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Overview
The Yukon Territory, in Canada’s far northwest, is perhaps best known as the site of the Klondike Gold Rush. Towns such as Dawson City still offer a snapshot of the spirit of those times of boom and discovery in the late 19th century. Even the food across the territory recalls the meals of prospectors, such as sourdough bread and pancakes. You can still enter certain bars in the Yukon and sip at tipples such as the ’Gold Rush’ cocktail, a blend of gold foil and whisky - two of the territory’s most important exports.
However, what might intrigue adventure or nature lovers more than its human history is its landscape of endless skies, gigantic lakes and sharp, clean air. The Yukon Territory consists mainly of mountain ranges cut by the mighty Yukon River and its tributaries. Indeed, Canada’s highest mountain, Mount Logan, is situated in the Yukon.
Another popular draw to the territory is its high recordings of the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis), ribbons of colour that illuminate the vast night skies.
This unspoilt wilderness is relatively well served by roads left over from the days of the gold rush and from an attempt to exploit oil reserves. The Yukon Territory therefore combines the best of scenes with the best of facilities and accessibility.
Whether you seek solitude or escapade, everything is catered for here - and by nature itself.
© Columbus Travel Media Ltd.
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Transport
Main Airports
Whitehorse International Airport (YXY) (website: www.gov.yk.ca/yxy).
Getting There by Water
Cruise ships and passenger and vehicle ferries operate from Bellingham in Washington (USA) and Vancouver and Prince Rupert in British Columbia, arriving at Skagway in Alaska and connecting with Whitehorse by bus, or train/bus combination. Whitehorse is approximately 180km (113 miles) from Skagway. Ferry information can be obtained by phone (tel: 1 800 642 0066, in Canada and the USA).
Getting There by Road
The major road in the region is the Alaska Highway, running from Alaska to British Columbia through Whitehorse. The Dempster Highway connects Dawson City with Inuvik in the north. The Klondike Highway connects Skagway, Alaska to Dawson City, Yukon.
Bus/Coach: Scheduled bus services are available between most Yukon communities. Greyhound Canada (tel: (867) 667 2223; website: www.greyhound.ca) operates regular services from Edmonton, Alberta and Vancouver, British Columbia to Whitehorse during the summer. Direct coach transfers run daily from May to September between Stagway and Whitehorse or combination White Pass and Yukon Route (tel: 1 800 343 7373, in Canada and the USA; website: www.whitepassrailroad.com)rail and coach transfers are available.
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Essentials
Summers are warm with almost continuous daylight during June. Winters are bitterly cold.
Required Clothing
Days can be hot in summer, but sweaters and light jackets are advised for the evenings. In spring and autumn coats and gloves are required for outdoor activities. Thermal underwear, wool sweaters, parkas, wool gloves or mittens and mukluks (traditional Arctic hide boots) or felt-lined boots are advised for the winter.
Hotels
The Yukon Territory has a wide selection of hotels and motels. Because of the heavy tourist flow through the region in summer, advance reservations are advised. The majority of hotels and motels are located in the larger centres, but facilities are available along the highways and in the smaller communities. Some hotels are closed for the winter.
Grading: The national Canada Select Ratings Programme operates in the territory, rating accommodation from 1 to 5 stars on a voluntary basis.
Bed and Breakfast
There are many bed & breakfast properties in the Yukon Territory.
Camping/Caravanning
Camping is advised only in summer and allowed only on government or private campsites. A number of companies can arrange motorhome (known as recreational vehicles, or RVs, in Canada) hire, with a range of fully equipped vehicles. Full details can be obtained from Tourism Yukon (see Contact Addresses).
Accommodation Information
Bed & Breakfast Association of Yukon
PO Box 31518, Whitehorse, Yukon Y1A 6K8, Canada
Website: www.yukonbandb.org
Canada Select Ratings Programme
Tourism Industry Association of the Yukon (TIA Yukon), Suite 3, 1109 First Avenue, Whitehorse, Yukon Y1A 5G4, Canada
Tel: (867) 668 3331.
Website: www.selectnb.com
© Columbus Travel Media Ltd.
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Experience
Food and Drink
Some of the Yukon’s food is very distinctive but difficult to produce commercially. There are restaurants throughout the area, but the best selection is in Whitehorse, Dawson City and Watson Lake. Most alcohol is imported from other areas of Canada and the USA.
Regional specialities:
• Moose meat is cooked in several ways from steaming to smoking or pot roasting, and accompanied by sourdoughand vegetables.
• Dall sheep, mountain goat, caribou and porcupine are also eaten, often in burgers.
• Wild fish including Arctic grayling, trout, Kokanee salmon, Alaska king crab and halibut.
• Yukon’s gold mining past is reflected in some specialities, such as buffalo burgers, musk ox chops and Alaskan salmon.
Regional drinks:
• A local speciality is hooch (a blend of imported and Canadian rum); it is only available in the Yukon Territory.
• Whitehorse is home to the Chilkoot Brewing Company, which produces unique beers and ales.
Nightlife
Nightlife is best during the historical festivals and carnivals reflecting the pioneer spirit that explored the region. However, Dawson City has legalised gambling, live vaudeville theatre and a floor show at Diamond Tooth Gertie’sfeaturing Cancan girls and honky-tonk piano.
Shopping
Special items include First Nation moccasins, jewellery, art and carvings.
Shopping hours: Mon-Wed and Sat 1000-1800, Thurs-Fri 1000-2100.
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Don't Miss
• Go canoeing. Tributaries of the Yukon River (including the Teslin, the Big Salmon and the Pelly) offer fast-flowing, flat water. Wild rivers such as the Bonnet Plume and the Firth can be reached by bush plane; others, like the Tatchenshini and the South Macmillan, are accessible by road.
• Climb Mount Logan, part of the St Elias Range in Kluane National Park (website: www.pc.gc.ca); it is the second-highest peak in North America at 5,959m (19,550ft). Cross-country skiing is possible in winter.
• Retrace the footsteps of the gold rush stampeders along the famous 50km (31-mile) Chilkoot Trail. The starting point for hikers is Dyea, near Skagway (Alaska).
• Explore historic Dawson City. Notable buildings include the Commissioner’s Residence and the Palace Grand Theatre, which stages the 1898 vaudeville show, Gaslight Follies,each summer. Yukon River tours aboard miniature stern-wheeler Yukon Lou visit the Sternwheelers Graveyard and Pleasure Island.
•Pan for gold at Guggieville or Claim 33 on Bonanza Creek near Dawson City, the site of the original claim that sparked off the 1898 Klondike Gold Rush.
• Set up camp beneath the stars in pristine wilderness in Tombstone, with its spectacular mountain and lake views. A permit is needed to camp and only then in designated areas, but you’ll still have your head in the clouds - both literally and figuratively.
• Go mountain biking through Yukon’s impressive mountain ranges. The territory is a mosaic of historical trails and stunning scenery, featuring arduous climbs and rapid descents. The annual Kluane/Chilkat International Bike Relay (website: www.kcibr.org) sees contenders cycling through a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
See Contact Addresses for further tourist information.
• Stroll around Yukon capital Whitehorse, which lies on the Yukon River. The McBride Museum houses Sam McGee’s Cabin and many gold rush era artefacts. Tour restored sternwheeler, the SS Klondike, or cruise Miles Canyon aboard the MV Schwatka.
• Visit Carcross, an hour’s drive south of Whitehorse, between the Nares and Bennett Lakes at the foot of Nares Mountain; the Caribou, the Yukon’s oldest hotel, can be found here. Carcross connects to Skagway in Alaska via the Klondike Highway.
• Stare up at towering Mount Loganin Kluane National Park and Reserve. The park is also host to the largest non-polar icefields in the world. ‘Flightseeing’ tours of this park operate from Whitehorse and other Yukon Territory communities.
• Explore the north’s two national parks. Ivvavik National Park (website: www.pc.gc.ca) has a non-glaciated landscape with abundant wildlife, significant archaeological sites and the Firth River. Established in 1995, Vuntut National Parkcurrently has limited visitor facilities.
• Undertake expeditions to the wild backcountry of the Yukon Territory in the company of a licensed outfitter or guide.
• Look up and you may just see the Northern Lights (aurora borealis) flashing against the darkness. The magical ambience of a Yukon winter with its crisp air is perfect for watching this dynamic display. The Northern Lights Space and Science Centre (website: www.northernlightscentre.ca)is at Watson Lake.
See Contact Addresses for further tourist information.
© Columbus Travel Media Ltd.
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