Whitehorse, Kluane and the Klondike
Yukon
Aurora, tundra colour and 45,000 people in a territory the size of Spain.
- Aurora
- Wildlife
- Winter
- Indigenous-led
- Mountains
Best in February–March · August–September
About this place
The Yukon has one city, one paved highway of any length, and dark skies for eight months of the year. Late August and September give aurora with mild nights and red tundra in Tombstone; February and March give the best lights, the sled-dog races and ten hours of daylight. Whitehorse is the base for both.
Things to do
Aurora from a lodge outside Whitehorse
Operators run heated viewing cabins 20–40 minutes from town with pickups after 10 pm. The season runs late August to mid-April; three nights gives good odds of one clear show.
Kluane National Park
Two hours west of Whitehorse. Kathleen Lake and the King’s Throne trail from Haines Junction; flightseeing over the icefields and Mount Logan, Canada’s highest peak. Da Kṳ Cultural Centre in Haines Junction is run with the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations.
Tombstone Territorial Park
Up the Dempster Highway from Dawson City. The tundra turns red and gold in the first half of September; the Interpretive Centre and campground close in mid-September.
Dawson City
Six hours north of Whitehorse. Dredge No. 4, the Klondike gold-rush streets and Diamond Tooth Gerties casino run from May to mid-September; the town is much quieter but still open outside those months.
Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre
On the Whitehorse riverfront, with exhibits, carving and programmes run by the Kwanlin Dün First Nation. Carcross, 45 minutes south, has the Carcross/Tagish First Nation’s carving shed and Commons.
Dogs, hot springs and wildlife
Day mushing runs December to March. The Yukon Wildlife Preserve, 25 minutes from town, has bison, muskox, lynx and moose in large enclosures; Eclipse Nordic Hot Springs is next door.
When to go
Late August to September
Darkness returns, the first aurora shows arrive with above-freezing nights, the bugs are gone and the tundra colours in Tombstone. Most Dawson attractions are open until mid-September.
February and March
The Yukon Quest and the Sourdough Rendezvous festival in February; longer days and −20 to −10°C in March. Statistically the best aurora months.
December and January
Dark by 4 pm and often −30°C, but the lowest lodge prices and the longest aurora nights. Dress for it.
No aurora in June and July
Midnight sun means no dark sky. Summer is for hiking and the Chilkoot Trail, not lights.
How to get there
Fly to Whitehorse (YXY)
Air North and Air Canada fly from Vancouver in about 2.5 hours, with flights from Calgary, Edmonton and (Air North, some days) Ottawa and Toronto. A summer-only charter from Frankfurt runs most years.
A car in winter is fine
The Alaska and Klondike highways are ploughed and sanded. Rentals come with winter tires and block heaters; keep the tank above half.
Whitehorse to Dawson
Six hours on the Klondike Highway, or a one-hour Air North flight. Tombstone is a further 90 minutes up the Dempster on gravel.
Trips here
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4 packages
FeaturedYukon4 nightsYukon Aurora Hunt
Four nights near Whitehorse with three guided aurora nights at a wilderness camp, a wildlife preserve visit and hot springs.
- Northern lights
- Guided
- Wildlife
From $1,590 per person
approx. £845 / €986
Yukon2 nightsYukon Quest Trailside Weekend
Two nights following the start of the Yukon Quest sled-dog race with checkpoint visits and a musher meet-and-greet.
- Culture
- Indigenous
From $720 per person
approx. £383 / €446
Yukon3 nightsKwanlin Dün Winter Culture Days
Three nights in Whitehorse with First Nations guides: snowshoe trails, storytelling, beading workshop and a fish-camp meal.
- Indigenous
- Culture
- Guided
From $1,120 per person
approx. £595 / €694
Yukon5 nightsMush Your Own Team: 3-Day Dog-Sled Expedition
Five nights including a three-day, two-night dog-sled expedition across frozen lakes with your own team of huskies.
- Adventure
- Guided
- Wildlife
From $2,890 per person
approx. £1,536 / €1,792
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