Whitehorse

Canada's top city for northern lights, with hot springs under the aurora and dog sledding in winter, and Yukon River canoeing and gold rush sites in summer.

Whitehorse is the capital of Canada's Yukon territory, set in the upper Yukon River valley. With about 30,000 residents — more than 70% of the territory's population — it is the transport hub for the whole Yukon and Canada's most popular city for viewing the northern lights. The city stretches along the west bank of the Yukon River, and the SS Klondike, the MacBride Museum, the Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre, the Old Log Church and the log skyscrapers are all within walking distance. On the southern outskirts are Miles Canyon, Schwatka Lake and the fish ladder; to the northwest are the Yukon Beringia Interpretive Centre and the Yukon Transportation Museum, and further north the Yukon Wildlife Preserve, Takhini Hot Springs and Lake Laberge. The classic day trip is the South Klondike Highway to Emerald Lake, the Carcross Desert and the village of Carcross (about 75 km), and you can continue on to Skagway, Alaska; Kluane National Park is about 160 km to the west. The seasons differ dramatically: Dec–Mar is peak season for the northern lights and dog sledding, with temperatures often between −20 and −40°C; in Jun–Aug there are nearly 20 hours of daylight, ideal for canoeing, hiking and road trips; late August to September offers both autumn colours and the aurora. There are direct flights from Vancouver, Calgary and elsewhere. Public transport in town is limited, so rent a car in summer, and in winter most visitors join aurora tours that include pick-up. Plan on 3–5 days. Bring proper cold-weather gear in winter, and in summer take precautions against bears and mosquitoes in the backcountry.

Top sights

• Miles Canyon – A basalt canyon carved by the Yukon River. Emerald water runs between steep cliffs, and a suspension bridge spans the gorge. It is Whitehor…
• Emerald Lake (Yukon) – A small turquoise lake beside the South Klondike Highway. Layers of green and blue shimmer over its marl-covered bed, making it the most ph…
• Kluane National Park and Reserve – A UNESCO World Heritage Site home to Canada's highest peak, Mount Logan, and vast icefields. Kathleen Lake is the classic stop on a one-day…
• SS Klondike National Historic Site – Largest sternwheeler on the Yukon River, quietly moored on the riverbank in town. A national historic site that tells the story of the Yuko…
• Yukon Wildlife Preserve – Semi-wild reserve amid vast northern forests and meadows, where you can see Yukon native animals such as moose, muskox, caribou and mountai…
• Eclipse Nordic Hot Springs (Takhini Hot Springs) – Long-established natural hot spring on the edge of town, now converted into a Nordic-style spa, where in winter you can soak at minus 30°C…
• Yukon Beringia Interpretive Centre – Museum of ice-age Beringia, where skeletons of woolly mammoths, giant beavers and short-faced bears are displayed in a row.
• Yukon Transportation Museum – Museum telling how dog sleds, paddle steamers, the White Pass railway, bush planes and the Alaska Highway opened up the Yukon.
• MacBride Museum of Yukon History – The Yukon's largest general history museum, covering Indigenous culture, the gold rush, the RCMP and Yukon wildlife specimens.
• Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre – Indigenous cultural centre on the Yukon riverbank, showcasing the traditions, art and contemporary life of the Kwanlin Dün First Nation.
• Whitehorse Rapids Fishway – One of the world's longest wooden fish ladders, helping Chinook salmon bypass a hydroelectric dam on their 3,000 km migration.
• Old Log Church Museum – Log church built in 1900, one of Whitehorse's oldest buildings, housing exhibits on Yukon religious and missionary history.
• Log Skyscrapers – Two- and three-storey log buildings from the 1940s, jokingly called 'log skyscrapers', making them the most fun photo spot in the city cent…
• Schwatka Lake – Reservoir formed by the Whitehorse Dam, where floatplanes take off and land. In summer you can take a Yukon River cruise through Miles Cany…
• Whitehorse Waterfront & Trolley – Trails and parks along the west bank of the Yukon River. In summer, a vintage riverfront trolley connects the SS Klondike with the city cen…
• Grey Mountain – Mountain east of the city. A gravel road climbs to the ridge, offering views over Whitehorse, the Yukon River valley and the surrounding pe…
• Fish Lake – Mountain lake on upland west of the city. In summer you can hike along the ridge for views over the lake; in winter, far from city lights…
• Lake Laberge – Long lake formed by the widening of the Yukon River, famous from Robert Service's poem 'The Cremation of Sam McGee'. Ideal for canoeing in…
• Carcross Desert – Dune field beside a glacial lake, billed as the 'world's smallest desert', next to the village of Carcross. Climb the dunes or go sandboard…

Where to eat

• Antoinette's – A vibrant fusion restaurant on 4th Avenue with a Caribbean foundation, offering extensive vegan and gluten-free options…
• Klondike Rib & Salmon – Housed in two of the oldest active buildings in Whitehorse, serving halibut fish and chips, bison, and smoked meats dur…
• Burnt Toast Cafe – A famous brunch spot on 2nd Avenue, popular for its Eggs Benedict, croissant French toast, and breakfast burritos, espe…
• Cork & Fork – A continental bistro located in an RV park off the Alaska Highway, where currywurst, Belgian fries, and wood-fired pizz…

Itineraries

• Whitehorse Winter Aurora & Hot Springs – Based in downtown Whitehorse, spend three nights chasing the Aurora, with daytime dog sledding, wildlife viewing, and h…
• Yukon Kluane, Klondike & Alaska Loop – Depart from Whitehorse, enter Alaska via Kluane, drive the Top of the World Highway to Dawson City, and loop back.
• Dempster Highway to the Arctic Ocean – A round-trip from Whitehorse via Dawson City, Tombstone Territorial Park, and the Arctic Circle, driving all the way to…
• Yukon Gold Rush Trail to Denali – Cross the White Pass from Skagway, travel through Dawson City, and enter the Alaskan interior via the Top of the World…