Chicken
Chicken is a small village located at milepost 66.8 on the Taylor Highway in Alaska. As one of the few places along this highway where fuel is available, it is a popular rest stop.
Local legend is that the town was named after a group of miners decided to name it Ptarmigan after the local birds, but unable to agree on the spelling finally decided "Hell, let's just call it Chicken" (the nickname for ptarmigan).
Understand
Climate
Get in
By car
The vast majority of visitors arrive by car along the gravel Taylor Highway. The road is not maintained year-round, so travel by road may be impossible once snow falls.By plane
Chicken Airportsmall dirt runway that is accessible to private planes year-round.
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phone: +1 907 883-5191address: Mile 1313 Alaska Highway, Tok, Alaska 99780Twice-weekly airline service to Chicken International Airport with flag stops at Eagle and Boundary. Price includes 30 lbs baggage per passenger.
Get around
Given the town's small size (the official population was 38 in 2002) the most obvious way to get around is by foot. Those unwilling to walk the short distances between the town's three businesses may want to ask themselves what they're doing in the wilds of Alaska!
See
Pedro Gold Dredge #4This gold dredge operated on Chicken Creek from 1959 until 1967, and was previously used on Pedro Creek outside of Fairbanks. The Pedro Dredge is a National Historic Site and is open to daily tours. It is one of the most complete Alaska gold dredges, an example of the type of equipment used to mine the area's gold deposits.
Tisha's School HouseAbandoned 1920s schoolhouse originally run by teacher Anne Hobbs Purdy, author of "Tisha: The Story of a Young Teacher in the Alaska Wilderness" (1976) and "Dark Boundary" (1954). Tours 9AM and 2PM daily (summer only) from Goldpanner to the town and schoolhouse.
Do
Chicken Gold Camp & Outpost$10 to $50/day for mining activities and $30 for 1/2 day kayak rentals. Gold panning and recreational mining are provided on their claims for daily fees. Rental equipment, kayaking adventures on the nearby Fortymile River. Daily tours of the Pedro Dredge and museum, a National Historic Site.
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phone: +1 907 590-2681Two-day annual gathering of global 'chickenites" and 'chickenuts' and local bluegrass music, mid-June, since 2007. Pack up your 'nest', 'comb' your feathers and come 'strut' your stuff in the midnight sun.
GoldpannerOffers recreational gold panning on their claim on Chicken Creek.
Buy
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Chicken Creek Café, Saloon and Mercantile Emporium
address: Airport Rd -
phone: +1 907 505-0231T-shirts, postcards, jewellery, furs, souvenirs, ice cream, soda, coffee, fudge, gas, diesel, wi-fi.
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phone: +1 907 782-4427address: at the Chicken Gold CampAlaska-made clothing, jewelry, art, pottery, hand-made knives and ulus, children's gifts and clothing, t-shirts, hats, Native arts, crafts carvings and clothing, ivory, gold, hand-dipped ice cream, smoothies, espresso, beer & wine.
Eat
Chicken Creek CaféPies, buffalo burgers, reindeer bratwurst, potato salad and baked wild Alaskan salmon.
Chicken Gold Camp & OutpostCafé with fresh baked scones, egg soufflés, deli style paninis, soup du jour, BBQ chicken, ice cream, espresso and other beverage concoctions.
Drink
Chicken Creek SaloonBest bar in town. Only bar in town.
Sleep
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phone: +1 907 883-5081address: at Goldpanner shopCampground beside Chicken Creek, wi-fi, firewood. Store with local gold jewellery, ice cream, t-shirts, fuel station, walking tours thru historical Chicken, goldpanning.
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phone: +1-907-399-0005 (winter), +1-520-413-1480 (summer)address: 1/4 mile Airport RdCamping on 50 sites with hookups and amenities including free wireless internet, free firewood, BBQ pits, picnic pavilion, dump station, potable water and access to public restrooms and pay-showers. Offers cabins for up to six or rooms with two single beds, propane heat, free wireless internet, kitchenettes, and access to public restrooms and pay-showers. Daily tours of the Pedro Dredge, gold panning and recreational mining on their claims. Tours of an active gold mine available.
Connect
Go next
- Tok - 78 miles away at the southern end of the Taylor Highway at its junction with the Alaska Highway.
- Dawson City - One of the most famous and historic gold mining towns in the North, 108 miles away along the Taylor and Top of the World highways.