The lure of the Yukon

Locations:Kluane National Park and Reserve, Chilkoot Trail, S.S. Klondike, Dawson Historical Complex, S.S. Keno, Discovery Claim and Dredge No. 4 National Historic Sites
Distance: 1 540 km round trip from Whitehorse

From rugged mountains to charming northern towns, this 10-day itinerary is one to add to your bucket list.

 

Day 1

Location: Whitehorse

Explore the grounds of the S.S. Klondike, one of two remaining sternwheelers in the Yukon and the largest of its fleet. Learn about fascinating stories of life on the river, and what it takes to restore and maintain the dry-docked vessels that shaped an entire era of transportation. From there, stroll the banks of the Yukon River, stopping along the way to visit the McBride Museum and the Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre.

 

Day 2

Location: Carcross
70 km from Whitehorse then take the train to Bennett

Explore majestic Carcross and check out a modern-day First Nations commercial village known as The Commons. Then board the White Pass and Yukon Route train where you can step into the Northern Wilderness of Bennett. Explore the intriguing ruins of the town which lived its glory years during the gold rush. You can camp overnight to explore the legendary Chilkoot Trail the next morning, or board the train back to Carcross the same day.

 

Day 3, 4, 5 and 6

Location: Kluane
Haines Junction, 155 km from Whitehorse

Home to 17 of the country’s 20 tallest mountains, including Canada’s highest peak, 5,959-metre Mount Logan, Kluane also has the world’s largest concentration of ice fields and glaciers.

Stop in at the Da Kų Culture Centre to get up-to-date park information and explore the interpretive facility that honours the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations language, stories, connection to the land and living culture. Stretch your legs along the Dezadeash River Trail before heading to your reserved Parks Canada oTENTik to camp under the stars at Mät’àtäna Män - Kathleen Lake campground.

Get your hiking gear together and discover the amazing landscapes Kluane has to offer by foot! Consider hiking up the King’s Throne trail, or enjoy the scenery along Mät’àtäna Män (Kathleen Lake), the Kokanee Trail or the Rock Glacier Trail.

Be sure to take a drive to the northern side of the park in the Ä’äy Chù Valley, which boasts incredible scenery and fascinating exhibits at the Thechàl Dhâl’ Visitor Centre. Out on the deck, you might even get lucky and catch a glimpse of some Dall sheep through the spotting scopes! Before you go, soak in the panorama of Kluane Lake from the Soldier’s Summit Trail or climb up on Sheep Creek Trail to get incredible views of the valley.

 

Day 7, 8, 9 and 10

Location: Dawson City
688 km from Haines Junction

Travel north to Dawson City, once known as the “Paris of the North” where the legacy of the Klondike Gold Rush and the cultural traditions of the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in blend seamlessly.

Visit the waterfront and board Tr’ehcho (S.S. Keno), a small but mighty vessel representative of two cultures who are intimately connected to the Yukon River. Step inside historical buildings and chat with costumed guides to hear the stories of the quirky characters who once walked the wooden boardwalks of this storied town and to learn about the full scope of our shared history. Challenge yourself in one of two different escape rooms in some of Dawson’s oldest buildings, or find yourself exploring the Dänojà Zho Cultural Centre to hear about Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in stories and traditions.

Keep some time to explore the famed Klondike goldfields! Visit Gah dëk (Discovery Claim) and follow the trail to the spot where gold was found in 1896. At Lëzrą kä̀nëchà (Dredge No. 4), be amazed at the story of how this sluice dredge plied the creeks for gold, forever altering the landscape. Don’t forget to visit the abandoned company town site of Bear Creek, eerily frozen in time when the last dredge finally stopped running and the company closed its doors over 50 years ago.

Travel back to Whitehorse through Chicken, Alaska along the aptly named Top of the World Highway or extend your adventure with the itinerary Journey to the Arctic, a once in a lifetime road trip on the Dempster Highway!