Ferry crossing Dawson City

Tripalot wrote:
Before you take the ferry you might enjoy walking the hike to the riverboat graveyards - very interesting.

If you are leaving Dawson City and taking the ferry to the TOW, the graveyard is on the far side, AFTER you get off the ferry. I agree, don't miss it, if you can hike. I went with a friend. A bit rugged and not for the feint of heart, but it was pretty cool. As we were hiking back, my friend said. . . "Hope we don't see any bears." Oops. I had bear spray, but I left it in the motorhome. We did come upon a very large dome type mound that we thought might be a den.

There are times when the river is down enough you can walk along the bank, but that was not the case when we were there. You can get info from the Visitor's Center in Dawson Creek. They have a map and information about the wrecks.

Dale

thomasw wrote:
Great info...thanks to all. Planning on making the Alaska trip this summer and wanted to include the TOW. Driving a 33ft gasser (Fleetwood Flair) towing a jeep SUV. The post by Tony Lee scares me a little concerning the possibility of damage during the offload from the George Black. The RV has rear bumper guards (designed to take the hit first should the rear bottom out), but the drop hitch for the Toad goes below that. If bottoming out is a concern, I suppose I could take the drop hitch off for the ferry trip? (I am the only driver on the trip so I can't drive the TOAD separately) Thoughts, experiences, suggestions?

Our RV was much smaller, but we were still going to scrape moving off. Terry mentioned that and they stopped us and put down some dunnage boards. Then they directed us off without a problem.

Dale

You could drive the toad separately. The ferry is free.

Unhook. Park the toad near the ferry landing. Take the RV across. Park the RV. Take the ferry back as a foot passenger. Take the toad across. Rehook up.

The ferry runs continuously. Foot passengers take the next ferry. Vehicles wait their turn.

Great info...thanks to all. Planning on making the Alaska trip this summer and wanted to include the TOW. Driving a 33ft gasser (Fleetwood Flair) towing a jeep SUV. The post by Tony Lee scares me a little concerning the possibility of damage during the offload from the George Black. The RV has rear bumper guards (designed to take the hit first should the rear bottom out), but the drop hitch for the Toad goes below that. If bottoming out is a concern, I suppose I could take the drop hitch off for the ferry trip? (I am the only driver on the trip so I can't drive the TOAD separately) Thoughts, experiences, suggestions?

Unless we get a real stretch of colder weather, the ice might give away early this year. This past week's warm spell (above freezing) has resulted in a lot of ice leaving Whitehorse heading downriver. The open water in Whitehorse is significant now.

I hear the Yukon River still has open water in places around Dawson City too.

Last year the ice was very late breaking up. Who knows this year?

You do need to be a little fatalistic about damage to the rear skirt on your long MHs because the ramp angles are a bit variable depending on how carefully they have graded the approaches

cewillis wrote:
Don't know when you're planning to go, but you might want to check for ice on the Yukon

Ferry and Ice Bridge Conditions:
Pelly Barge : closed for season (2013-10-10 15:06)
Yukon River Ice Bridge : closed (2014-01-14 08:51)
George Black Ferry : closed for season (2014-01-14 08:51)

It will only be in late July, thanks for the info

Sure. I drove a 38 footer with a toad attached. Early crossings you'll have to deal with ice on the Yukon and poor TOW highway condition. Later in the spring/summer crossings, you may face extended waits with caravans.

Before you take the ferry you might enjoy walking the hike to the riverboat graveyards - very interesting.

Don't know when you're planning to go, but you might want to check for ice on the Yukon

Ferry and Ice Bridge Conditions:
Pelly Barge : closed for season (2013-10-10 15:06)
Yukon River Ice Bridge : closed (2014-01-14 08:51)
George Black Ferry : closed for season (2014-01-14 08:51)