Yukon

In northwestern Canada, on the border with Alaska, fewer people live than in a small German town, spread across an area larger than Sweden. A vacation in the Yukon means canoe trips on the Yukon River, Gold Rush history in Dawson City, and the northern lights in the winter sky.

Landscape and the Gold Rush

The Yukon Territory is defined by mountains, rivers, and endless forests that give way to tundra in the north. In the southwest lies Kluane National Park, home to Mount Logan, Canada's highest peak, and one of the largest non-polar ice fields in the world; together with parks in Alaska and British Columbia, it is a World Heritage Site. In 1896, gold was discovered on the Klondike, and tens of thousands of fortune seekers headed north over the Chilkoot Pass. Dawson City, then one of the largest cities in western Canada, preserves this era with its wooden facades, saloons, and gambling hall; its Tr'ondëk-Klondike gold rush landscape has been a World Heritage Site since 2023. Many residents belong to the First Nations, and 11 of the 14 have their own self-government agreements.

Whitehorse, the Capital

Whitehorse is home to about three-quarters of the territory's population. The city lies on the Yukon River, where the sternwheeler SS Klondike recalls the days when boats carried gold and supplies. The Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre presents First Nations culture, and the Yukon Beringia Interpretive Centre brings the Ice Age to life with its mammoths. Miles Canyon and hot springs are close to the city. In February, the Yukon Quest takes place, a sled dog race of roughly 1,000 miles (1,600 km) that is now held in several variations. If you visit in summer, you can paddle the Yukon River from Whitehorse toward Dawson City over several days.

Getting There and Best Time to Visit

Whitehorse has an airport with connections to Vancouver, Calgary, and Edmonton, and in summer also seasonal flights from Europe. The Alaska Highway runs through the territory, and the White Pass Railway operates in summer from Skagway, Alaska. The best time for canoeing, hiking, and the midnight sun is June through August; for the northern lights and dogsledding, it's January through March. In winter, temperatures often drop below minus 30 degrees.