Tok, Alaska

Tok is a welcome stop for visitors along the Alaska-Canada (ALCAN) highway. Tok was originally founded as a camp for the construction of the ALCAN and other roads in the 1940’s. Tok is located in the Tanana River Valley, near the foothills at the end of the Alaska Range, about 147 km from the Canada-US border on the ALCAN Highway.

This part of Alaska is known as “Forty Mile Country” because of the nearby Fortymile River which gold prospectors travelled on by boat to the Yukon River in their search for gold. The Fortymile River is recognized as a United States National Wild and Scenic River. The region contains historic gold mines, wildlife, forests, and wide rivers. Today, many real-life Alaskan pioneers and prospectors live in the Tok area.

Visitors can enjoy many activities to include gold panning, boating, rafting, fishing, hiking, and other outdoor activities.

Tok is a trading center for the Alaska Native villages in the area and visitors can find birch baskets, beaded moccasins and other authentic Alaska Native crafts and art in and around town.

Wildlife Viewing 

Bear, moose, caribou and dall sheep may all be seen in and around Tok.

Bird Viewing 

For bird watchers the entire Upper Tanana Valley offers excellent waterfowl nesting habitat and is a main migration corridor for the birds each spring and fall. Mallards, green-winged teal, wigeon, buffleheads, and scaup are quite common. Look for the Lesser Canada Geese on gravel bars, and the royalty of the bird world Trumpeter Swans may be seen in ponds throughout the area.

Fishing

There are several major rivers and about 43 lakes in the area and most are close to the road system. The Tok area has some of the best rainbow trout, burbot, northern pike and arctic grayling fishing in the world.

State Recreation Sites

There are three State recreation sites in the Tok area:

• Moon Lake State Recreation Site
• Tok River State Recreation Site
• Eagle Trail State Recreation Site

Access: Road, also daily commuter air service from Fairbanks.

Location: Tok is located at the junction of the Alaska Highway and the Tok Cutoff to the Glenn Highway, 125 miles from the Canadian border.

Population: 1,459 (4,000 including surrounding area.)

Accommodations: Seven motels/hotels, five bed & breakfasts, nine RV parks; ten restaurants. Accommodations/Winter: 200 rooms in motels/hotels; four restaurants.