History

Construction of the Highway

Construction of this incredible road began during World War II because the United States needed to be connected to Alaska.

The only way to do that was by creating a highway through Canada. And that meant lots of wilderness.

As you might imagine, construction of the highway was incredibly difficult. Just getting building supplies, equipment and crews into position was a major undertaking.

Then, in 1942, the Alaska Canadian Highway was completed.

But the highway didn't open to the public until around 1947.

Along the Highway

Watson Lake Sign Post Forest in the Yukon Territory

Thousands and thousands of travelers have stopped to rest at the Watson Lake "Sign Post Forest" and many have contributed to this fascinating place along the Alcan Highway.

If you really take the time to look, you'll spot lots of interesting signs and license plates from all over the world. Many of the signs look as if they were "removed" from their original location somewhere else in the world and relocated to the Sign Post Forest.

The Highway as it Looks Today

Today, the highway is more like a very long Sunday drive. It's paved and there are lots of places where you can pull over, get gas for your car, get breakfast, lunch or dinner and stay for the night.

The Alcan Ends at Delta Junction, Alaska

Notice at the bottom of the sign it reads "End of the Alaska Highway"

Yesterday and today It's an incredibly scenic drive through beautiful forests, valleys and over majestic mountains.

The road also passes by huge, crystal clear lakes and follows along swift moving rivers. 

There are also plenty of towns, lodges and beautiful places to spend the night or park your RV.

When you make the drive today, try to imagine when it was just a thin, two lane, gravel-covered dirt road. Then try to imagine how difficult it was for the many thousands who drove the highway back in the day.

Adults, who as children, took the journey with their parents back in the day, still recall the amazing road trip and have plenty of interesting stories to tell.

Did you drive the Alcan Highway?

Post your story so we can share your experiences.

To learn more about this one-of-a-kind road, visit the Alaska Highway House right now

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