The Best Natural Attractions To See In The Yukon

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

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.

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. 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!?

The Best Natural Attractions In The Yukon