Though lesser known than many other scenic drives, the Haines Highway has to be one of the most spectacular drives in North America. With high peaks, glaciers, rivers and lakes all along the way, this roadway offers scenery that is similar to that found 800 miles north in the interior of Alaska. Be warned! There are no services past the 33 Mile Road house. If you need gas you must stop here. This very Alaskan place is a good stop for hamburgers, coffee, and homemade pie. Look for the log cabin at the north end of the Chilkat River Valley. It is the only place to stop after leaving Haines.
The Haines Highway is approximately 160 miles long, connecting the Alaska Highway at Haines Junction with the seaport of Haines. It has a long history evolving from a native trade route, to gold rush route, and finally the completed highway in 1942. The highway provided strategic emergency access to the Alaska Highway should the White Pass Railroad become blocked.
It takes 3.5 hours to drive its length, but a drive up to Chilkat Pass (a little over halfway) will give you a great taste of the scenery that this road has to offer. It is an easy day trip on a very good road. The area at the pass is a vast treeless plain. The snowcapped mountians and glaciers rise on both sides. The highest point on the road is well marked and well into British Columbia. (mile 59.1, km 102) This is a good turnaround point. If you got an early start, one of the best views of the magnificient St. Elias Mountains to west is a little further at mile (78.8, 134 km) This overlook of Tatshenshini-Alsek Provincial Park gives the sweeping vistas of huge mountains that are sometimes blocked further south at the pass by low rising hummocks on the plateau. With more time, plan to add a couple of overnight stays staying the night in Haines Junction to visit Kluane National Park, or continuing on to Whitehorse on the Alaskan Highway and then south on the Klondike Highway to Skagway for a return ferry trip (300 miles).