Yukon Travel Guide

Yukon, Canada

Yukon is the home of glaciers, frosty mountains, clear water lakes and rivers and many other natural beauties waiting to be discovered.

Yukon – Geography

This low populated province abounds in lakes and rivers, mostly glacier-fed with ice cold waters, mountains covered with perennial snows and abundant coniferous forests. Due to its location near the Arctic Ocean the province has an arctic and sub arctic climate with low precipitations, very cold winters and warm summers. The highest point is in Mount Logan (5959m) also the highest peak in the entire country, and the lowest is on the shores of the Arctic Ocean.

The country has several major rivers among which the most important is Yukon River, the river that also gave the name of the province. Other important rivers are Mackenzie River and Peel River. A significant number of lakes are also present here, the major ones being Teslin Lake, Atlin Lake and Tagish Lake.

The province has an island in the Arctic Ocean called Herschel Island. The island is covered with tundra vegetation and is not permanently dwelled; the Inuvialuit people still use it from time to time for fishing or hunting.

Yukon – Flora and Fauna

The regional flora is represented here by the boreal forests and alpine flora and the fauna has some particular species like the moose, caribou, bears and bison. All these natural beauties and more can be seen in any of the Yukon’s protected areas, representing 10% of the entire territory. Some of the most important national parks are the Kluane National Park and Reserve, Ivvavik National Park and Vuntut National Park.

Yukon – Population

The province numbers only about 28.000 people, most of which live in the capital city of Whitehorse and in other important cities like Dawson city, Watson Lake and their surrounding areas. Whitehorse is an important economical, financial and cultural center housing about 70% of the province’s population.

The population is mostly aboriginal, living together with other nationalities, and having English and French as main spoken languages. Most of the province’s inhabitants work in the tourism, mining, energetic, film industry and more.

Yukon – Tips for Tourists

If you want to travel to Yukon, you must know that a visa and a valid passport are required to enter the country. You will also be requested to have return tickets, documents for your next destination if necessary and enough money to support yourself during the stay.

Also the travelers are advised to check with a local embassy or consulate office in order to receive the most accurate information.

The local currency is the Canadian Dollar which can be exchanged at any bank, exchange office, or hotel.

Yukon – Transport

Transport in Yukon is available by plane, car, train and water. The easiest way to get here is by air using one of the local airports. The most important international airport in Yukon is the Erik Nielsen Whitehorse International Airport located near the capital city, but there are also many other local airports available for traveling inland or to the nearby provinces.

For traveling throughout Yukon you can use the well developed network of highways and railroads and in the most important cities there is the option of urban public transport.

Ferries offer accessible travels on Yukon River linking the province with Alaska and further with the Pacific Ocean.

Yukon – Resorts

Yukon abounds in tourist attractions and outdoor activities, which makes it a perfect destination for an adventurous vacation.

The Edgewater Hotel is a place full of legends, located near the capital city and the Yukon River. It used to be a crossing point for the people that tried to reach the goldfields but nowadays the hotel offers good accommodation, a great deal of facilities, traditional cuisine and the unique hospitality of the locals.

The Yukon Forest Cabins are also a good option if you want to enjoy nature more with all its beauties. Located near the capital city, this resort offers self sufficient forest cabins with home cooked traditional meals and magnificent landscape. One of the most unique landscapes here is the Aurora Borealis, most certainly something to remember.