This is a land where ancient stories waft among the mountains and towns buzz with a frontier spirit. Explore these places to visit in the Yukon, and you’ll be hiking canyons carved by time, hopping a steamboat straight out of the gold rush, and creating memories that will last a lifetime. The Yukon’s wild heart beats strong, and it’s calling out to the adventurers, the curious, and the ones who want to taste the genuine frontier.
Forget the cliches: gold rush villages, mush sleds, and snow-capped mountains.
The Yukon Territory is so much more than what your parent’s postcards show.
This is a land where ancient cultures have carved their stories directly into the land, and the small pockets of civilization are swallowed up by incalculably vast forests. Here, the wilderness reigns supreme, and with it, the untold stories of adventures, real and raw, are whispered about in local pubs and cafes in the dusting of towns like Whitehorse and Dawson City.
And those towns might not be what you expect either. They blend frontier spirit and modern grit with a rough and gritty food scene that cranks out world-class dishes served simple and hearty. They’re urban centers where you may stumble out of the local brewery to find a moose wandering down the road, looking for some salt to lick.
The residents, hardened by harsh winters, welcome visitors with a warmth that melts away the cold and eyes as blazing as the aurora that shines above.
This territory has a strong pulse that beats along the rapids of the Yukon River, the glacier-fed lifeblood of the Yukon, powering not just the lights but the territory’s soul as well.
If you’ve ever considered a visit to the Yukon Territory, we’re going to dive deep and uncover its secrets, its flavours, and its top adventures. So strap your life jacket on and hold your paddle tight. These are the best places to visit in the Yukon Territory.
Yukon Wildlife Preserve
Sanitized zoos and manicured animal parks are for the “down there.” If you want that kind of experience, you can visit places like the Assiniboine Zoo in Winnipeg. Up here, you’re not going to find a petting zoo.
This is the Yukon Wildlife Preserve, a place where the untamed north runs wild. The Yukon Wildlife Preserve might feel remote, and on a nationwide scale, it is, but this incredible experience is less than 30 minutes from Whitehorse by car.
This Yukon wildlife sanctuary is where injured and orphaned animals from Canada’s north find refuge. The healthy ones get an opportunity to be re-released back into the wild. The ones who aren’t so lucky get a safe, secure natural paradise to live out their days.
You won’t find cages or pens here. The animals roam free across a massive stretch of Canada’s neverending Boreal Forest and wetlands.
Visitors can hop on a bus or, during the winter, strap on snowshoes for a five km safari where majestic caribou peek from the edge of the forest and soft-footed lynx stalk their prey among the bushes. Among the wildlife found here are elk, bison, mountain goats, and mule deer. And every encounter is a reminder of the wild heart that beats in the Yukon.
Miles Canyon
This ain’t no lazy river.
Miles Canyon was one of the most treacherous legs of gold-hungry prospectors during the Yukon gold rush. Here, the raging Yukon River swallowed many golden dreams beneath its furious white water.
Today, those pounding rapids have been tamed by the hungry needs of the Yukon’s mines and cities by a massive hydroelectric dam, its roar reduced to a steady purr. But with that calm comes an opportunity to appreciate a natural beauty that will make you weak in the knees.
Miles Canyon is an outdoor adventure paradise where locals and visitors hit the trails for hiking, cycling, and skiing amidst a landscape that defies expectations and whispers tales of a storied past. Keep your eyes peeled while you’re out in the wilderness. You may see a moose grazing by the riverbank or an eagle searching for prey in the sky above.
This scenic wonder is just ten minutes from Whitehorse and is one of the most beautiful places to see in the Yukon.
S. S. Klondike National Historic Site
A relic of a bygone era, the S.S. Klondike is a steel behemoth that once ruled the waters of the Yukon River. For many treasure hunters, this was the only way in or out of the Yukon territory, a lifeline connecting weary fortune seekers with the comfort and safety of civilization.
Along with people, this steamer hauled supplies, tools, and treasure like a pack mule on steroids.
Her days of hard labour are long behind her. Now, the S.S. Klondike relaxes on the banks of the river she once ruled, sharing the stories of adventure with visitors seeking stories of Canada’s frontier. The ship has been restored to its former glory and is now a time capsule of when life was hard, but the spirit of adventure was deep.
Walking the halls is like stepping back in time. A glimpse into cabins where miners and merchants, following dreams and promises of untold wealth, made plans for spending their bounty. For those looking for a little hands-on fun, the S.S. Klondike is also part of a geocache, a modern nod to the adventurous spirit that helped to launch her.
Sign Post Forest
Welcome to Watson Lake, Yukon, just a stone’s throw away from the border of British Columbia. Right at the junction of HWY 37, running north from Prince George B.C. and HWY 97, coming from Fort Nelson, far from the largest cities in the Yukon Territory, this may seem like an odd stop for those seeking the region’s top attractions.
But when a homesick U.S. soldier slapped up a sign here in 1942, pointing to his hometown in Illinois, he inadvertently sparked a tradition that would stretch on for more than 75 years.
Sign Post Forest is now home to more than 77,000 signs that blanket the landscape in a rainbow of colours and languages, each one a testament to travellers’ desires to connect with others and say “I was here” and “This is my home.”
What might otherwise be a mundane road stop for those road-tripping into the Yukon has become one of Canada’s most unique roadside stops.
If you stop here, grab a paintbrush and scrawl your own hometown on a scrap of wood to add your own voice to the chorus of adventurers who have stopped at Sign Post Forest in the Yukon Territory.
Dawson City Museum
The ghosts of the Klondike Gold Rush still roam the walls of the Dawson City Museum. Among exhibits that pull you back in time to an era when fortunes were made and lost on a gamble and the Yukon River ran thick with the dreams of prospectors, you’ll find the fascinating stories of one of the Yukon’s most fascinating places to visit.
Here, the stories of these fortune hunters are on full display. The story of those who were willing to leave friends, family, and comfort behind and brave the harsh northern wilderness and unforgiving winters for a chance to uncover sparkling stones.
A walk through these exhibits shares the stories of the First People living on the land, their nomadic traditions rocked by the influx of treasure seekers. It’ll plunge you into the heart of the Dawson City gold rush, where greed, desperation, and unbridled hope changed the lives of countless men and women.
Lift up a miner’s pickaxe, try your hand at panning for gold, and get inspired to seek out your own northern treasure.
The Dawson City Museum really focuses on the raw human experience of Canada’s frontier. And the pursuit of gold, like any addiction, can leave scars on the land as well as on the human soul.
Takhini Hot Springs
Pass on the overpriced cucumber water and experience the natural waters of Takhini Hot Springs.
This steamy oasis, less than 30 minutes from Whitehorse, feels like it’s in the depths of Yukon’s rugged wilderness. These natural mineral pools have been soothing the bodies and minds of weary travellers for centuries. The local First Nations communities have known about the healing waters of these natural hot springs for generations, but now their secret is out.
The water at Takhini Hot Springs has two temperatures, hot and hotter, making it the perfect Yukon getaway in all four seasons.
Set amidst 200 acres of pristine Boreal wilderness, this Whitehorse hot spring experience offers much more than just a relaxing place to soak your bones. A network of trails offers the opportunity for summer hikes or winter skiing through flawless nature. Work up a sweat and reward yourself with a long, luxurious soak.
Tombstone Territorial Park
The wild reigns supreme at Tombstone Territorial Park along the famed Dempster Highway.
This might sound like a haunted landscape where the Grim Reaper hangs his hat, but rather than horror, Tombstone Territorial Park is all about raw, untamed life living in a lush tundra circling rugged, snow-capped mountain peaks.
Caribou roam the valleys, and moose lumber through the undergrowth. At night, wolf packs howl to one another under the Northern Lights. The park covers nearly 1400 square kilometres of untamed wilderness, and humans are mere guests here.
Tombstone is a testament to the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in, the First Nation who, for generations passed, and countless more to come, have been the stewards of this land, fishing the rivers and hunting the valleys. Hiking trails will bring you face to face with ancient hunting blinds, weathered stone tools, and, yes, even the tombstones for which this Parks Canada land has been named.
Carcross Desert
Sometimes, it seems that all of the top attractions in the Yukon Territory are set on a massive scale. So, the Carcross Desert might underwhelm those who first pay it a visit. Here, where sand dunes rise up like a mirage against a backdrop of snow-capped mountains, the rules of nature seem to have taken a detour.
Welcome to the world’s smallest desert. The Carcross Desert is a pocket-size freak of nature, a splash of the Sahara in the heart of the Yukon Territory.
Take a hike across tiny sand dunes and wander among the flora of this magnificent microcosm where life has somehow managed to thrive in the most unlikely of places.
The Carcross Desert, with its hills of sand sculpted by glacial winds, is a popular place for ATVers and mountain bikers. Go for a walk and feel the sand between your toes while you drink in one of nature’s quirky contradictions.
Kluane National Park
Kluane National Park is where the Yukon Territory flexes its muscles. Towering mountains pierce the clouds, and glaciers groan with millennia of frozen angst. Here, a tapestry of life unfolds that’s as diverse as it is dramatic.
This UNESCO World Heritage Site isn’t just one of the Yukon’s crown jewels. It’s one of the most beautiful places in all of Canada. Where grizzly bears roam through valleys and eagles soar between snow-capped peaks.
Kluane is a playground for adventure-seekers and is home to Canada’s tallest mountain, Mount Logan. This towering monstrosity reaches nearly 6,000 metres above the surrounding landscape, looking out over turquoise lakes surrounded by valleys dotted with a rainbow of wildflowers. For an unforgettable experience, you can read about this flightseeing experience over Mount Logan from one of our We Explore Canada writers.
Step into the Kluane National Park and Reserve Centre for a glimpse into the history and landscape of the park. There are exhibits on the First Nations that call this land home and have for millennia. The visitors centre also has hiking maps and park rangers who can help you map out your visit.
Dawson City
Dawson City is a living, breathing relic of the Klondike Gold Rush. The second biggest urban centre in the Yukon Territory is home to just 1,600 residents, but it echoes with the ghosts of fortune-seekers sipping whisky in weathered saloons.
Seemingly lost in time, walk along the creaky boardwalks of Dawson City, and you’ll feel the pulse of the frontier humming beneath your feet. A time when carriages rocketed down muddy streets, and the glint of gold dust filled the air.
The Dawson City of today is far more than just a historical landmark, though. It’s a place where the history of the Yukon meets the modern day. You can take a guided tour from local experts who share the stories of the land unfolding through time and the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in Peoples who helped to shape it long before Europeans arrived.
Those with a weak stomach might want to stop reading now because we’re going to dive into one of Dawson City’s worst-kept secrets, the Sourtoe Cocktail.
This drink is served up at the Sourtoe Saloon and has sent many of the bravest souls running. The cocktail is a shot of whisky poured around a real, mummified human toe. It’s a local tradition that’s not for the faint of heart. And whether you drink it fast or drink it slow, your lips must touch the toe.
Are You Ready To Explore The Best Places To Visit In The Yukon For Yourself?
Have I convinced you? Are you ready to get a taste of the Yukon’s wild heart?
This isn’t the end of the road, not by a long shot. The Yukon is full of secrets, and we are working hard to share the best experiences in the territory with you in our Yukon travel stories.
If we’ve convinced you, drop a comment, lace up your boots and hit the open road. It’s time to let the spirit of adventure guide you north. Chase the Northern lights, paddle the Yukon River, or soak up the silence in a hot spring.
And hey, if you stumble upon a hidden gem, a local haunt that serves up the best caribou stew you’ve ever heard of, don’t keep it to yourself. Join our We Explore Canada Facebook group and share the love. Because the Yukon, like any great travel journey, lies in the stories that we collect along the way.
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Kevin Wagar is a founder and editor of We Explore Canada. He has been working in the travel media industry since 2015 when he founded his family travel website Wandering Wagars – Adventure Family Travel.
Over the years Kevin has developed a deep love for his home country and aims to showcase the incredible experiences and amazing small businesses found within it.