The Top of the World Highway runs between Jack Wade, Alaska (USA) and Dawson City, Yukon (Canada) , crossing the international border in the far north of North America.

Quick location summary

  • Starting point (Alaska side):
    • Near the unincorporated community of Jack Wade , where it joins the Taylor Highway (Alaska Route 5) at “Jack Wade Junction”.
  • Ending point (Canada side):
    • In Dawson City , Yukon, on the western banks of the Yukon River , where you can take a ferry to West Dawson (Mile 0 of the highway).
  • Border crossing:
    • At the Poker Creek–Little Gold Creek port of entry, roughly midway along the route.

Where exactly is it?

In the United States (Alaska)

  • The U.S. portion is about 21 km (13 mi) long.
  • It starts at the Jack Wade Junction on the Taylor Highway and heads eastward toward the Canadian border.
  • To reach it from the main Alaska Highway system, you drive north on the Alaska Highway, then east on the Taylor Highway through places like Chicken and Jack Wade before hitting the Top of the World Highway.

In Canada (Yukon)

  • The Canadian portion is about 106 km (66 mi) long, mostly gravel.
  • It runs from the border east/northeast to Dawson City , then ends at the West Dawson ferry terminal on the Yukon River.
  • From Dawson City, you can connect to the Klondike Highway for access to other parts of Yukon and further into Canada.

Practical details

  • Total length: Roughly 127 km (79 mi).
  • Surface: Mostly unpaved gravel , with some paved sections near Dawson and the border.
  • Seasonal: Open only in summer (late spring to early fall), when the border crossing and ferry at Dawson are operational.
  • Border hours: The Canada–U.S. border here is typically open May–September , roughly 9 am–9 pm Yukon time (8 am–8 pm Alaska time).

Why it’s called “Top of the World”

The name comes from the fact that the road follows high mountain ridges and peaks, often giving you views down into valleys rather than up at them—so it feels like you’re driving along the “top” of the landscape. The highway reaches elevations around 1,375 m (4,515 ft) above sea level.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.