Ogilvie River, Yukon

Location Overview
The aerodrome sits along the Dempster Highway (Yukon Highway 5) at approximately kilometer 237, tucked between the highway and the Ogilvie River in the remote northern Yukon. It sits at an elevation of roughly 1,640 feet above sea level, and the nearest established town is Dawson City, roughly 259 kilometers to the south — about a 4.5-hour drive under favorable conditions. Whitehorse, the territorial capital, lies approximately 790 kilometers to the south.

Camping & Recreation
There are no onsite facilities whatsoever — no buildings, no services, nothing. That said, the surrounding northern Yukon landscape offers extraordinary wilderness experiences. The Ogilvie Mountains are visible in the area, and the Dempster Highway corridor is world-renowned for wildlife viewing (caribou, Dall sheep, grizzlies, wolves), aurora borealis, and backcountry exploration. Tombstone Territorial Park is accessible further south along the Dempster and offers designated wilderness camping. This is true, self-sufficient bush country.

Notes & Warnings
The runway receives no maintenance, so pilots should treat it accordingly — expect an ungroomed gravel surface with potential for ruts, soft spots, washouts, and debris. The runway measures 762 meters (2,500 feet) long by 15 meters (50 feet) wide, which is tight for anything beyond light aircraft. There are no navigational aids, no fuel, no weather services, and no emergency support on site. The high latitude means dramatic seasonal lighting conditions, including nearly 24-hour daylight in summer and very limited light in winter. Pilots should file a flight plan, carry survival gear, and not expect any ground assistance.

History
The aerodrome was established in the late 1960s as one of several airstrips built along the Dempster Highway corridor to support the remote and logistically challenging highway construction effort, serving as a resupply point for materials, equipment, and personnel. The highway project itself had begun in 1959, paused in 1964, then resumed northward, reaching the Ogilvie River valley by around 1970. During this period, Canadian Forces personnel — specifically 3 Field Squadron of the Royal Canadian Engineers, stationed at CFB Chilliwack in British Columbia — used the strip to offload equipment and supplies while constructing the steel bridge over the Ogilvie River. The site and river take their name from William Ogilvie (1846–1912), a notable Canadian Dominion Land Surveyor and explorer who mapped significant portions of the Yukon Territory in the 1880s, including surveys along the Yukon River and the demarcation of the Canada-Alaska boundary at the 141st meridian. Ogilvie later served as the Yukon's first commissioner.