I toured Alaska on my Triumph Thunderbird 900. I was going to go up to the arctic circle via the dalton and after a conversation with an American biker thought better of it. I scratched the circle itch later in Norway via mo I rama across the high plateue , a better way on a road bike!
Point is that in Alaska the conditions change real quick. I'll give you an example. We were traveling the top of the world highway between chicken and Dawson city on a fine sunny day. The weather changed to rain and the car park type gravel surface turned to wet marbles, going down hill with a bend at the bottom I thought I would have to drop it ! I made it, just. We had buddied up with another biker, an absolute must and having stopped many times for photos only just made the Canadian border which was office hours only.
We were also warned that we would get puntures, we did, one front and one back. It was a whole new ballgame doing that by the side of a dirt road. My bike has tubed tyre you see. Anyhow it was a great trip but my point is , use your head, this is a wild land and Europeans especially find it hard to grasp the dangers. I know this as one of the guys we met in Alaska came home in a coffin. He went under the wheels of a truck after a very long days ride. Do not be fooled by the 24 hour light, be disiplned and get proper rest.
Please do not let this put you off though, its an amazing place.

I rode Dalton highway couple months ago (Heidenau K60 Scout tires).
Two days up (sunny and dry) and two days down (heavy rain).
You can get fuel from Yukon crossing (bridge over Yukon river and immediately on the left hand side (north side of the river).
Another place to get fuel is Coldfoot.
If you have a tent, you can camp free in Coldfoot.

I was expecting something special from this road due to so many discussions ongoing online, but I was totally disappointed. It is just a normal gravel road (not even a good one because it is spoiled with several sections of pavement).

When it started raining, I was expecting slippery surface and real struggle, but once again, nothing.
It was a bit muddy, but nothing like "extra" slippery, just a normal wet gravel road, speed can easily be kept around 50-60mph without fear for sliding off the road.

Of course, if you have street tires, it can be more difficult. Or if you are not comfortable with gravel roads, it can be an "adventure".

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Phil
Thanks for taking the time for a great post for the Dalton and other northern remote dirt roads. I think one significant issue is rider attitude. After riding on the road for half a day, confidence increases as does speed. Your ego tells you, "Riding fast on dirt is the sign of a good dirt rider, and I want to think of myself as a good dirt rider." Then suddenly over the hill or around a curve, the road changes radically. If you can''t see what's ahead and are able to stop, you're going too fast for the section of road.

Agree to most of the points, specially the tires, since I saw a heavy Harley with street tires going badly down in the mud. Right in front of me where they watered the road. Broken bones and helicopter ... .
I would add that it makes sense to communicate with the truck drivers: signals, light, indicator and a waiving hand, they like it and they try to take care of us on the road like giving a s much space as possible.
That should stay like that and we need that friendship on the road.

One of them told me: it is the road of the trucks! Now many of you guys are there as well, ok, but please understand that the big things we drive are not so easy to steer and we have to go fast!

Ride save,
Thomas

I suppose that riding an R1 up the Dalton is out of the question?

Depends if you are confident riding it on a gravel. If yes, no problems (well, if it is wet, be prepared to clean it every now and then)

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Depends on the day . . . not the ride . . . end of April, this year

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There is no path. You make the path as you ride.

That bike is way too clean.

And yea it does depend on the day, conditions can be quite variable.

The only I'd add to the list is don't be in any kind of hurry, and be sure to have the buffet at the Prudhoe bay hotel

If you ride the Dalton your bike will be crusty after like this

I have been there on my Yamaha FZS 600 2 years ago.
Estuve en la Dalton Highway con mi Yamaha FZS 600 hace 2 años.
Puedes ver algunas fotos en:
You can see some pics on:

Etapa LIII: Fairbanks- Deadhorse & Prudhoe Bay, AK, EEUU - topalante.es
&
Etapa LIV: Deadhorse & Prudhoe Bay- Fairbanks - topalante.es

Podrás leerlo en español.
Un saludo.
Topalante

Great read.
Rode the Dalton and Dempster in 2011.
But this picture wasn't taken on the Dalton.
This is down by Paxson.

April 20 last year the dalton at the yukon crossing was hard, dry and frozen . . . thus the clean r9t. April 7 this year the dalton wet and thawing on an icy base . . . i turned back 50 mile before the crossing . . . too slippery for me and the muddy dr650. helps to live in fairbanks. watch the weather. turn around. can always try another day. it's always worth the ride no matter how long or short. (8->)

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There is no path. You make the path as you ride.

Now that, ladies and gentlemen...is a quality ride report. Thank you

Thanks Phil! I've heard many stories and article on the Dalton and I don't take it lightly. I'm bound for Alaska next month and we'll see how it goes.

I'll be riding my Transalp, running on Anakees, but will change to knobbies in Fairbanks.

Thank you for the information. I did ride the Dalton Hwy in June-July 2013. I rode from Missouri and met a guy in Fairbanks who was looking for a companion to make the trip to Prudhoe bay. So we hooked up. He rode a 1200 GSA and I a 2008 KLR 650. I put 11,000 miles on a set of MEFO tires in 3 weeks.

Just looking around and stumbled upon this post. I must say this is a good read. Thanks for sharing these tips.