Dredge No. 4 is a gold-mining machine as big as a building, and it is the most impressive thing in the Klondike goldfields. It was built in 1912, began work in 1913 and displaces more than 2,700 tonnes, roughly two-thirds the length of a football field and eight storeys high. Built by the Canadian Klondike Mining Company, it was the largest wooden-hulled bucket-line dredge in North America. It floated on a pond of its own making, digging gravel with a bucket line, washing it in a rotating screen and catching the gold on sluice tables while stacking the waste out the back. Parks Canada acquired it in 1970 and designated it a national historic site in 1997. A guided tour of the interior covers placer mining from hand digging to large-scale machinery, and tickets are sold at the Visitor Information Centre in Dawson.
Season first. The 2026 Parks Canada schedule showed Dredge No. 4 tours from 18 May to 19 September, with up to three tours a day through the summer, and nothing is running in November. Tours last about an hour. The site is out on Bonanza Creek in the goldfields, a short drive from town, so you will need a vehicle or a booked transfer, and you should confirm access with the Visitor Information Centre. Check the programme again in spring for 2027.
The history is worth knowing before you go. The dredge worked the Boyle Concession until 1940, sank in 1924, was refloated in 1927 and then worked Hunker Creek. It was rebuilt and moved to Bonanza Creek around 1940, where it worked until 1959. It was powered by electricity from a hydro plant on the Klondike River, 48 kilometres away, and historically the operating season averaged about 200 days, running around the clock from spring until late November.
Inside, expect steep stairs, narrow walkways and industrial surfaces, so wear closed shoes and allow for the tour guide's pace. The scale is easier to grasp in person than in photographs. Pair the visit with the Discovery Claim on Bonanza Creek, which is nearby and free, and with panning for gold if you want to try the gold side of the story with your own hands.
What to expect
The experience
A one-hour guided tour of the interior of Dredge No. 4, explaining how gold was dug, washed and recovered on Bonanza Creek.
Best time
Mid-May to mid-September, when Parks Canada runs the tours, with up to three a day in midsummer.
How long
One hour for the tour, plus travel time from Dawson to the goldfields.
Tips
Buy tickets at the Visitor Information Centre, wear closed shoes for stairs and walkways, and arrange a vehicle to reach Bonanza Creek.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Anyone curious about how industrial gold mining worked, and photographers who like big machinery.
- Families
- Good for older children, though the stairs and industrial surfaces need careful supervision.
- Couples
- A distinctive shared outing that pairs well with a drive along Bonanza Creek.
- Pair with
- The Discovery Claim on Bonanza Creek and Goldbottom gold panning, which complete the goldfields story.
- Time needed
- Allow about two to three hours including the drive and the tour.
Good questions
Is Dredge No. 4 open now?+
No. The 2026 tour programme ran from 18 May to 19 September. Check the Parks Canada schedule in spring for 2027 dates.
How big is the dredge?+
It displaces more than 2,700 tonnes and is roughly two-thirds the size of a football field and eight storeys high. It was the largest wooden-hulled bucket-line dredge in North America.
How long is the tour?+
The guided tour of the interior takes about an hour. Allow extra time to travel out to Bonanza Creek.
When did the dredge work?+
It began operating in 1913 and worked various creeks until about 1959. Parks Canada acquired it in 1970 and made it a national historic site in 1997.
Where do I buy tickets?+
Tickets are available at the Visitor Information Centre in Dawson, on the corner of Front and King Streets.
