The Best Natural Attractions To See In The Yukon

What are the best things to see near Whitehorse and the Yukon Territory?

Our top five natural attractions and sights in yukon

Emerald Lake is a photogenic lake 30 minutes from Whitehorse with emerald green waters; a result of the sun’s rays reflecting off the calcium carbonate bottom.
The Carcross Desert is is actually displaced sand from dunes made up of glacial silt blown from windward lakes. The 2.6 square kilometer patch of sand feels and looks like a desert, making for some amazing photos!
Miles Canyon is a canyon carved through ancient basaltic lava flows by the Yukon River. It was a safe passage for gold prospectors long after being the location of an Indigenous fish camp, referred to as “Kwanlin”, meaning “running water through canyon”.
Mount Monolith and The Tombstone Mountains are a belt of igneous rock that lie right on the continental divide, separating waters that flow to the Beaufort and Bering seas. The mountain range escaped being covered in ice during past ice ages, maintaining their iconic rugged natural and incredible towers.
Mount Logan is the highest mountain in Canada and second highest in North America, reaching to 5959 meters above sea level. Mount Logan’s massif with 11 peaks are known to be the largest non-volcanic mountain on earth, measured by base circumference. It is an amazing sight to see during a scenic flight from Haines Junction.

Top Things to see and Do In Yukon Territory in Summer

The Yukon Territory is an incredible mass of land with an absolute lifetime’s worth of beautiful attractions and things to see. They say the Yukon is “Larger than Life” and when you see the jaw-dropping beauty, you’d be hard-pressed not to agree. Yukon is epic for hiking, camping, RVing, paddling, mountain biking and much more. Wildlife watchers enjoy the Yukon, which is very similar to wildlife in the Rockies. There are almost unlimited things to see and discover in Yukon so we have put this list together to make finding them a little easier for you. Here are the best natural attractions in the Yukon. You can pair your trip to the Yukon up with a trip to nearby Alaska to explore the famous national parks, including Denali National Park.

Natural Attractions Of Yukon

Aurora Borealis

How could we write this article on attractions in the Yukon without mentioning the Northern lights?! While the sky is too light to see the Aurora in the summer months, you can typically see them between the end of August through to mid-April. The Aurora borealis is always present, resulting in projections from the sun interacting with the Earth’s atmosphere. Despite it being present, it can only be enjoyed when the sky is dark and away from the city lights or light of the moon. Find yourself camping in Tombstone in September and you may be in for a nice surprise!

Midnight Sun

Another one of the top wonders to experience in Yukon is the midnight sun. It’s called that because the sky is light from the sun 24 hours a day during the summer months. If you are North of the arctic circle the sun never actually touches the horizon on the longest day of the year. You can expect amazing sunsets that last for hours and tons of the “golden light” that photographers seek. Don’t forget an eye mask or sleeping can be hard when it is light out! The midnight sun makes Yukon a top travel destination in Canada during the summer months.

The Best Things To See Near Whitehorse

Whitehorse is the capital of Yukon and the only practical place to fly in to. This is where you will likely start your trip to the Yukon, unless you are driving in from BC or Alaska, or coming from a cruise ship in Skagway. While the most accessible place in Yukon, Whitehorse is very close to many of the best natural attractions in Yukon.

Emerald Lake

Emerald Lake is almost 45 minutes away from Whitehorse and is on the way to Carcross. You can stop here and enjoy the views on your way to Carcross or Skagway. Emerald Lake is in the Southern Lakes region of Yukon, which is well worth exploring for its gigantic, empty lakes surrounded by mountains.

Emerald Lake is a beautiful lake with an amazing array of colours. You can see anything from deep shades of emerald (hence the name) to blues, greens and everything in between. The lake is shallow, but cold. You could swim in it if you dare.

Fox Lake & Little Fox Lakes

Fox Lake is just over an hour from Whitehorse and is a gorgeous lake near Lake Labarge. Fox Lake is an exceptional attraction because the water is crystal clear and the bottom reflects a rainbow of colours to the onlooker. The lake almost seems to have it’s own personality, showing different faces depending on the day and lighting. Fox Lake is a great destination for photographers to capture the light reflecting off the water. Pro tip: this is a really nice place during sunset hours.

Carcross Desert

Carcross Desert is one of the most popular places to see near Whitehorse. This attraction is a highly controversial place. While referred to as a desert, the local climate is not actually dry enough to host a desert landscape. Rather, Carcross Desert is a large sand dune, from sweeping winds blowing sand and silt from the shores of the neighbouring Bennett Lake.

The desert (if we are going to keep calling it that) is roughly 2.5 square kilometers and makes for an interesting walk and a great photoshoot. I once walked across it and came across some very large bear tracks in the sand! The sand gets very hot in the strong sun, so make sure you have proper footwear on to keep your feet from burning. This Yukon natural attraction can be easily paired with Emerald Lake.

Natural Attractions Around Kluane National Park

Kathleen Lake

Kathleen Lake is easily one of the most beautiful sights to behold during your trip in the Yukon. Kathleen Lake is roughly half an hour south of Haines Junction, which is 2 hours west of Whitehorse. You could easily do a day trip to Kathleen Lake from Whitehorse if you don’t mind driving or stay in nearby Haines Junction to explore the rest of Kluane National Park.

Kathleen Lake is a huge, sapphire blue glacial lake at the foot of the St Elias mountain range. The lake is stunning from the road, the campground and even better from the top of King’s Peak, which is one of our favourite hikes in the area.

Kluane Lake

Kluane Lake is at the heart of Kluane National Park and features too many incredible views to describe. Enjoy sweeping views of the lake, or look West along the Slims River and the Icefields in the St Elias Mountains. On a windy day you may see dramatic dust storms kick up along the edge of the lake, as the wind whips the dried silt from the glacial river into the lake. Easy to see where the lake gets its color from! You can go for a hike up Sheep Mountain, right at the edge of the lake for some bird’s eye views of the lake and surrounding mountains. Klaune Lake is one of our favourite natural attractions in the Yukon.

Things to see near Dawson City & Tombstone Park

midnight dome mountain viewpoint

No better way to get a great view in Dawson City than to hike or drive up Midnight Dome. The summit of Midnight Dome Mountain has a great viewpoint overlooking the entire Dawson City area. This area is rich in history and you can imagine the goldrush taking place far below, as you gaze down from your lofty perch. Seeing the Klondike River flow into the Yukon River, with their two distinct colors mixing is really cool as well.

Tombstone Mountain

Tombstone Mountain is one of the most iconic sights in Yukon. It is a bit over an hour to get to the Tombstone Mountain viewpoint from Dawson City, but well worth the view. You can stop in at the Tombstone Territorial Park interpretive center to learn a thing or two while you are there. This is also a hiker’s haven, so bring your boots and head into the wild! We recommend hiking to Grizzly Lake for a big hike and some amazing views. Don’t forget to end your day at Diamond Tooth Gerties for a historic can-can show! You can check out our Yukon guided hiking tour here

Yukon’s Best Natural Attractions

Although this list of our favorite attractions in the Yukon will keep you busy for a while, there is still so much left to discover. We recommend planning as long a trip as you can, so you have lots of time to explore and take in all the amazing views. There are many scenic drives around the Yukon, and some that even go into Alaska. Your trip to Yukon can easily be paired up with a trip to Alaska to see the state’s best parks and natural attractions. Travel Yukon is a great resource with many sample itineraries and photos to inspire you. Yukon is perfect for all types of adventures, whether you are staying in a lodge, an RV or wilderness camping! What are you waiting for!?

If you love the Yukon then you would love the Rockies too! Check out our guide to the best places to see in Banff National Park!

More Information on the best things to see and do in yukon

What is Yukon famous for?

Yukon is a massive expanse of wilderness that is known as the location of the Klondike Goldrush in the late 1800’s. Close to 50,000 gold prospectors flocked to Yukon, risking their life to strike rich in their search for gold. Unfortunately, most went bust and faced untold hardships from the tough winters, harsh environment and sheer impossibility of travelling through the vast land. As you travel through the Yukon Territory today, it is not hard to find remnants of the gold rush, from saloons in Dawson City, to mine trams on mountains and paddle wheelers washed up on the Yukon River.

Apart from the Klondike Goldrush, Yukon is known for being “Larger Than Life”, with a massive amount of unspoiled wilderness to explore, camp, hike and paddle. The hiking and backpacking is incredible, while the camping and river paddling is second to none.

What Kind of wildlife is in the yukon?

Yukon is home to numerous groups of mammals including elk, deer, caribou, bears, lynx, moose, wolves and cougars. If you are lucky you can spot any of these animals during your trip to the Yukon, while exploring some of the best attractions in the Yukon. Remember to always keep your distance from animals and keep wildlife wild!

Are there guided tours in the Yukon and Whitehorse?

Absolutely! You can join a guided day tour to explore some of the more popular attractions and sights in Dawson and Whitehorse, or try a scenic flight from Haines Junction or join a hosted trip for a week or more, exploring many places in one trip!

When is the best time to see the natural attractions and nature in Yukon?

For most of the attractions we have mentioned in this article you will be best off to go when there is no snow and summer conditions prevail. We recommend visiting the Yukon from late May to the end of September to be able to count on seeing the top sights in this article.

Late spring and early summer have longer days, including the famous midnight sun, while early autumn dates offer the possibility of seeing the Northern Lights, which can be a lifechanging experience. Bugs are also typically better in September, though they aren’t as bad as you may have heard all summer long!

How can I get to the top sights and things to do in Yukon?

You can easily get around the Yukon by renting a car in Whitehorse. The roads are good, though sometimes rough in patches and long stretches are smooth dirt roads, so come prepared. You can also fly into Dawson or Whitehorse to reduce travel time on the roads. Of course, if driving is not appealing you can also book a tour that includes transportation!

The Best Natural Attractions In The Yukon