Yukon Sights by Sue Thomas

Silver Trail to Keno City, Yukon

Silver trail map, Yukon

The road from Stewart Crossing to Mayo is paved road in good condition.

From Mayo to Keno the road is good gravel.

Like many others, we left our fifth wheel at the Five Mile Lake Yukon Gov't campground and drove to Keno. This gave us the option to easily explore back roads.

There is a campground at Keno if you prefer to drive your RV.

The campground was not impressive when we visited.

On the north side of the Stewart River bridge at Stewart Crossing, travelers can turn left to continue to Dawson City or turn right on Hwy 11, the Silver Trail to Mayo and Keno City.

Sign at Stewart Crossing, Yukon

Our destination for the night was Five Mile Lake Yukon Government campground, which would be an ideal starting point for our next day's drive to Keno.

Five Mile Lake, near Mayo, Yukon
Five Mile Lake on the Silver Trail

Soon after leaving the Five Mile Lake campground, the road crossed an area flooded by a dam to provide power to the mining operations in the area.

Minto Bridge near Mayo, Yukon
Eastward view from Minto bridge

Minto bridge near Mayo, Yukon
Westward view from Minto bridge - June 2008

McQuestern River Valley near Keno, Yukon
McQuestern River valley on the road to Keno

There is not much that can be seen at Elsa because the town and mine site are closed to visitors. So we continued to Keno City.

Keno City sign, Yukon
Keno City sign - 2 km ahead

Fortunately we had not planned on staying at the Keno City Hotel. It was closed.
It has been renovated and re-opened and friends enjoyed staying there in 2015.

Keno City Hotel, Keno, Yukon
The Keno City Hotel was closed - June 2008

This duplex cabin was built by people who wished to stay good friends with each other.

Duplex cabin in Keno, Yukon
Corp & Ryan Cabins - June 2008

The Keno City Mining Museum is a good place to visit.

Keno City Mining Museum, Yukon
Keno City Mining Museum - June 2008

Keno City Museum, Yukon
Display in the Museum

Keno Museum, Yukon
Early 2-wheel motorized transportation on display in the Museum -- love the wide tires!

Keno Hill was the next destination. The road was rough and narrow in spots.
Four-wheel drive is good if is is wet or slippery. The scenery is worth the trip.

Keno Hill, Yukon
Road up Keno Hill - June 2008

Signpost at the top of Keno Hill, Yukon
Signpost at the top of Keno Hill - June 2008

The cabin in the following picture is hard to see from the signpost. There is a road to the cabin, but it was rainy and windy so this was as close as we ventured, as it was as far as the truck could go!

Cabin on Keno Hill, Yukon
Cabin on top of Keno Hill - June 2008

Using the zoom, I took another photo of the same cabin ... imagine living there!

Cabin on Keno Hill, Yukon
Close-up of cabin on Keno Hill

On the descent, we hiked on a side road leading to another cabin.
A marmot also graced us with his presence, but too quick for my camera!

Keno Hill Cabin, Yukon
Keno Hill cabin - June 2008

View from Keno Hill, Yukon
View from Keno Hill - June 2008

Returning south from Keno, we drove the Duncan Creek Road back to the campground.

It was a slow and rough drive and definitely not suitable for a fifth wheel, so we were very glad the trailer was waiting for us at the campground!