Tok – History and Nature on the Alaska Highway

Tok is located at the important junction of the Alaska Highway and the Tok Cutoff. For travelers on the Alaska Highway coming from Canada, Tok is the first larger community after crossing the border. Its location on the highway helps you place the town on your route if you are considering Tok as a destination for a hotel stay.

Alaska Highway History and Sled Dog Races

Tok was founded in 1942 as a construction camp for the Alaska Highway. Because a great deal of money was spent building and maintaining the camp, it was named “Million Dollar Camp.” The town’s origins are thus closely tied to road construction, which continues to shape Tok’s history today.

Sled dog racing is also part of the town’s history. The Tok Race of Champions began in 1954, after two prominent mushing families from Tok held a race to settle their dispute over which team was the best. The Tok Dog Mushers’ Association holds several sled dog races every year, including the Tok Race of Champions and junior races. The Race of Champions takes place in late March; the date may vary. Check the current race calendar before your trip.

Trails Around Tok

A well-maintained system of bike and walking trails starts in the town center. Nearby, the Taiga Trail in the Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge offers a different kind of nature experience: the quarter-mile interpretive trail leads to an observation platform at Deadman Lake. The short route and viewpoint make for a clearly defined excursion destination.

About 16 miles south of Tok is the Eagle Trail State Recreation Site. It has a 1-mile nature trail and a 2.5-mile hiking trail with views over the Tok River Valley. The different trail lengths can help you choose between the two options. If you plan to hike either trail, check current trail conditions before setting out.

The Tok area has hundreds of miles of trails that pass through a variety of natural landscapes, from riverbanks and floodplains to ridgelines and mountain ranges. The area therefore includes both trails that start in the town center and a vast landscape with varied terrain.

River Excursions and Other Activities

Boat trips on the Tanana River let you explore the landscape around Tok. They may be available seasonally, so check availability before adding a trip to your itinerary. Gold panning offers another activity and is available at Mukluk Mine in Mukluk Land. George and Beth Jacobs founded Mukluk Land in 1985 on the Alaska Highway.

Tok Air Service offers flights to Wrangell–St. Elias National Park and the Yukon-Charley Preserve. If you are considering an excursion to either destination, you can include the flight option in your planning. River trips, gold panning, and flights each offer a different focus for your time in and around Tok.

A Striking Log Building

The Tok Mainstreet Visitors Center is a 7,000-square-foot log lodge and is considered Alaska’s largest log building. If you are interested in construction techniques and local history, this building adds to the historical connections with the Alaska Highway and sled dog racing.

Discover more destinations: Deltana, Delta Junction.

Go to the main travel overview: Southeast Fairbanks Census Area.