A 45-year-old brochure in my collection has me intrigued. In the late 1960s, US Route 287 was being promoted as the best route to Alaska. Note the description of the Mileposts in this clip from the brochure - from M.P. 00 at Dawson Creek they go north to Fairbanks at M.P. 1520, and south to Tallahassee, Florida at M.P. 3500 :) Have any of you driven 287 as your main access route north?

I cam south from Edmonton on Can 2 which at the US/Can border turns into I15 (US287) in this area. Not sure what part of US 287 you have in mind as much of it is now I-15.South of I-90 US 191 would be a better choice.

I really enjoy these old routes (like 66 of course). As I was on I-15 for a ways, I guess I was on part of 287 when I brought my new rig up from Phoenix in August. :)

Actually, US 287 is only the same as I-15 for 40 miles--from downtown Helena, MT to Exit 228. US 287 was once advertised as the "National Parks Route" and the "Gulf to Rockies Route" from Beaumont, Texas to Glacier National Park. It also goes right through Yellowstone NP and near Rocky Mountain NP at the point where US 287 runs from Denver to Fort Collins, Colorado.For us, US 287 is the shortest route from our house to the south entrance of Yellowstone. It was also the shortest route from Denver to Fort Worth/Arlington, Texas, when my parents lived there. I have no idea how many trips I have made on US 287 since 1957, but it is in the low hundreds.In fact, I just returned today on US 287 from a camping trip that consisted of a big loop through SE Colorado, the Texas Panhandle, western Oklahoma, and SW Kansas. Midway between Denver and Amarillo, and on the way home last night, we camped at one of our favorite Colorado state campgrounds--John Martin Reservoir SP's Hasty Campground (near the intersection of US 287 and US 50). Weather was unbelievable for this time of year--nearly 90 last week when we got to Amarillo. This morning was a little chilly (36!) so we were glad we had 30A electric and our electric blanket last night.

Thanks - sounds like it's definitely worth doing some exploring along it.

If you plan to make it as far south as Colorado, PM me for campground and sightseeing suggestions. Just let me know what most interests you when traveling.Do you know Sue Thomas, who frequently posts on the Alaska forums and lives just west of Whitehorse?BTW, I also prefer the old US highways over Interstate highways. On the TX-OK-KS loop we completed yesterday, the only time we were on Interstates was within the city limits of Amarillo, TX. Besides US 287, we were mostly on US 62, US 183, and US 50 plus several state highways.

U.S. Route 287 | Good Sam Community

explorenorth
Explorer
Nov 01, 2014
dannydimitt wrote:
Maybe it's just a fig newton of my imagination , but I somehow had the notion that the trolly tracks , were , the old White Pass and Yukon Route narrow gauge Tracks ?

Most of it is, though some is new.
sue_t
Explorer
Nov 01, 2014
The tracks can still be seen between the south access (Robert Service Blvd) to Whitehorse and the clay banks.

Here's a picture of them from the mid-1950s, long before there was a south access and when the tracks were still in use.

Yukon River on the left and clay bank on the right.
dannydimitt
Explorer
Nov 01, 2014
Fantastic Pic Sue , one of your dads ?
fanrgs
Explorer
Nov 01, 2014
Gee, I was on that road several times on my way from downtown to the Hi Country RV Park and back, but never noticed the tracks. Glad they are still there and also wish they were in use.

Thanks for the photo, Sue. Great help as usual!
sue_t
Explorer
Nov 01, 2014
dannydimitt wrote:
Fantastic Pic Sue , one of your dads ?

Yup, he took quite a few from up on the cliffs, showing Whitehorse with all the army barracks that were once there.

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