Travel to the Yukon
The Yukon Territory (482'443 km2, twice the size of
the United Kingdom) is located in Canada’s far northwest corner
bordering to Alaska/USA and offers a surprisingly well developed
traffic infrastructure, despite of its low population and vast areas of
unspoilt wilderness. The capital city of Whitehorse (pop. 20,000)
features an international airport and the entire territory (pop.
30,000) is criss-crossed by a network of major highways.
Domestic air connections to Whitehorse exist from
Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton and Yellowknife. In summer, on Tuesdays
and Thursdays, the Condor (German air charter company) flies directly
from Frankfurt to Whitehorse. The return flight takes you via Anchorage
(Tue) or Fairbanks (Thu) back to Frankfurt. This allows you to combine
a Yukon-Alaska round trip directly from Europe.
Two overland routes lead from southern Canada to the
Yukon: the famous Alaska Highway (on which the Greyhound bus line
operates) and the adventurous Cassiar Highway further west. The Alaska
Highway, as the name indicates, continues on to Alaska. Another option
getting here is by boat: from Vancouver or Bellingham (near
Seattle/USA) with the ferry along the West Coast northbound through the
legendary fiord system of the Inside Passage to Skagway (Alaska) and
from there either by car/camper or by train/bus to Whitehorse.
Travel to Frances Lake
Frances Lake is located about 300 km east of
Whitehorse in the largely unspoiled southeastern Yukon. Only one road,
the Campbell Highway, a well-developed gravel road, leads through the
hilly backcountry to Frances Lake. The lodge proper is another 20 km
down the lake in a secluded bay with wonderful views to the mountains.
We are the only year-round residents on the lake, which has two arms of
about 40 km length each.
Detail
Map of Frances Lake
You can travel in your own vehicle (rental car,
motorhome) to Frances Lake, where we pick you up at the boat ramp and
bring you by motor boat to the lodge. This boat transfer is included in
the lodge rate and takes 30 minutes. Or you can fly in by floatplane
from Whitehorse (or Watson Lake) directly to the lodge. Last but not
least, we can come to pick you up in Whitehorse or Watson Lake and
bring you in our minivan to Frances Lake. Please note that most of our
multi-day canoeing and hiking trips depart from/to Whitehorse, hence
the transfer to the lodge is included in the rate.
Self-drive by car/campervan
We recommend the following three road routes from
Whitehorse:
- The fastest and easiest way via Watson
Lake: On the Alaska Highway (Hwy 1) 450 km east via Teslin to
Watson Lake (4.5 – 5 h driving time). Afterwards 170 km on the Campbell
Highway (Hwy 4) north to Frances Lake (2.5 – 3 h driving time). All in
all 620 km or 7 – 8 h driving time. Allow one full day for this drive. Details (PDF)!
- The worthwhile alternative via Carmacks:
On the North Klondike Highway (Hwy 2) 180 km north towards Dawson City
until Carmacks (2 h driving time). Afterwards 410 km on the Campbell
Highway (Hwy 4) east, by-passing Faro and Ross River to Frances Lake (6
– 7 h driving time). All in all 590 km or 8 – 9 h driving time. This
trip can be completed in one long day, but there are good options for
staying overnight along the way (motels, B&B’s, campgrounds). Details (PDF)!
- The adventurous option via South Canol
Road: On the Alaska Highway 130 km east to Johnson’s Crossing
(1.5 h driving time). Afterwards along the South Canol Road (Hwy 6) 220
km north just up to Ross River (approx. 5 h driving time) and another
180 km east along the Campbell Highway (Hwy 4) to Frances Lake (approx.
3 h driving time). All in all 530 km or 9 – 10 h driving time. The
South Canol Road is a narrow and winding mountain road. Take your time
and allow two days for the entire trip; there are nice campgrounds
along the way. Details (PDF)!
Getting to us is part of the experience and can be
well built into a
Yukon round trip. You will experience the vastness and fascination of
the Canadian North in an impressive manner. We gladly help you planning
your travels, provide more information or book your accommodation along
the way.
If required, we gladly arrange a rental car
from Whitehorse for you. Rates 2010:
- from $40 CAD + 5% GST per day (including compulsory
liability insurance and 150 km per day,
excluding voluntary collision insurance and $0.20 per extra km).
The pick-up time at the boat ramp
of Frances Lake is usually at 5:00 pm. On the day
of departure we will bring you in the course of the morning back to the
boat ramp, from where you’ll continue your individual journey.
By floatplane
Would you like to save time on the transfer and
simultaneously have an unforgettable experience? If so, we recommend
flying in by floatplane from Whitehorse directly to the lodge! The
flight across spectacular mountains, forests and lakes takes about 1
hour and 45 minutes. Rates 2010 for a one-way flight:
- Floatplane for 1 – 2 passengers, max. 270 kg
payload (passengers and baggage): $1500 CAD + 5% GST
- Floatplane for 3 – 4 passengers, max. 365 kg
payload (passengers and baggage): $1700 CAD + 5% GST
- Floatplane for 5 – 6 passengers, max. 550 kg
payload (passengers and baggage): $2850 CAD + 5% GST
These rates are guiding prices only and are subject to
change without notice. Flights are possible daily. It is also possible
to fly one way and use our road transportation service the other way
(see below).
Pick-up service
If you neither want to drive yourself nor want to
fly, we provide a pick-up service by minivan from Whitehorse or Watson
Lake. Rates 2010:
- from Whitehorse for one way and up to 4 persons:
$1200 CAD + 5% GST, each additional person $100 CAD + 5% GST.
- from Watson Lake for one way and up to 4 persons:
$300 CAD + 5% GST.
Sometimes we can pick you up in Whitehorse or Watson
Lake at reduced rates, if we are in town for business purposes.
Hotel in Whitehorse
If required, we gladly book a hotel for you in
Whitehorse. We recommend the River View Hotel, a good medium class
hotel in downtown Whitehorse close to the Yukon River. Rates 2010:
- Single Room: $124 CAD + 5% GST per night
- Double Room: $134 CAD + 5% GST per night
- Triple Room: $144 CAD + 5% GST per night
- Quad Room: $154 CAD + 5% GST per night