The Steese Highway, a designated Scenic Byway, connects Fairbanks with Circle, a small settlement on the Yukon River, 50 miles south of the Arctic Circle. The Steese Highway was completed in 1927 and named for Gen. James G. Steese, U.S. Army, former president of the Alaska Road Commission.

The first 60-plus miles of the Steese Highway are improved pavement. From pavement end it is wide gravel road into Central, where there is a short stretch of paved road. From Central to Circle, the highway is a narrow, winding gravel road.

This drive is especially colorful in late August and early September when the leaves turn. Acres of fireweed offer bright splashes of color in the summer and fall. Attractions along the Steese Highway include gold mine camps and mining artifacts, and Chatanika River and Chena River state recreation areas.

The MILEPOST® Quick Reference Log
Miles from Fairbanks (F) shown.

• F 0 FAIRBANKS.
• F 8.4 Trans–Alaska Pipeline Viewpoint.
• F 9.5 Gold Dredge Number 8 National Historic Site.
• F 11 Junction with Elliott Highway at FOX (pop. 385). Fox General Store: groceries, 24-hour gas, diesel.
• F 28 Historic Chatanika Gold Camp; restaurant, lodging, saloon, gold panning. Visit the Chatanika Schoolhouse/Museum.
• F 28.6 Chatanika Lodge; restaurant, saloon and lodging.
• F 39 Upper Chatanika River State Recreation Site; camping.
• F 45.5 Long Creek Trading Post; gold panning equipment, groceries, liquor store, camping.
  
• F 60 Cripple Creek BLM Campground.
• F 85.5 Twelvemile Summit, elev. 3,190 feet.
• F 107.7 Eagle Summit, elev. 3,685 feet.
• F 127.8 CENTRAL (pop. 95): cafe, gas, camping.
• F 161.2 H.C. Company Store; food, groceries, gas, diesel. Proprietor Dickk Hutchinson photographs auroras (visit his website at http://www.ptialaska.net/~hutch/aurora.html).
  
• F 161.4 CIRCLE (pop. 94), located on the Yukon River; gas, camping.