Canada’s Yukon is one of the most unique and memorable destinations in North America. With wilderness covering over 80 per cent of the land, the scenery is simply breathtaking and wildlife viewing opportunities are in abundance with caribou, moose and grizzly bear outnumbering the residents.
Visiting the Yukon can be combined with Alaska and circle drives between the two regions offer spectacular scenery, wildlife and history.
Kluane National Park
The 22,000 square kilometre Kluane National Park is a jewel in the southwestern corner of the Yukon between northeastern British Columbia and the tidewaters of the Alaskan panhandle. Kluane is home to the world’s largest non-polar ice-fields and deep valleys which are home to Dall’s sheep, grizzly bears, moose, lynx, wolves, wolverines as well as golden and bald eagles, arctic terns and peregrine falcons. Activities within the park include hiking, mountain biking, canoeing and wildlife watching.
The Tatshenshini-Alsek Provincial Park
The Tatshenshini-Alsek Park links the three adjacent national parks, Kluane in the Yukon and Glacier Bay and Wrangell-St Elias in Alaska, to create a 97,000 square kilometre wilderness. Combined, these parks comprise the largest protected area in the world, approximately 8.5 million hectares. The Tatshenshini-Alsek is a magnificent river system for kayakers and rafters. Mountain bikers can explore old mining roads and other interesting and challenging terrain.
Whitehorse
Built in the height of the Klondike Gold Rush by prospectors who had survived the strenuous Chilkoot Trail from Skagway, Whitehorse is now the largest town in the Yukon. The area surrounding Whitehorse is still largely unspoiled and the mountain wilderness provides a fantastic backdrop for winter and summer activities alike.
Yukon Quest International Dog Sled Race
The Yukon Quest has been run every year since 1984 over the 1,000 miles (1,600 km) of rough, sometimes hazardous terrain between Whitehorse, Yukon and Fairbanks, Alaska. The Yukon Quest Race start alternates annually between these two host cities. This incredible winter sports event takes place every February when weather conditions can be the coldest and sometimes the most unpredictable of the year. The Yukon Quest Race starts on schedule regardless of weather and lasts from 10 to 16 days until the final dog team arrives at the Finish Line, depending on weather and trail conditions.
Dawson City
Once a booming gold rush town and known around the world, Jack London, Dawson City is located at the confluence of the Yukon and the Klondike Rivers. For a few short years from 1896, Dawson City had the richest gold mine of all time, and was at the heart of the Klondike gold rush. The city has a rich history with many places to visit including the Palace Grand Theatre, Diamond Tooth Gertie’s Gambling House, the Robert Service and Jack London cabins, and the Dawson City Museum.
Chilkoot Trail
The Chilkoot Trail, was the most famous route taken by prospectors and would be miners who made their way to the Klondike gold rush in the Yukon. The most popular route to the gold fields was from Skagway, Alaska, over the Chilkoot Pass through British Columbia and into the Yukon. Thousands of hardy men and women struggled over the Chilkoot Pass and the Northwest Mounted Police required that all people had to carry one year's provisions with them. For some, this meant more than 20 trips over the Chilkoot Pass carrying their belongings. Driven by the hopes of unbelievable riches, they overcame great obstacles just to find out that they were too late!
