END OF THE ROAD

Keno City

Keno City signposts pointing to distant cities from a hilltop

Keno City is barely a city — about 20 year-round residents at the end of Highway 11, 60 km beyond Mayo. It boomed for silver in the 1920s-30s, hollowed out by the 1980s, and now exists as a quiet cluster of old miners' cabins, one small hotel, a mining museum, and a truly excellent view from the top of Keno Hill (1,650 m). The famous Keno Hill signpost — pointing to Tokyo, London, Vancouver, and dozens more — is the summit photo everyone wants.

Coming here is committing: 460 km from Whitehorse, most of a day of driving, one place to sleep. But it's magic in the way genuinely remote places are magic. Total dark skies, occasional lynx crossings, and the old mining ruins scattered up the hillsides. Snowdrift Café and the mining museum are the main scheduled activities. Book the Keno City Hotel well ahead in summer — there is no plan B if it's full.

Where to stay

Keno City Hotel is essentially the only option — historic, restored, wood-heated, $120-160. A couple of small cabin rentals operate seasonally. That is the full inventory. Book months ahead for July-August. In winter most services close. Bring supplies — Keno has one small store with limited hours and no reliable food service outside the hotel. This is not somewhere you show up hoping for the best.

Getting there

Drive from Whitehorse: 460 km via the Klondike Highway to Stewart Crossing, then Highway 11 (Silver Trail) through Mayo to Keno City. About 5.5-6 hours. Paved most of the way; the last 15 km can be rough gravel. No public transit whatsoever. No fuel in Keno — tank up in Mayo. Cell service is minimal. In winter the road is plowed but expect ice; in summer expect construction and gravel.

Frequently asked questions

Is Keno City worth the drive?

For the right kind of traveller, absolutely — you want end-of-the-road remoteness, old mining history, and the summit signpost photo. It's a specific taste. If your only Yukon trip is a week, spend it on Whitehorse and Kluane instead. If it's a second or third trip, Keno rewards the effort.

Can I do Keno as a daytrip from Dawson?

Not comfortably. Dawson to Keno is 300 km one way, most of it via Stewart Crossing, and the last section is slow. You’d be in the car 7+ hours. Break it with a night in Mayo or Keno itself, or don’t go.