Eagle Plains, Yukon, is an expansive area of rolling hills nestled between the Ogilvie and Richardson Mountain ranges along the Dempster Highway. This high-elevation area sits on permafrost, meaning it is above the treeline and the ground is covered in mosses, lichens, and shrubs. These plants burst into a fresh green colour in June and then turn to a fiery red in late August, offering awe-inspiring views to travellers.
Despite the sparse services or settlements between the start of the Dempster Highway and Fort MacPherson, Eagle Plains, Yukon, offers a convenient stopover. The Eagle Plains Hotel is a self-sufficient complex that includes a gas station, motel, dining room, showers, laundry, staff housing, and a government office. It sits conveniently halfway between Dawson City and Inuvik.
Eagle Plains, Yukon, is a small but necessary stop in the middle of spectacular, unspoiled wilderness, less than an hour’s drive from the Arctic Circle sign. The Dempster Highway is a beautiful drive with few services, making Eagle Plains a welcome opportunity to enjoy a hot shower, throw in a load of laundry, gas up, and have a good meal. Chat with those coming from the direction you’re headed and swap notes on the current road conditions. On this epic stretch of highway, being prepared pays off.
The Eagle Plains area is covered in mosses, lichens, and dwarf shrubs that become a kaleidoscope of showy colours in late summer. The Eagle River, from which the area gets its name, meanders through the plains, fed by smaller creeks. Your trip along the Dempster Highway is going to be filled with many hours where you are the only person for kilometers around, so it’s important to take full advantage of the few stops and services where you can gas up, get some rest, and enjoy a good meal.
With a population of 8, Eagle Plains, Yukon, is one of the smallest communities in the Yukon. It’s the only hotel and garage between Dawson City and Inuvik, and one of the few places you can meet and chat with people also heading up or down on the Dempster.
Less than an hour from the Arctic Circle sign, Eagle Plains, Yukon, offers plenty of wide and wild opportunities to see the spectacular Northern landscapes and wildlife. Whether you're a seasoned adventurer or a casual traveller, Eagle Plains provides a unique and unforgettable experience.
