Routes to Riches

Many routes led to the Klondike. All were difficult. The gold fields lay over 2,000 miles from Seattle, the closest major American city.

The most direct way was by boat to the Lynn Canal in southeastern Alaska, over White or Chilkoot Pass into Canada, and down the Yukon River. Alternate routes were by water via St. Michael, Alaska and the Yukon River, and by land through western Canada and Alaska.

Most stampeders who used alternate ways reached Dawson too late or not at all. The Yukon River froze in early fall and trapped water travelers. Those who went overland died from starvation, accidents, freezing and illness or became discouraged and went home.