Hepburn Tramway
Travellers heading north on the Yukon River in the late 1800s found the rough water in Miles Canyon and downstream at the Whitehorse Rapids to be a major obstacle. The problem became acute when the traffic increased dramatically because of the Klondike gold rush. Two tramways ferried goods around the obstacle.
The focus of this project is accurate mapping of the remaining vestiges of the Hepburn Tramway based on LiDAR remote sensing data and on-the-ground visits in the context of some later events in the area. The outputs of this project are the digital map and GPS map and data to download so you can explore the tramway route yourself.
See also more info for related information by others outside this project.
Chronology
- 1898, summer: Horse-drawn tramway on east bank of Yukon River, built by Norman Macaulay, started operation between Canyon City and (now) Riverdale travelling on rails made of round logs.
- 1898 or 1899: Competing tramway (subject of this project) on west bank of Yukon River, built by John Hepburn, started operation between (now) the American Laundry near Macrae and (now) the pull-out on Robert Service Drive near the south end of the clay-cliff slide area. Also drawn by horses, this tramway travelled on rails made of logs flattened on two sides.
- 1899: Macaulay purchased the competing Hepburn tramway for $50,000.
- 1900: Macaulay sold both tramways to the White Pass and Yukon Route for $185,000.
- 1900, summer: White Pass railway reached Whitehorse passing not far to the west of the Hepburn Tramway.
- 1900: The railway rendered the tramways obsolete and they fell out of use.
- early 1940s: The Utah Construction Company, which was building a section of the Alaska Highway, set up operations at Utah Siding, POI 15. They constructed a pipeline to bring water up from the Yukon River. This intersected the tramway right of way.
- early 1940s: American troops stationed at Macrae built a laundry facility (the American Laundry) and a road (the American Laundry road) to access it near the southern terminus of the Hepburn Tramway (POI 1).
- 1958: The Whitehorse Dam entered operation. The dam, Schwatka Lake, and development since then obliterated most traces of the northern part of the tramway.
- late 1960s: White Pass railway rerouted its track farther west away from the tramway right of way, roughly in the section between the American Laundry road and the Miles Canyon Road. This was to create Utah Yard.
Access
The Hepburn Tramway carried material from the American Laundry area (POI 1) in the south, through the upper parking lot at Miles Canyon (POI 7), and north to the floatplane base on Schwatka Lake (POI 13), a distance of about 5.3 km. From there it extended north through Robert Service Campground and ended near the south end of the cliff slide area on Robert Service Drive (WPYR MP 109.5). Of course, all those reference points are what exist today. The tramway predates them all.
North of the floatplane base (POI 13), construction of the power dam and Yukon Energy's facilities, the rise of Schwatka Lake, and the disturbance by other development have erased most (all?) traces of the tramway there. The stretch south of the floatplane base, however, is readily accessible. Exploring it makes an interesting history hike.
The best way to explore the tramway is by starting from the southern terminus at the American Laundry area (POI 1). Take the American Laundry road (off Lorne Road) from the Alaska Highway to the river. This is at the north end of Macrae.
The approximate midpoint (POI 7) is the upper parking lot at Miles Canyon. Take the Miles Canyon Road from either end and then the road down to the Canyon.
The northern terminus of the tramway in the project area (POI 13) is by the floatplane base right on Miles Canyon Road south of Yukon Energy. An alternative parking area might be near POI 12. Note that the right of way between these two POIs is overgrown and unwalkable. But several trails from the river road south of the floatplane base head west into the forest and cross the tramway right of way. These give good access to examine what remains. Use the GPS map to determine the crossing points and then examine the profile of the ground to see exactly where the tramway went.
Did the tramway go all the way to POI 13? See alternate theory.
Points of interest
The map below shows the remaining tramway right of way and points of interest (POIs) in the project area. POI numbers generally increase from south to north, the way traffic would have flowed on the tramway. The POI descriptions assume you are travelling south to north. The map shows a detour around the impassible area.
For historical context, the map also shows the current WPYR main line through Utah Yard (close to the highway), the part of the WPYR main line abandoned about 1969 (closer to the tramway), and information related to the Utah Construction Company water pipeline. All this is more easily visible on the full-screen map (click on "View larger map"). Click on ">>" and "Legend" to understand what colours represent what features.
| POI | Description | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | southern terminus of tramway | 60.64795 -134.99053 500518 6723576 |
This was where cargo was transloaded from boats to the horse-drawn wagons of the tramway. From the flat area by the river, head back up the road looking for the tramway trail to the right (north) of the road. You may find old equipment of unidentified origin along this section to POI 2. |
| 2 | first crossing of American Laundry road | 60.64947 -134.99504 500271 6723744 |
Between this point and POI 3, the tramway right of way is well defined: gap in woods, slight embankment on each side. |
| 3 | second crossing of American Laundry road | 60.65017 -135.00008 499996 6723822 |
Between this point and POI 4, the tramway right of way is well defined: gap in woods, slight embankment on each side. Closer to POI 4, the tramway starts down toward the river. |
| 4 | transition point | 60.65729 -135.02567 498597 6724616 |
Between this point and POI 8, the right of way has in places crumbled and slid down the slope. In other places it is quite overgrown. For hiking, consider taking the detour via POI 5 and POI 6. This detour is well defined up the hill from this point. |
| 5 | detour: water pipeline | 60.65745 -135.0278 498480 6724633 |
At this point on the detour, a pipeline crested the escarpment coming from POI 14 via POI 8 below. It brought water from the river up to the Utah Construction Company facility farther south during WWII, POI 15. If hiking, do not descend the hill here. Instead join the original (pre-mid-1960s) WPYR right of way at the bench/firepit and head toward POI 6. |
| 6 | detour: Canyon Station | 60.65899 -135.03216 498242 6724806 |
This was WPYR Canyon Station during the 1940s. Look for a faint trail above and to the north of the gulley at this point. The detour continues on that trail down to the upper parking lot at Miles Canyon (POI 7). |
| 7 | upper parking lot, Miles Canyon | 60.66042 -135.02941 498393 6724965 |
With some care, you can follow a faint trail back up the hill to POI 8 on the original tramway alignment. This is neither very interesting nor does it make great hiking. You might want to continue down the road to POI 9 instead. An interesting side tour is a visit to POI 14... follow a trail from the parking lot close to the water and then double back down to the edge of the water right by POI 14. |
| 8 | intersection tramway and pipeline | 60.65834 -135.02853 498440 6724732 |
The water pipeline from POI 14 came up through here to POI 5. A disturbed excavation down to POI 14 exists here but it is very overgrown and difficult to walk. Access to POI 14 is easier from POI 7. |
| 9 | intersection tramway and road | 60.66356 -135.03224 498238 6725314 |
The tramway trail leaves the Mile Canyon access road at this point. A trail marker post indicates the spot. Between this point and POI 11, the tramway curves through the forest and along the river. In some places due to erosion, the edge of the path is quite near to dropping off down the bank so take care. |
| 10 | telegraph wire | 60.66953 -135.03386 498149 6725979 |
If you look toward the water at this point, you may see some telegraph wire hanging in the trees. |
| 11 | transition point | 60.67172 -135.03545 498063 6726224 |
Arriving at this point heading north, the current path jogs sharply upwards and to the left. The original tramway probably continued on a straighter more-level path that has fallen into the water in the last 120+ years. Heading north toward POI 12 takes you along the "goat trail" across the face of a clay bank, roughly the original tramway path but much eroded. You don't want to do this when the path is slippery, e.g., after rain or snow. |
| 12 | access point | 60.67570 -135.03235 498232 6726667 |
This is a possible access point. You could drive to this point and park here. From here the tramway path curves through the forest to POI 13. See notes on access for this section between POIs 12 and 13. |
| 13 | access point | 60.67973 -135.03326 498183 6727116 |
This point is right on the Mile Canyon Road by the floatplane base. |
| 14 | water intake | 60.65924 -135.02680 498535 6724833 |
This is not part of the tramway. However during WWII, a water pipeline started here, going up the hill to POI 8, POI 5, and on to the Utah Construction Company Yard just west of POI 15. |
| 15 | Utah Siding | 60.653416 -135.018515 498988 6724184 |
This is not part of the tramway. However during WWII, the Utah Construction Company in this area drew water from a pipeline that had its intake at POI 14. The pipeline passed through POI 8, POI 5, and then likely followed the original WPYR alignment to this area. |
Downloads
| POIs for GPS | map for GPS |
|---|---|
| file of POIs in GPS format for this project that you can download | GPS map for this project that you can download |
Photos
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In the area around the American Laundry road, e.g., POI 1-POI 3, the forest is quite open. The right of way is easily distinguished by the slight hump with a bit of a depression on each side. |
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North of the American Laundry road, the forest is a bit thicker. The right of way is still easy to find. |
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Closer to Miles Canyon, the right of way starts down toward the river travelling along a cut in the side of the escarpment. |
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Closer to Miles Canyon: upslope to the left (west), downslope toward the river (right, east) in this photo. |
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Looking north at POI 4. The tramway continued straight ahead. The detour pathway goes up to the left (west). |
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Looking north at POI 5 directly on the path of the pipline where it comes up the hill (centre). The detour path is just to the left (west). |
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Looking west on the tramway right of way just west of POI 7. The path (top right) from Canyon Station (POI 6) drops down quite quickly and crosses the right of way a few metres behind the camera position (see map). The right of way between this point and POI 8 is walkable but requires some pathfinding. |
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North of Miles Canyon, the right of way is well defined where it passes through the forest. Closer to the river, it has eroded in places. A bridge crosses an eroded channel. |
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This point is just south of POI 11. The right of way probably continued straight ahead but that part has fallen away. The trail turns sharply left and up before connecting to the "goat trail." |
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The "goat trail" between POI 11 and POI 12. You probably do not want to do this in rain or snow. |
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Looking north at POI 12 along the route of the right of way. The road from the floatplane base and the river are on the right (east). |
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The right of way between POI 12 and POI 13 is very overgrown and generally unwalkable. While some gaps in the forest remain, these can be misleading. Instead, examine the ground to find the profile of the right of way: slightly raised in the centre with a small depression on either side. |
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Remains of the water pipeline intake on the Yukon River at POI 14. A path to this area exists from POI 7. |
More info
Peter Long has researched the Hepburn Tramway and promoted it as a walking trail to be developed. His work provides much interesting and useful background that we have not repeated here. Check out Peter's work.
TimmiT History Exploration Notebook