On Top of the World

The Top of the World Highway is a spectacular journey that lives up to its name, offering breathtaking views from one of North America’s most elevated road routes. Stretching from Dawson City, Yukon, to the Alaska border and beyond to Tok, this 127-kilometre (79-mile) road follows ridgelines, providing a sense of being on top of the world. Driving the highway in our Ineos Grenadier was a highlight of our travels.

The highway itself is a mix of gravel and paved sections, winding through rolling hills and offering sweeping vistas of the surrounding wilderness. The weather was kind, and the clear skies let us fully appreciate the sheer beauty of this unique route. Along the way, we stopped for the night in the quirky town of Chicken, Alaska, a place as rich in character as it is in history.

Chicken traces its roots back to the Klondike Gold Rush of the late 19th century. Miners flocked here in search of fortune, and the town’s name—rumored to be a humorous nod to the difficulty of spelling “ptarmigan,” the local bird—reflects its whimsical spirit. Today, Chicken keeps its gold prospecting heritage alive, with relics of dredges and mining equipment on display and opportunities to try panning for gold yourself.

A derelict hydraulic dredge in Chicken, AK

For us, Chicken was more than a convenient overnight stop; it was a window into Alaska’s rugged past and a reminder of the adventurous spirit that built these remote communities. Driving the Top of the World Highway, surrounded by history and untamed beauty, felt like stepping back in time while savoring the freedom of the open road.

On top of the world, in every sense