Yukon
3
Day Itinerary •
Canada
Three days in the Yukon reveal the most extraordinary combination of Gold Rush heritage, subarctic wilderness and world-class wildlife in North America. The preserved gold rush streets of Dawson City unchanged since 1898, the largest non-polar icefield in the world in Kluane National Park, the midnight sun in June, the grizzly bears and Dall sheep of the St Elias Mountains and the extraordinary Carcross Desert give a destination unlike any other in Canada. This route moves from Whitehorse through the magnificent St Elias Mountains and the largest icefield in the world at Kluane to the extraordinary Gold Rush capital of Dawson City where the Klondike River still yields gold. Three extraordinary days in Canada's most dramatic and least visited territory.
Best Time To Visit
June to September
Getting There
Fly into Whitehorse (YXY)
Getting Around
Car essential, self-drive only
Budget Per Day
Approx 190 to 395 CAD per person per day
Difficulity
Moderate, wilderness hiking
DAY 1
WHITEHORSE AND THE KLONDIKE HIGHWAY
MORNING
WHITEHORSE, THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY SMALL CAPITAL CITY IN CANADA
Whitehorse is the most extraordinary small capital in Canada, home to three quarters of the Yukon's entire population of 45,000 people, its extraordinary MacBride Museum of Yukon History, the remarkable SS Klondike National Historic Site, the finest sternwheeler in the Yukon river system preserved on dry land, and the extraordinary Yukon Beringia Interpretive Centre with Ice Age megafauna fossils giving the finest introduction to the Yukon. MacBride Museum approx 10 CAD. Drive/Travel: 20 min walk
MIDDAY
MILES CANYON AND THE YUKON RIVER GORGE
Miles Canyon 8km south of Whitehorse is the most extraordinary river gorge in the southern Yukon, the basalt walls rising 30 metres above the Yukon River where prospectors ran the rapids during the Gold Rush of 1898. The extraordinary suspension bridge above the canyon, the remarkable Schwatka Lake reservoir and the Canyon City archaeological site of the 1898 tramway give the finest Gold Rush landscape near the capital. Entry free. Drive/Travel: 20 min drive
AFTERNOON
THE CARCROSS DESERT AND THE WORLD'S SMALLEST DESERT
The Carcross Desert south of Whitehorse is the most extraordinary sand dune landscape in the Yukon, a 2.6 square kilometre area of sand dunes technically the world's smallest desert, its extraordinary white sand against the boreal forest and the mountains behind Carcross making it the finest unusual landscape in the Yukon. The Carcross Commons Indigenous arts and cultural centre is the finest in the territory. Entry free.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Yukon Wildlife Preserve north of Whitehorse contains the finest accessible collection of Yukon wildlife in one location, its extraordinary resident herds of wood bison, elk, muskox, caribou and Dall sheep visible year-round from the park road. The finest wildlife photography destination in the southern Yukon. Entry approx 18 CAD.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Baked Cafe, Whitehorse The finest breakfast in the Yukon. Outstanding sourdough and locally roasted coffee on the riverfront. | Lunch: Claim 53, Whitehorse Outstanding Yukon lunch at the finest gastropub. Local Arctic char and Yukon game sausages. | Dinner: Antoinette's, Whitehorse The finest restaurant in the Yukon. Outstanding local caribou and Arctic char. Book ahead.
DAY 2
KLUANE NATIONAL PARK AND THE ST ELIAS MOUNTAINS
MORNING
KLUANE NATIONAL PARK, THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY MOUNTAIN WILDERNESS IN CANADA
Kluane National Park on the Alaska Highway is the most extraordinary mountain wilderness in Canada, its extraordinary St Elias Mountains containing the largest non-polar icefield in the world at 22,000 square kilometres, the highest peak in Canada at Mount Logan at 5,959 metres and the finest grizzly bear habitat in the country. The Slim's River West trail gives the finest accessible view of the Kaskawulsh Glacier. Park entry free. Drive/Travel: 2.5 hours drive
MIDDAY
THE KASKAWULSH GLACIER AND THE DALL SHEEP SLOPES
The Kaskawulsh Glacier in Kluane is one of the finest accessible glaciers in Canada, its extraordinary braided meltwater streams and the remarkable Sheep Mountain Visitor Centre where Dall sheep are visible on the mountain slopes year-round giving the finest wildlife and glacial landscape combination in the Yukon. The Auriol Trail through extraordinary alpine meadows is remarkable. Entry free. Drive/Travel: 30 min drive
AFTERNOON
HAINES JUNCTION AND THE ALASKA HIGHWAY HERITAGE
Haines Junction at the junction of the Alaska Highway and the Haines Road is the most extraordinary small town in the Yukon, its extraordinary Da Ku Cultural Centre of the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations, the remarkable view of the St Elias Mountains from the town and the extraordinary Kluane National Park visitor centre making it the finest heritage gateway in the western Yukon. Da Ku Cultural Centre entry free.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Kathleen Lake campground in Kluane National Park is the finest lakeside camping in the Yukon, its extraordinary turquoise glacier-fed lake with the St Elias Mountains reflected in the still water at dawn. The Rock Glacier Trail above the lake gives the finest view of the Kluane Ranges. Camping approx
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Frosty's Diner, Haines Junction Outstanding Yukon frontier breakfast at the most characterful diner on the Alaska Highway. | Lunch: Raven Hotel restaurant, Haines Junction Outstanding mountain view lunch at the finest hotel in Haines Junction. Local Yukon game. | Dinner: Village Bakery, Haines Junction Outstanding freshly baked dinner at the finest community bakery in the Yukon. Local sourdough and pies.
DAY 3
THE KLONDIKE HIGHWAY AND DAWSON CITY
MORNING
DAWSON CITY, THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY GOLD RUSH TOWN IN THE WORLD
Dawson City is the most extraordinary gold rush heritage town in the world, its extraordinary boardwalk streets of wooden false-front buildings unchanged since the Klondike Gold Rush of 1898, the remarkable Palace Grand Theatre, the Klondike National Historic Sites and the extraordinary midnight sun from the Midnight Dome lookout above the town giving it a character unlike any other place in Canada. The Klondike River gold panning is extraordinary. Most sites free. Drive/Travel: 5 hours drive
MIDDAY
THE KLONDIKE GOLD FIELDS AND DREDGE NO 4
Dredge No 4 National Historic Site on Bonanza Creek is the most extraordinary gold mining heritage site in Canada, the largest wooden hull gold dredge in North America that operated from 1913 to 1959 processing the entire Klondike valley for gold. The extraordinary dredge pond, the remarkable tailings piles stretching 20km up the valley and the extraordinary gold panning at Claim 33 give the finest Gold Rush experience in the Yukon. Entry approx 8 CAD. Drive/Travel: 20 min drive
AFTERNOON
THE MIDNIGHT SUN AND THE TOP OF THE WORLD HIGHWAY
The Top of the World Highway from Dawson City to Alaska is the most extraordinary ridge-line road in North America, its 127km running entirely above the treeline on the mountain ridge giving views of the Yukon and Alaska ranges in every direction. The Midnight Dome above Dawson City gives the finest view of the Gold Rush valley, the Yukon River and the midnight sun in June. Entry free.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Tr'ondek Hwech'in Cultural Centre in Dawson City is the finest First Nations heritage museum in the Yukon, its extraordinary collection of Han Hwech'in artefacts and the remarkable oral history recordings giving the finest Indigenous perspective on the Klondike Gold Rush. Entry approx 8 CAD. The adjacent Chief Isaac Memorial
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Alchemy Cafe, Dawson City Outstanding Dawson breakfast at the finest independent cafe in the Klondike. Local sourdough starter from 1898. | Lunch: Drunken Goat, Dawson City Outstanding Klondike lunch at the most characterful restaurant in the Gold Rush capital. | Dinner: Bombay Peggy's, Dawson City The finest dinner in Dawson City at the most extraordinary restored Victorian inn in the Yukon. Book ahead.
DAY 4
MORNING
MIDDAY
AFTERNOON
💎 HIDDEN GEM
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
DAY 5
MORNING
MIDDAY
AFTERNOON
💎 HIDDEN GEM
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Where To Stay
Whitehorse, Night 1 Best Western Gold Rush Inn or 98 Hotel. Approx 150 to 280 CAD per night. Haines Junction, Night 2 Raven Hotel or Kluane Park Inn. Approx 120 to 220 CAD per night. Dawson City, Night 3 Bombay Peggy's Inn or Aurora Inn. Approx 130 to 250 CAD per night.
Top Tips
1. Kluane grizzly bears: the Slim's River West trail has one of the highest grizzly densities in Canada. Carry bear spray.
2. Dawson City sourdough starter: Alchemy Cafe uses a starter dating from the Gold Rush. Try the sourdough pancakes.
3. Midnight sun in June: the sun does not set in Dawson City from June 18 to
22. Extraordinary golf at midnight.
4. Dempster Highway spares: carry two full-size spare tires. The gravel chips tires and punctures are frequent.
5. Carcross Desert: visit in morning for the finest light on the white sand against the mountain backdrop.
6. Klondike gold panning: Claim 33 near Dredge No 4 offers guaranteed-gold panning. Approx 10 CAD per pan.
Total Budget
190 to 390 CAD/day