Yukon

The Yukon
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The Yukon

Situated in the upper Northwest corner of Canada, next to Alaska, the Yukon is Canada’s most accessible northern destination. It’s jaw-dropping natural features are what set this place apart - a land rich with dramatic mountain vistas, wild rivers and crystal clear lakes, and close to 80 per cent remains pristine wilderness.


Home to Canada’s highest mountain (Mount Logan) and one of the largest non-polar icefields located in Kluane National Park - a UNESCO World Heritage site – plus several Canadian Heritage Rivers and healthy, abundant wildlife, breathtaking doesn't describe the vastness, or the beauty! 


The Yukon is one of North America’s major wilderness attractions; with 5,000-metre peaks, forested valleys, unspoiled waters and untamed wildlife. Roughly the size of France at 483,000 square kilometers, it is home to more than 160,000 caribou, 70,000 moose, 22,000 mountain sheep, 7,000 grizzly bears, 10,000 black bears and 250 species of birds… and only 36,000 humans!

With scenic drives into all corners of the Yukon, it’s a driver’s dream and an exhilarating combination of postcard scenery, historic communities, cultural attractions and adventure outings and includes the legendary Alaska, Top of the World, Klondike and Dempster highways.


Yukon also enjoys a rich cultural heritage. About one-quarter of all Yukoners are of Aboriginal ancestry and their culture has evolved over millennia into the rich tapestry of dialects, arts, crafts, cuisines, and practices that we enjoy today.


The Klondike Gold Rush of 1898, as told through the stories of Jack London and the poems of Scottish-born poet Robert Service, put the Yukon on the world map. Today, visitors can still experience this period in history by visiting Dawson City, a lively place bursting with heritage sites and attractions. You’ll feel the grit, heartache and golden dreams of the Klondike Gold Rush when you reach this authentic frontier town.

Another of our heritage attractions, The White Pass and Yukon Route railway, climbs almost 3,000 feet in just 20 miles and features steep grades, cliff-hanging turns, two tunnels and numerous bridges and trestles. The steel cantilever bridge was the tallest of its kind in the world when it was constructed in 1901.


From Autumn to Spring, when darkness comes to Yukon skies, the Northern Lights come out. First you might see a hint of neon colour in the starry sky, then a jagged burst of green, and soon you're transfixed by an ethereal display of shimmering aurora borealis. Depending on auroral activity and cloud conditions, you could spend hours watching with rapt attention as the magical show unfolds overhead.


Yukon is also the land of the midnight sun, where skies are glorious and summer light just won't quit, with the best time to visit between May and August. Life flourishes under hours of intense sunlight as the land hosts millions of migratory birds and explodes in wildflower blooms.


Discover the legendary allure of our iconic wilderness parks – Kluane, Tombstone, Herschel Island, Chilkoot, Ivvavik, Fishing Branch – and world-famous rivers – Alsek, Tatshenshini, Snake, Wind, Firth, Yukon. Witness calving glaciers, mountain vistas and abundant northern species like caribou, wolves and grizzly bears. All year long, our wild places host unforgettable journeys.

In the Footsteps of Yukon Pioneers
Self Drive Tour, departing from Whitehorse for 9 nights

The circular route exploring the modern and ancient cultures of the Yukon provides the perfect introduction to the region for travellers who wish to explore this rugged and historic region on their own schedule. From the echoes of the Gold Rush to the new world of eco-tourism, this northern wonderland offers something different for the inquisitive traveller on a circular route from Whitehorse to Whitehorse. A day in famous Dawson City give visitors a chance to perhaps pan for gold, while the wilds of Kluane National Park entice outdoor adventures to explore seldom seen trails, lakes and forests.
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