I had a chance to go through Yukon twice in 2019 – once on my way to Alaska and then again on my return. There was something wild and different about Yukon. These are the 12 best things to do in Yukon.
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Best Time to Visit Yukon
Late Spring to early fall is the best time to visit Yukon. On days around the summer solstice, you will have 24 hours of light in the north. Mid-summer usually brings loads of biting insects to the point it is unbearable. Although, in 2019, a dry spring caused wildfires and the mosquitos and black flies were almost non-existent!
Winter is really, really cold. Unless you’re going to see the Northern Lights, I personally would not want to go during this time although if you do go you might want to go during a festival such as the Available Light Film Festival, and take the advantage to soak in the Takhini Hot Pools outside Whitehorse… you can sit in the hot spring and let your hair freeze!
Now, for the top Yukon Attractions and Activities:
#12 See the Sign Forest in Watson Lake
Yukon’s biggest roadside attraction is the Watson Lake Sign Forest just off the Alcan Highway, aka the Alaska Highway. A description of this magical place can be found on a placard at the sign forest that says “The Watson Lake Sign Post Forest is the oldest and most extensive site of it’s type. It represents the longstanding tradition of “leaving your mark”. Carl Lindley started the Sign Post Forest in 1942 when he was a homesick soldier from Danville, Illinois. While working on the construction of the Alaska Highway, he added his hometown sign to an army mileage post. A tradition of adding signs gained momentum and the single signpost grew to a forest. People from all over the world continue to add signs connecting their faraway homes to the town of Watson Lake. The Sign Post Forest illustrates the historic and universal relationship between a traveler, their journey and their connection to home. The Alaska Highway was constructed during the Second World War to provide a land based route to Alaska and ground support for the construction of airstrips for the Northwest Staging Route. Now designated an event of national significance, the Alaska Highway changed the landscape of the Yukon by providing year round access to the rest of Canada, increasing transportation routes, improving communication systems and altering settlement patters. It brought new services and expanding economic opportunities throughout the territory. While the tangible aspect of the Forest will continue to evolve, it is the intangible values, such as the emotional connection people make with the site and the stories and memories they conjure, that give the Sign Post Forest its enduring qualities.”
Planning a stopover in Watson Lake? Check the selection of hotels in Watson Lake on booking.
#11 Attend A Festival
If there’s one thing I learned about Yukoners after traveling around during the summer is that they LOVE their festivals. There are a couple good music festivals, like the Dawson City Music Festival and the Kluane Mountain Bluegrass Festival. The Atlin Arts and Music festival is technically in British Columbia but due to its proximity to Whitehorse, over 90% of its attendees are from the territory to the north. Visit a festival like this to see some undiscovered Canadian talent.
#10 Go For the Gold!
Yukon Territory was practically built upon the business of gold mining with the Klondike Rush. If you want to try your luck, you might try gold panning. One of the best ways to experience the history is to visit one of the gold dredges. Visiting Gold Dredge Number 4 from Dawson City is one of the best dredges you can see (if you’re visiting Alaska, the Gold Dredge Number 8 from Fairbanks is a great trip).
#9 Go Camping
Unlike the amazing free campgrounds of Alaska and British Columbia, the territory has few free places to camp, and camping in rest areas is generally not allowed (although I found a few had no signs prohibiting it). Yukon has a wide selection of great public campgrounds, at a cost of only $12 CAD per night. All campgrounds have vault toilets, picnic tables, and free firewood for your campfires. Some of the best campsites include Conrad Lake, Congdon Creek, Kathleen Lake, and Dezadeash Lake on the drive to Haines, Alaska.
#8 Do Some of the Many Things to do in Whitehorse
The population of Whitehorse is just over 25,000 and makes up approximately 70% of the total territory population. So, you can image if you’re looking for goods or services in Yukon, Whitehorse is the best place to find it. It’s home to several supermarkets, Walmart, Canada Tire, Movie Theatre, Car dealerships with servicing, and lots of restaurants including the chains of KFC, McDonald’s and Tim Hortons. Make sure you stop into the visitor’s center in the center of town to get local travel tips. Make sure you check out the forecast – I narrowly avoided a fluke August snowstorm based on a tip here. As for Attractions, you can pay a few dollars to take a tour in the S.S. Klondike, a riverboat that ran up and down the river from 1929-1950 and is now part of the Canadian National Park Service. If you’re into museums, check out the Beringia Interpretive Centre.
Other services I recommend in Whitehorse: there are a couple laundromats, for wifi stop at the downtown visitor center or library.
Planning a stay in Whitehorse? Check the selection of hotels in Whitehorse on booking.
#7 Enjoy the Yukon River
Whether you stop for a photo op or canoe the Yukon River for a week or more, viewing the Yukon River is an absolute must when visiting. This legendary river actually starts in British Columbia in Lake Atlin and makes its way out to the Bering Sea in Alaska. If you’re driving the Alaska Highway, you will have multiple chances to drive parallel and cross the Yukon River and its lakes multiple times. If you’re looking to canoe the mighty Yukon River, Yukon Territory is the best place to do it. Several outfitters will rent you the gear and give you a ride.
#6 Dip Your Toes in the Sand in the World’s Smallest Desert – Carcross Desert
I’ve visited some of the world’s best deserts, like the Sahara in Egypt, Danakil Depression in Ethiopia, the Gobi in Mongolia, the outback in Australia, and the incredible gas crater in the middle of the Turkmenistan desert. But I never knew that the world’s smallest desert is in Yukon and there’s a nice little pullout along Highway 2. I highly recommend walking in the dunes in your bare feet… so relaxing.
#5 Kluane National Park
There are three Canadian National Parks in Yukon, but only Kluane is readily accessible. You can camp and hike easily at Kathleen Lake. Alternatively, take to the skies from Haines Junction for a scenic Glacier flightseeing tour. Keep your eyes open for wildlife – I had an up close and personal run in with a lynx here! From Kluane National Park, it’s an easy drive down the Haines Highway to visit Haines, Alaska.
#4 Drive the Top of The World Highway
From Dawson City, you can take a ferry to cross the mighty Yukon River, and then drive the gravel road all the way to Alaska on the Top of the World Highway. The road quality is pretty good, but if it’s been raining, your vehicle will be very muddy! Enjoy the amazing views and if you’re lucky, you may come across the Porcupine Caribou herd.
#3 Live Like a Yukoner in Dawson City – and Hit the Nightlife!
Dawson City is like an old west gold mining town. It’s definitely worth staying a day or two or three, there are plenty of attractions. You can visit the homes of Robert Service and Jack London of “Call of the Wild” fame. There are plenty of historical sites around town including a retired riverboat and the historical theater where you can see a show for a few dollars (it’s well worth it!) For nightlife, go to the government run bar, casino, and can-can show at Diamond Tooth Gerties. Or head down the street to have a sour toe cocktail (it’s a shot with a real human toe!)
Planning a stay in Dawson City? Check the selection of hotels in Dawson City on booking.
#2 Drive the Dempster Highway to Cross The Arctic Circle
The Dempster Highway is one of North America’s best road trips. It’s the only place in North America to drive all the way to the Arctic Ocean. I almost included the Arctic Ocean in this list, but technically, the ocean visit is in Tuktoyaktuk which is in the Northwest Territories. But on the Yukon side of the border, you can stop on the Arctic Circle and get your photo taken by the interpretive sign. You can also visit my #1 Yukon attraction on the Dempster Highway. Read here for more info on Driving the Dempster Highway.
#1 Be Awed by the Views in Tombstone Territorial Park
What can I say about Tombstone Territorial Park? It’s probably one of the most beautiful spots in all of Canada, with views that rival the world class Torres del Paine in Chile. This park is only a couple hours up the Dempster Highway and good, gravel roads go all the way to the park.
If you have only a few hours to visit, hike the beautiful Goldensides Trail, then stop into the visitor center to check out the exhibits and sit by the fire and sip some Labrador Tea. If you have more fitness and time, do one of the more strenuous hikes in the park, like Grizzly Lake. But whatever you do, enjoy the pure beauty of these ragged mountains.
Do you have other favorite things to do in Yukon Territory? Leave your comments below.
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