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Yukon
HOME OF THE KLONDIKE
Larger than Life
The Yukon is Canada's northern gem, where untamed
wilderness is brightened by the midnight sun in summer and the northern lights
in winter.
Yukon's capital, Whitehorse, is located at least 2000 km from any large city
(the closest is Edmonton, Alberta), but that doesn't discourage the thousands
of people who travel to the Yukon each year, either by plane or via the
beautiful Alaskan Highway.
A sight in itself, the highway runs from Dawson Creek, B.C. to Fairbanks,
Alaska, and is frequently touted as one of the most scenic drives in Canada.
Yukon's second largest municipality, Dawson City, was the focal point of the
famous Klondike Gold Rush of the late 19th century. Today, the city offers a
vivid reminder of those days with gold panning tours, an old-fashioned
gambling casino and more. The Yukon wilderness can be explored at the renowned
Kluane National Park and Reserve and home to Mount Logan.
Mount Logan at 5,959 metres (19,551 ft) in Kluane National Park and Reserve, is the highest mountain in Canada and the second highest of North America (after Mount McKinley in the U.S. state of Alaska).
Whitehorse, Yukon.
Whitehorse
The Capital of the Yukon
The city gets its name from the White Horse Rapids, which were said to look like the mane of a white horse. The rapids have disappeared under Schwatka Lake, formed by the construction of a hydroelectric dam in 1958.
Whitehorse accounts for almost 3/4 of the territory's
population and is the largest city in the three Canadian territories.
Whitehorse is also famous for natural parks and landscapes, receiving the
National Civic Lead award for its natural beauty.
At the head of navigation on the Yukon River, the city was an important supply
and centre during the Klondike Gold Rush. It has been the territorial capital
since 1953, when the seat was moved from Dawson City after the construction of
the Klondike Highway. Whitehorse is in the mountain climate region, the tundra
soil region, the Arctic vegetation region, and the boreal cordillera ecozone.
Whitehorse Trolley.
Attractions
Ascent of the King Salmon:
Once the ice has begun to break up in the spring, king salmon hurry upstream
from the Pacific to their Yukon River spawning grounds. Some even journey as
far as Whitehorse, taking about 60 days over the about 3000 km (1860 mi.)
trek. To watch as these magnificent fish climb the fish ladder provided for
them is a unique and very moving experience.
Black Mike's Gold Mine: The museum at
Black Mike's Gold Mine, 37 km (23 mi.) south of Whitehorse, brings to life
gold mining in the old Klondike days.
Frantic Follies: a nightly revue in the
Sheffield Hotel in Whitehorse is hugely popular. Can-can girls and honky-tonk
piano naturally feature in this 1890s-style vaudeville show.
McBride Museum: has a large collection of
relics and photographs from the gold-rush days. These include the log cabin
belonging to Sam McGee about whom Robert Service, "Bard of the Yukon", wrote a
famous ballad. There are also numerous bits of old machinery and implements
and an interesting display on the wildlife of the Yukon.
SS Klondike II National Historic Site: The
sternwheelers on the Yukon River remained the region's most important mode of
transport for decades after the gold-rush. It was not until 1955 that the "SS
Klondike II", built in 1937, gave up carrying ore from the silver mines in
Mayo to Whitehorse for onward shipment by road. Today the restored and
refitted paddle steamer welcomes visitors on the Yukon embankment in the town
center.
Yukon Beringia Interpretive Centre:
Beringia is believed to be the route traveled by the first people who entered
North America from Asia. At the Yukon Beringia Interpretive Centre the area's
history, geographical events and culture are illustrated through fossils,
First Nation exhibits, murals and dioramas.
Arctic Circle in the Northern Yukon.
Northern Yukon
Old Crow
Old Crow is an isolated community, being the only village
in the Yukon, which does not have road access. The only Yukon community
located north of the Arctic Circle. People in Old Crow enjoy long summer days
and experience the short days of winter. The Gwitchin First Nation extends
throughout the Yukon, the northwest part of NWT and parts of Alaska.
For thousands of years the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation ancestors have used
and continue to use the land and its resources. The Northern Yukon is a vast
Traditional Territory, approximately 50,000 square miles which is located
mostly in the North Yukon region from the western border of USA and Canada to
the Peel River and Richardson Mountains, and from northern Ivvavik National
Park of Canada to the Ogilvie Mountains.
Situated on the banks of the Porcupine River, Old Crow is isolated from other surrounding communities, and is accessible only by aircraft; or if you like an adventure, Old Crow is also accessible by canoe down the Porcupine River from the Eagle River which is located off the North's Dempster Highway. It's said to be a breath-taking adventure.
Attractions
Arctic Circle: marks the southern extremity of the polar day (24-hour sunlit day, often referred to as the "midnight sun") and polar night (24-hour sunless night). North of the Arctic Circle, the sun is above the horizon for 24 continuous hours at least once per year and below the horizon for 24 continuous hours at least once per year.
Ivvavik Nation Park: Bordered on the north by the Beaufort Sea, Alaska on the west, a height of land to the south, and the Babbage River to the east, lies a landscape untouched by the Pleistocene glacier where plants and animals managed to survive in a land where Arctic and sub- Arctic meet. In 1984, this natural refuge, 950 kilometres north of Whitehorse, became the first national park to be developed as a result of the settlement of land claims. Over 16 000 square kilometres of wilderness was given as a gift from the Inuvialuit people to the Canadian people.
Dawson City (Klondike Gold Rush), Yukon.
Central Yukon
Carmacks, Dawson City, Mayo, Pelly Crossing
Dawson City is the heart of the Klondike Gold Rush!
An incredible community that has preserved its past, Dawson City invites you
to turn back the pages of time and experience our rich living history.
Meander the wooden boardwalks and visit national historic treasures. Join
interpretative programs and amazing special events.
Tour the Klondike Gold Fields and try your luck panning for gold. YES! We
still have operating gold mines. Participate in unforgettable First Nations
tours and Wilderness Adventures. Spend a night on the town in one of the most
entertaining communities of the North, home to Diamond Tooth Gerties Casino -
Canada's first legalized gambling hall.
Attractions
Dawson City Museum:
gives an insight into the town's history as well as that of the Klondike from
the start of the gold-rush to the present day. A slide show about Dempster
Highway gives a good impression of the only highway in Canada to cross the
polar circle. (Dawson City)
Diamond Tooth Gerties: in Dawson City was
built in 1910 by the Arctic Brotherhood and became the center of Dawson's most
important social gatherings. Faithfully restored, it owes its name to a famous
dance-hall queen, Gertie Lovejoy, who received her nickname (Diamond Tooth
Gerties) from having a diamond inserted between her two front teeth. (Dawson
City)
Midnight Dome: A favorite outing, usually
combined with a visit to the theatre, is the trip to the hill known as
Midnight Dome, about 7 km (5 mi.) south-east of the town, from where a
fantastic panoramic view of Dawson City and the Yukon River, the Klondike
Valley and the surrounding Ogilvie Mountains can be enjoyed. Many of the
gold-seekers found their last resting-place in the cemetery on the side of the
hill. (Dawson City)
Palace Grand Theatre: built in 1899 by the
American Arizona Charlie Meadows and restored in 1962 by order of the Canadian
Government. During the day visitors can inspect the theatre, and in the
evening (except Tuesdays) "Gaslight Follies" present an authentic 1898
vaudeville show with songs, can-can dancers and cabaret.
Central Yukon Tourism
Mount Logan at 19,551 ft, () YK.
Kluane Region
Destruction Bay, Haines, Mt. Logan, Snag
Everything in the Yukon is large, and Mount Logan takes
the cake. Canada's highest mountain (5,959 m / 19,551 ft) and the second
tallest peak in North America draws mountaineers from around the world. Mount
Logan is named after Sir William Edmond Logan, the founder of the Geological
Survey of Canada.
Towering above the peaks of Kluane National Park, the Logan massif is believed
to have the largest circumference of any mountain on Earth. Eleven peaks
protrude from this colossal hunk of rock and ice, each over 5,000 m above sea
level. Logan's staggering size is further enhanced by the vast sea of ice that
surrounds it. The St. Elias Icefields is one of the world's largest non-polar
ice sheets. This frozen reservoir extrudes giant glaciers down Kluane's broad
valleys the Lowell, Kaskawulsh, Donjek and other glaciers are visible on
backcountry trips into the park.
Climbers access Mount Logan via ski-equipped airplane or helicopter from
Haines Junction or Kluane Lake, and flightseeing tours often enjoy a glimpse
of the mountain giant. Alsek river rafters float past calving glaciers, and
multi-day backpacking trips bring hikers within sight of glaciers.
Attractions
The Mount Logan Canadian Titan Virtual Museum of Canada: offers a visual overview of this mountain and its significance as a Canadian icon. Kluane National Park provides information for mountaineers, backcountry travelers and visitors interested in learning about the park's frozen interior.
Sign Post Forest, Watson Lake, Yukon.
Watson Lake
Watson Lake
Home of the famous Signpost Forest, the incredible
Northern Lights Space and Science Centre and gateway to the exciting history
and breathtaking scenery of Yukon.
Situated in the rolling hills of southeast Yukon, Watson Lake offers many ways
to enjoy the outdoors. Whether it be quiet trails, fishing, white water
canoeing, horseback riding, or a chance to slide on the only man-made water
slide north of 60, Watson Lake is the place to do it.
In the winter months, the gentle slopes and mixed aspen and coniferous forests
can be explored by cross country skiing or snowmobile riding. Downhill skiing
is available on Mt. Maichen and local lakes provide opportunities for skating
or ice fishing. A new recreation centre complex provides bowling, squash, and
indoor ice skating. Best of all, the spectacular Aurora Borealis (Northern
Lights) illuminate the black night sky with dancing displays of colour.
Attractions
The Northern Lights Centre:
offers a visual display and information on the Aurora borealis. (Watson Lake)
Sign Post Forest: In 1942 the first sign
at Sign Post Forest in Watson Lake was erected. Begun by U.S. Army G.I., Carl
K. Lindley of Danville, Illinoise as he pined for his home town, this
tradition has been carried on. Today hundreds of sign posts from various
destinations make up what is now called Sign Post Forest.
Downtown Whitehorse, Yukon.
Whitehorse
Carcross, Teslin, Whitehorse
The community of Whitehorse in Yukon has it
all―wilderness out the back door as well as all the modern conveniences and
amenities of downtown. A network of hiking trails surrounds what's known as
the Wilderness City, and the Yukon River flows right through town, with trails
and parks on its banks. Visitors are often surprised to learn that this
cosmopolitan capital city of about 25,000 people offers all the amenities and
comforts of a southern metropolis.
Whitehorse welcomes headline entertainment acts and international performers,
and hosts a large number of superb festivals throughout the year. The city has
an international airport with daily flights from Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary;
scheduled departures to Inuvik and other points north, plus charter carrier
services.
The city of Whitehorse lies in the traditional territory of two First
Nations―the Kwanlin Dun and the Ta'an Kwach'an and boasts a vibrant arts and
cultural community. The classic ambiance of Main Street coupled with great
shopping, restaurants and quality visitor accommodation make Whitehorse a
superb destination as well as a base for explorations around the Yukon.
Whitehorse hosts a thriving number of supermarkets, camping supply retailers,
vehicle and equipment rentals, and just about everything you'd expect to find
in a major city.
Attractions
Tourist Adventure Packages: Tons of Adventure tours are available from companies in Whitehorse Region, you can check them out at Yukon Tourism link below.