Things to do in  Yukon

The Yukon is the smallest, westernmost, and perhaps wildest of Canada’s northern territories. Its remote mountain landscapes, untamed rivers, and glacier-fed lakes attract casual sightseers and hardcore adventurers alike. Visitors can witness the Northern Lights, hike, snowshoe, or fish in the wilderness, and explore Canada’s First Nations traditions at cultural centers and festivals across the Yukon.

Known as the “most photographed lake in the Yukon,” Emerald Lake is graced with vibrant hues of green water. The unique colors—created by sunlight reflecting off a layer of white calcium carbonate on the lake’s bottom—set the lake apart from the many others that dot the Yukon. The novelty draws in road trippers traveling the Klondike Highway.

Nestled on the shores of Bennett Lake and surrounded by rugged mountains, Carcross is a hub of gold rush history, First Nation culture, and outdoor adventure. The small town is a popular stop for visitors who come for gold panning, totem poles, world-class mountain biking, and relaxing on the lake’s renowned beaches.

Vast, wild, and barely touched by humans, Canada’s Yukon Territory is one of the best places to view North American wildlife. At the Yukon Wildlife Preserve, many species native to the region—such as musk ox, Canadian lynx, elk, and bison—can all be seen at relatively close range in spacious natural habitats.

The Yukon River stretches nearly 2,000 miles (over 3,000 kilometers) from its source in British Columbia, across the entire width of Alaska, before emptying into the Bering Sea. During the Klondike Gold Rush, the river was one of the few transportation routes for gold prospectors and many historic gold rush sites and relics can be viewed along the river today.

Caribou Crossing Trading Post is a hub of gold rush history that gives visitors the opportunity to experience the Yukon Territory through activities such as gold panning and Iditarod dog cart rides. It also boasts a museum, petting farm, husky puppies, a cafe, and gift shop—making it an all-around great stopover on a road trip or tour.

Canada’s highest peak, the largest non-polar ice fields, and North America’s most genetically diverse grizzly populations are all housed in the Yukon Territory’s Kluane National Park. The UNESCO World Heritage Site is packed with glaciers, peaks, rivers, and lakes where visitors can spot wildlife such as Dall sheep, caribou, wolves, grizzlies, and more than 100 different species of birds.

Just outside of Whitehorse, the Yukon River carves its way through a basaltic lava flow revealing colorful cliffs of volcanic rock. During the gold rush days, the fierce rapids of Miles Canyon posed a significant danger to stampeders, but the canyon has since been tamed with a dam and is now a popular recreation area for locals and visitors alike.

Located on the banks of the Yukon River, the S.S. Klondike National Historic Site celebrates the history of riverboats in the Yukon. During the Klondike Gold Rush, the S.S. Klondike played an important role in moving ore, goods, and people up and down the river between Whitehorse and Dawson City. The boat is now a museum and monument to the era of riverboat transportation.

The Eclipse Nordic Hot Springs (previously the Takhini Hot Springs) has drawn visitors to its natural mineral waters for more than 100 years. Water enters the first of two large pools at 108°F (42°C) and gradually cools to 98.6°F (37°C) in the lower pool. Nestled in the Yukon wilderness, visitors have the chance to spot wildlife—and maybe even the northern lights—while basking in the springs.

Straddling the border of the Yukon Territory and British Columbia, Bennett Lake is known for its beaches and water sports activities. You can spend the day relaxing on sandy shores and enjoying mountain views or take to the water for canoeing, kayaking, or kite surfing. In the summer, the lake is even warm enough for a refreshing swim.

Each year over a thousand Chinook salmon pass through the world’s longest wooden fish ladder at the Whitehorse Fish Ladder and Hatchery. The fish ladder is part of their journey from the Bering Sea back to their home waters to spawn. This 1,200-foot (366-meter chute allows the salmon to bypass the Whitehorse Dam and is a popular spot to watch the salmon run.

Resting atop White Pass at the border of Alaska and the Yukon Territory, Summit Lake is a tranquil high-mountain lake surrounded by forests, mountains, and wildlife. Lined by the Klondike Highway, the lake is easily accessible and provides a great place to take a break from the road and enjoy a picnic or photo opportunity.

The MacBride Copperbelt Mining Museum dubs itself a healthy learning and outdoor fun destination that can entertain anybody between the ages of 2 and 102. The two-kilometer-long “Loki” train ride is the main attraction; however, the museum is a true lesson on both the rich mining history in Canada’s North and the colorful characters that contributed to the development of Yukon’s capital city, Whitehorse. The museum’s wilderness setting, interpretive walking trails and a large picnic pavilion, make it a great place to spend an entire afternoon. Kids will be kept busy, too, with fun activities that teach them to stake a mining claim, scavenger hunts through the museum grounds, and a playground.

Delve into the ancient history of Beringia, the land bridge that once connected Asia with North America, at the Yukon Beringia Interpretive Centre. You’ll learn about the Ice Age and now-extinct colossal animals like the wooly mammoth, and hear the stories of Canada’s first people. Life-size animal displays and interactive exhibits make this one of the Yukon’s top attractions for kids.