The Valdez Trail, a military road from Port Valdez to the Yukon River at Fort Egbert, was authorized for construction in 1899. Gold discoveries and the beginning of Fairbanks increased traffic on the trail. Winter traffic over the trail usually began in October and lasted until the end of April while swampy summer conditions usually limited travel to foot traffic. In 1905 the U.S. Alaska Road Commission was created to build and maintain trails and much effort was devoted to the Valdez Trail. In the winter of 1906-1907 there were 2,300 persons, 160 head of cattle and 2,100 tons of freight that left Valdez to go over the trail. Not all went to Fairbanks as some left the trail at or near Wortman's Roadhouse at about Mile 20, to take a sled road over Marshall Pass to the Copper River Valley, etc. During the 1908-1909 season, 136,002 pounds of freight and mail were carried over the trail.

About 1911 the improved Valdez Trail became known as the Richardson Trail and then Richardson Highway. All traffic over the road diminished with the completion of the Alaska Railroad from Seward to Fairbanks in 1923.