Travel to the "0" mile post in Dawson's Creek, British Columbia. The route you take to get there depends on where you are coming from. Dawson's Creek is about 16 hours north of Seattle. If you are coming from the east, the most direct route is across Canada.
Start your journey. The road can be extremely rough, and road hazard signs in Canada can be different from signs in the U.S. Often, by the time you have deciphered the sign you are already past the hazard. Slow down for hazard signs to avoid accidents. Maintaining a highway in the northernmost part of North America is no easy feat. Road conditions range from good to gravel, and can last a few feet to a few miles.
Bring enough food to sustain you for a night or two in case of emergency. Local bears are known to be extremely aggressive, especially when it comes to food. Use your rope to hang food supplies at least 10 feet off the ground if you have a need to camp out.
Be prepared to do enough basic repairs to get you to the next stop. The rough road can cause myriad problems with your bike.
Make hotel reservations ahead of time. Hotels fill up quickly in the summer, and without reservations you may find yourself spending every night on the permafrost. Several towns dot the highway and are about a day's drive apart, including Fort St. John and Fort Nelson in British Columbia, Watson Lake and Whitehorse in Yukon Territory and Delta Junction and Fairbanks in Alaska.
Expect to spend five to six days on the road to reach Fairbanks. Most people have no problem traveling from one town to the next in a day, and this is the safest way to plan your trip. Pick up a copy of "The Milepost" before you leave. This is considered the bible of traveling the 1,500-mile highway, and lists the ferries, lodgings, recreation, sightseeing attractions and services along the way. Rika's Roadhouse,just north of Delta Junction, is a popular stopping point. The historic roadhouse has been in existence sine 1909, and was a favorite stop year-round for hunters and trappers passing through the area. Today the roadhouse boasts a restaurant and gift shops as well as free tours of the grounds.
