Yukon
5
Day Itinerary •
Canada
Five days in the Yukon gives you the complete extraordinary experience of Canada's last frontier, from the Gold Rush heritage of Whitehorse and Dawson City through the world's greatest non-polar icefield in Kluane to the Arctic Circle crossing on the Dempster Highway, the jagged tombstone peaks of the territorial park, the world's most remarkable Sign Post Forest and the tropical-feeling hot springs just south of the Yukon border. This route covers the complete Yukon experience from the SS Klondike and Carcross Desert near Whitehorse through the grizzly bear wilderness of Kluane and the gold rush boardwalks of Dawson City to the Arctic tundra of the Dempster, the ancient First Nations heritage of the Klondike and the extraordinary Liard River hot springs. Five extraordinary days in the finest wilderness territory in North America.
Best Time To Visit
June to September
Getting There
Fly into Whitehorse (YXY)
Getting Around
Car essential, 1,200km total driving
Budget Per Day
Approx 190 to 395 CAD per person per day
Difficulity
Moderate, some remote wilderness
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
THE DEMPSTER HIGHWAY AND THE ARCTIC CIRCLE
MORNING
THE TOMBSTONE TERRITORIAL PARK, THE FINEST WILDERNESS IN THE YUKON
Tombstone Territorial Park along the Dempster Highway is the most extraordinary wilderness landscape in the Yukon, its extraordinary jagged granite tombstone peaks, the remarkable tundra plateau above the treeline accessible by the Grizzly Lake trail and the extraordinary Arctic grayling fishing in the clear mountain streams giving the finest wilderness photography in Canada. The Interpretive Centre at Km 72 is excellent. Entry free. Drive/Travel: 1 hour drive
MIDDAY
THE ARCTIC CIRCLE CROSSING AND THE DEMPSTER HIGHWAY
drive The Dempster Highway north from Dawson City crosses the Arctic Circle at Km 405, the only public road in Canada to cross the Arctic Circle. The extraordinary subarctic and then Arctic tundra landscape, the remarkable Richardson Mountains and the extraordinary sign at the Arctic Circle crossing make it the finest single drive in the Yukon. The total drive to Inuvik is 736km. The Arctic Circle sign photo is free. Drive/Travel: Drive
AFTERNOON
THE EAGLE PLAINS HOTEL AND THE LAST FUEL STOP
Eagle Plains at Km 369 of the Dempster Highway is the most extraordinary remote hotel in Canada, the only fuel and food stop between Dawson City and Inuvik, its extraordinary position in the heart of the Yukon wilderness and the remarkable fact that it operates 24 hours year-round for the handful of vehicles on the road making it the finest remote roadhouse in the country. The northern lights over Eagle Plains are extraordinary.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Grizzly Lake trail in Tombstone Territorial Park, a 16km return hike to an alpine lake surrounded by jagged granite peaks, gives the finest single-day wilderness experience in the Yukon. Grizzly bears are frequently visible on the tundra slopes. Entirely free. Register at the Interpretive Centre. Bring bear spray and
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Tombstone Interpretive Centre Simple supplies from the interpretive centre before the Grizzly Lake trail. Carry all food for the day. | Lunch: Dempster trailhead picnic Outstanding wilderness picnic at the extraordinary Tombstone mountain backdrop. | Dinner: Eagle Plains Hotel dining room The only dinner option for 400km. Outstanding Yukon roadhouse comfort food at the finest remote hotel.
DAY 5
THE SOUTHERN LAKES AND WATSON LAKE
MORNING
EMERALD LAKE, THE MOST EXTRAORDINARILY COLOURED LAKE IN THE YUKON
Emerald Lake on the Klondike Highway south of Whitehorse is the most extraordinarily coloured lake in the Yukon, its extraordinary vivid green water caused by light reflecting off marl deposits on the lake floor giving it an almost unnatural turquoise-green colour. The lake is at its finest in calm morning light. The Fish Lake Plateau hike above gives the finest view of the lake from above. Entry free. Drive/Travel: 30 min drive
MIDDAY
WATSON LAKE AND THE SIGN POST FOREST
Watson Lake near the BC border is the most extraordinary small town on the Alaska Highway, its remarkable Sign Post Forest started in 1942 by a homesick US Army private who nailed a sign to a post pointing home to Danville Illinois, now containing over 100,000 signs from every country in the world and the finest folk art installation in Canada. The Northern Lights Centre gives the finest aurora science museum in the Yukon. Forest entry free. Drive/Travel: 3 hours drive
AFTERNOON
THE LIARD RIVER HOT SPRINGS, THE FINEST NATURAL HOT SPRINGS IN THE YUKON
Liard River Hot Springs Provincial Park just south of the Yukon border in BC contains the most extraordinary natural hot springs in western Canada, its extraordinary Alpha Pool at 42 degrees and the remarkable Beta Pool further along the boardwalk through extraordinary tropical-in-appearance swamp vegetation, the only place where heat-loving plants normally found only in southern BC grow this far north. Park entry approx 5 CAD.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Canol Heritage Trail from Ross River north to the Northwest Territories is the most extraordinary abandoned wilderness road in Canada, a 355km pipeline road built in 1942 and abandoned in 1945, its extraordinary river crossings, mountain passes and complete absence of facilities giving the finest remote wilderness hiking in
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Klondike Inn, Whitehorse Outstanding Yukon highway breakfast before the southern lakes drive. Frontier Canadian comfort food. | Lunch: Watson Lake Hotel dining room Outstanding Alaska Highway lunch at the finest roadhouse near the Sign Post Forest. | Dinner: Liard Hot Springs Campground cookout Outstanding campfire dinner at the finest hot springs campground in western Canada. Bring your own supplies.
Where To Stay
Whitehorse, Night 1 98 Hotel or Best Western Gold Rush Inn. Approx 150 to 280 CAD per night. Haines Junction, Night 2 Raven Hotel. Approx 120 to 220 CAD per night. Dawson City, Nights 3 to 4 Bombay Peggy's Inn. Approx 130 to 250 CAD per night. Watson Lake, Night 5 Watson Lake Hotel. Approx 100 to 180 CAD per night.
Top Tips
1. Arctic Circle crossing: the sign at Km 405 of the Dempster is the finest photo in the Yukon. Go on a clear day.
2. Tombstone Grizzly Lake trail: register at the Interpretive Centre. Bears are active on the tundra most mornings.
3. Liard Hot Springs Beta Pool: the lower pool is cooler and less crowded. Go at dawn before the highway stops.
4. Sign Post Forest Watson Lake: bring your own sign or buy a pre-made one in the visitor centre for 10 CAD.
5. Emerald Lake morning light: the green colour is most vivid in calm conditions before 9am.
6. Northern lights in September: Whitehorse aurora forecast at aurora-forecast.ca. September is the finest month.
Total Budget
190 to 390 CAD/day