Atlin Highway (Hwy #7)

The Atlin Highway is the only road route leading to the community of Atlin in the province of British Columbia, Canada. The highway however does not start in British Columbia but in the Yukon Territory via the Alaska Highway. There is no road access to Atlin when in British Columbia.

The Atlin Highway was built by the Canadian Army in 1951 so to establish road access for the community of Atlin in British Columbia. The exit to access Atlin Highway is located east of Whitehorse, Yukon at a place called Jake's Corner on the Alaska Highway.

The main exit to look for is the Tagish Road exit (Hwy #8). From Jake's Corner travel the Tagish Highway (Hwy#8) south for 1 kilometre to the Atlin Highway exit. Take the exit and drive for another 94 kilometres on the Atlin Highway to the community of Atlin, British Columbia, Canada on Atlin Lake.

The drive is a scenic one and a rough one at times. The highway is a mix match of paved and gravel sections - mostly gravel. Half the road is in British Columbia and half is in the Yukon Territory. At the border crossing you get to see one of our provincial and territorial border signs. Creative it is not.

Atlin road is one way - in and out. It is a highway route filled with lake views, mountain ranges and possible wildlife sightings. Along the route there are opportunities to view lakes like the Little Atlin, Snafu, Tarfu, and Atlin Lakes.

Atlin Lake is the largest fresh water natural lake in BC. The highway follows the eastern shore of the lake all the way from the Yukon /BC Border to the community of Atlin. The route mostly follows along a mountain ridge looking down on Little Atlin and Atlin Lakes. There are pull out areas along the road for viewing the scenery. Along the highway route are some good views of snowcapped mountains like Mount Minto, White Mountain and Table Mountain.

Wildlife in the area includes grizzlies, black bears, mountain goats, deer and others. There is a limestone rock lookout point on White Mountain accessed by a 1.5 kilometre hiking trail which explores mountain goat country and provides views of Little Atlin Lake.