Austin To Anchorage - Best Route
 

We're a group of 4 New Zealanders looking at doing Austin Texas to Anchorage in 2006. Looking at allowing 8 weeks and getting a ferry(s) back to Vancouver or thereabouts over May, June July. Probably on 1150GS's. In general terms looking at following the Rockies from Taos Northwards. We'd really appreciate insight and advice from people who have done the Alaska trip before on route, timing, thoughts, etc. Stay upright and thanks. Mike

I did that trip (from Colorado) two summers ago in the month of August on a 1150. Weather was mostly great. Some highlights were the 3 hot springs around Fairbanks, visting the BMW dealer in Faribanks (Trails End - a must), and to be frank the ferry ride back (to Bellingham, WA $US650) was fantastic, as you can camp on the top deck for free and there are heaters so you don't freeze!
There is a town in South AK (whose name I forget, its the southernmost town in AK, somewhere near the Prince Rupert, BC) anyway, there is salmon and bear watching and a abandoned mine to go find up by the glaciers; ask in the bordertown. The Cassier highway is a wonderful ride, as was reading at 2am in a campsites...
enjoy
rene
www.renedian.com

The name of the town is Hyder. Be sure and go into one of the bars and ask about getting hyderized. Get a copy of "the milepost" for info on camps, mileage and roads from the US border to alaska. If you come up thru montana thru yellowstone and glacier parks be informed that we have occasional snow sometimes into june. Even with snow it's still a really neat place to ride. You didn't say if you are looking for the 5 star hotels or camping. Do get north enough to see the sun not set either in alaska or canada. I prefer the dempster highway and the town of inuvik.
Longs peak in colorado, paved to 14 thousand plus feet lots of curves. The cambell loop in the yukon territory...230 miles with no gas. Lots and lots to see and experience and it's all good.

Hi, while I am waiting for some paint to dry I am looking at my maps for routes for your trip.
From Taos, NM go North West to Durango, CO.
Take the loop to Silverton, Ouray and Cortez. Include a stop at Mesa Verde Nat'l Park.
From there head North to Jackson, WY, Grand Teton Nat'l Park, Yellowstone Nat'l Park. When leaving the park take US 212 to Red Lodge, MT(Beartooth Pass).
Then you can go West on I-90 to Missoula, MT.
Going North through Glacier Nat'l Park (Going to the Sun RD).
Continuing on North through Jasper Nat'l Park, Lake Louise, Jasper, AB.
Going West to Stewart, BC and Hyder, AK.
The Fish Creek Park in Hyder, AK is a must. That is July to September when the bears are fishing.
Then the Cassiar Hwy North to The Alaska Hwy.
You should go to Dawson City, YT and Chicken, Ak on your way to Tok, AK.
US National Parks pass. http://www.nps.gov/fees_passes.htm
$50.00 US for one year but that is for one vehicle with passengers. Prices vary at parks, Yellowstone was $10.00 US for 1 person on a bike. 2 persons on 1 bike $20.00 US that is the same price as a car.
The only problem I can see is The mountain travel in May.
I have listed most of the hotels on the Alaska Highway and the Cassiar Highway on my website.
www.geocities.com/widebmw@sbcglobal.net
John

Register & post your question on the Adventure Riders site as well, plenty of the guys there live in Alaska, BC or have done similar trips:

http://www.advrider.com/forums/

Why would you ride up to Alaska when you can ride the Northern BC roads, up to Whitehorse, Dawson and others in the Yukon via the Cassiar road. Attend the rally in Whitehorse www.rideyukon.com in June. Ride up the Dempster Highway crossing the Arctic Circle up to Inuvik. Then a short flight to the Arctic Ocean to do some swimming. Meet the bikers from Inuvik. David from Inuvik, NT