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Our exclusive and unique Northern Lights viewing facilities boasts of unobstructed and undisturbed view due north. They are built in the tradition of the historic wall tents, used by gold seekers and trappers one hundred years ago. A wood-fired stove keeps them at a comfortable temperature, while hot drinks and snacks provided by your guide will keep you warm from the inside. Located only twenty minutes north of Whitehorse.

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13 Unforgettable Experiences In Whitehorse, Yukon

• Destinations

Whitehorse is the capital city of the Yukon Territory in far northwestern Canada. Rubbing elbows with Alaska to the west and British Columbia to the south, the Yukon Territory is home to the biggest non-polar ice fields in the country and the highest mountains in Canada. The Yukon still has the untamed, wild feel of its raging Klondike Gold Rush Days.

Whitehorse is the quintessential town of this rugged area. For those traveling up the Alaska Highway or visiting by air, this capital city is the first real taste of the Yukon. The historic Yukon River flows through town, which also boasts hundreds of miles of trails. From a “midnight” boat tour of the Yukon, a flightseeing tour over the immense St. Elias Mountains, or experiencing local and indigenous art, these are 13 unforgettable experiences in Whitehorse, Yukon.

The writer was a hosted guest of Travel Yukon, but all opinions are her own.

Yukon River

1. explore the yukon in a variety of ways.

The Yukon River is a storied and sometimes deadly waterway that weaves through this city, and one of the best ways to get acquainted with this historic river is to explore the trails. 

Whitehorse is part of the main Trans Canada Trail , which winds through every province in Canada, but the Trans Canada Trail Connector in Whitehorse is an easy flat-walking trail that runs through downtown. Another great and easy trail to explore the Yukon River is the 2.8-mile Whitehorse Millenium Trail .

Because the Yukon River runs straight through town, it’s super easy to get out on the water for a leisurely canoe or kayaking adventure.

2. Take A Boat Trip Down The Yukon

One of my absolute favorite adventures in Whitehorse was a guided “midnight” boat tour of the Yukon River with Yukon River Tours . Located only 5 miles from downtown Yukon, our summer nighttime tour of the river started out with views of Shwatka Lake, Grey Mountain, and Mount McIntyreer before our breathtaking journey through Miles Canyon .

Pro Tip: Even in summer, bring a light sweater because it can get relatively cold when zooming down the river. Yukon River Tours also has multiple departures daily to see Miles Canyon, if you want a shorter boat tour of this towering landscape.

Indigenous Culture

Whether you visit cultural centers and museums, walk the ancient paths along the river or experience First Nation culture through performances and exhibitions, the Indigenous experience is a must in Whitehorse.

3. Explore The History And Culture Of Yukon’s First Nations

The Whitehorse area’s First Nations heritage starts with a visit to the Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre , located on the traditional home of the Kwanlin Dün First Nation. The welcoming staff offers guided tours, as does the nearby MacBride Museum , which has an impressive permanent exhibit on First Nations beadwork, tools, and artifacts.

The Yukon Beringia Interpretive Centre is a unique museum that not only includes displays about ancient First Nations people, but artifacts and fossils from ice age Yukon. The center focuses on the long-lost subcontinent of Beringia with remains and artifacts from a time long past.

4. Learn Traditional Ways At Long Ago People’s Place

One morning, we ventured a ways out of Whitehorse to visit the Long Ago Peoples Place , run by the absolutely fascinating and experienced Meta Williams. Ms. Williams led us through a history of how First Nations people lived in the area, displayed tools and structures of traditional Southern Tutchone First Nations culture, and even showed us how to make a salve using spruce sap. Her stories were endless, her knowledge was impressive, and her fry bread was to die for.

Pro Tip: Bring insect repellent because Long Ago Peoples Place is located in the wilderness about an hour west of Whitehorse. If you have a whole day or so to spend here, Meta also offers workshops , plant medicine walks, drum-making camps, and foraging tours.

5. Support First Nations Crafters And Artists

Support Indigenous artists and take home artistic traditional crafts at Whitehorse’s many local galleries and gift shops . Many times, the artists are working on site, so it’s a great opportunity to learn about their work and culture. Great places to shop and experience First Nations crafts and artwork are at North End Gallery , Northern Cultural Expressions Society , or at the nearby Carcross/Tagish First Nations Carving Centre .

In June, the multi-day Adäka Cultural Festival highlights live performances, inspiring workshops, and even hands-on activities like beading, drum-making, and moose-hair tufting.

Local History

6. learn what makes whitehorse so special.

While you’re downtown, learn about the Klondike and Gold Rush history of Whitehorse as well as its Indigenous culture at the thorough MacBride Museum of Yukon History , which was my favorite excursion in town. The museum walks visitors from Whitehorse’s First Nations People through the Klondike Gold Rush and the unforgettable places and amazing people who built modern Yukon.

The MacBride Copperbelt Mining Museum will bring you back in time to when hundreds of thousands of fortune hunters braved the wilds to mine for copper as well as gold.

Pro Tip: For the best experience, book a guided tour of the museum. I highly suggest booking tours in advance, especially during the winter season.

7. Kluane National Park And Reserve

Just a short and scenic 2-hour drive from Whitehorse is the immense and stunning Kluane National Park and Reserve , home to 20 of Canada’s tallest peaks, including Mount Logan, Canada’s highest.

While you’ll have no shortage of hiking trails , tours, and events , taking a flightseeing tour over the impressive St. Elias Range and the largest inland icefield is an unforgettable and breathtaking experience.

Pro Tip: We used Rocking Star Adventures to fly over Mount Logan, which is only visible from the deep interior. Our guide was friendly, safe, and full of great information.

8. Stay In A Local Hotel Or A Treehouse

There are plenty of places to stay in Whitehorse, but one of my favorite hotels included the Raven Inn , which sits right along the Yukon River and has apartment-like rooms. The Edgewater Hotel is another great local hotel that is 45 percent First Nations-owned. It also has an impressive collection of Yukon art from three First Nations artists who are major shareholders in the company.

However, the most unique and stunning place to stay is Black Spruce , which has four little modern cabins perched within a boreal forest surrounding Whitehorse. Even better, it takes sustainability seriously by using a wood preservation technique from Japan called “ Shou Sugi-Ban .”

9. Head To Haines Junction

In addition to Kluane National Park and Reserve, there’s plenty of other reasons to visit Haines Junction, just 2 hours away from Whitehorse. Pine Lake is a popular spot for swimming, boating, fishing, picnicking, and camping, and the Kluane National Park’s Visitor Center, also known as the Daku Cultural Centre , is tucked right in the middle of town.

10. Explore The Beauty Of Emerald Lake

Just south of Whitehorse, along the South Klondike Highway on the way to Carcross, is Emerald Lake, notable for its intense green color. It is located on the South Klondike Highway. An easy pull-off along the highway will unveil positively stunning views and Instagram-worthy shots of this beautiful lake.

11. Shop And Learn At Carcross

Originally called “Caribou Crossing” because of the large number of caribou that migrated through the region, Carcross is a tiny community rich in First Nations heritage and railway history. 

Visit the Haa Shagóon Hídi Learning Centre (Our Ancestors’ House) to learn about the eight towering totem poles and view the unique art and history of the Carcross/Tagish First Nation. Grab a gourmet coffee at Carcross Commons ’ little coffee shops and artisan hubs right on the shores of Bennett Lake’s sandy beaches.

12. Check Out The World’s Smallest Desert

On your way back to Whitehorse from Carcross, be sure to stop at the world’s tiniest desert, the Carcross Desert , which is actually a series of sand dunes formed during the last glacial period. The area used to be massive glacial lakes, but when they dried up, they left behind soft, sandy dunes that people can hike up, sandboard down, or explore on ATVs.

Related Reading:

• Our 10 Favorite Canadian National Parks
• 23 Must-Try Canadian Foods For American Visitors
• 7 Reasons You Should Visit Canada’s Beautiful Georgian Bay

Heide Brandes is an award-winning journalist and travel writer based in Oklahoma. She loves outdoor adventures, exploring different cultures, and finding off-the-wall, bizarre, and wondrous experiences to enjoy. Heide writes for numerous national and international publications and is an award-winning member of the Society for Professional Journalists, North American Travel Journalists Association, and Society of American Travel Writers. Besides traveling and writing, Heide is also a professional Bellydancer, a medieval re-enactor, and a quirky chick who lives in Oklahoma City.

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7 Authentic Indigenous Experiences And Tours Near Whitehorse, Yukon

C anada’s Yukon Territory is home to 14 Yukon First Nations and eight language groups. The Northwest Territories and British Columbia’s Indigenous groups have traditional territory in Yukon, and, according to the government of Yukon, approximately 25 percent of the area’s population are Indigenous Peoples.

For visitors to Yukon , or its capital city of Whitehorse , learning and experiencing the Indigenous culture of the area is a rich and rewarding experience. Today, the area offers numerous opportunities to learn about the history and contributions of Yukon’s First Nations People and the experiences are not ones to be missed.

Even better, it’s easier than ever to have adventures and experiences that celebrate the diverse cultures of the Yukon. Besides the Long Ago People’s Place, I recently had the chance to experience Indigenous culture near Whitehorse during a sponsored trip to the Yukon. 

For a truly impactful visit, here are seven authentic Indigenous experiences and tours everyone should seek out near Whitehorse, Yukon.

1. The MacBride Museum

A perfect “first stop” in Whitehorse to learn about the city, the history of the Yukon Gold Rush and its Indigenous people is at the downtown MacBride Museum . Recently named “The Most Underrated Attraction” by MSN Travel Canada, this recently expanded museum has a thoroughly curated collection and history of the First Nations People who lived, hunted, and helped create this area.

Over 40,000 objects in the MacBride galleries illustrate stories from Yukon First Nations, the natural world, the Klondike Gold Rush, and more. The First Nations Gallery especially focuses on the 14 First Nations in the Yukon and explores their history from prehistoric times with some truly outstanding artwork and artifacts.

Pro Tip: If you visit Whitehorse in June, don’t miss the celebrations during National Indigenous Peoples Day, especially the multi-day Adäka Cultural Festival on the Whitehorse waterfront.

2. Yukon Beringia Interpretive Centre

Travel far back in time at the Yukon Beringia Interpretive Centre to the Ice Age and earlier when the Bering Strait Land Bridge created the ancient land of Beringia. Today, the museum offers presentations and preservation of the First Nations and the unique Ice Age history of the area. 

Learn about the science and history of the once-vast subcontinent of Beringia and how its First Nations People came to populate the land. You can also learn about how the center’s programs and services are helping build community in Whitehorse.

3. Long Ago Peoples Place

One of my favorite experiences of my visit, the Long Ago Peoples Place is located about an hour west of Whitehorse. It is a recreated traditional Southern Tutchone First Nations camp that celebrates culture, structures, and tools through hands-on exploration and programming.

Even if you have a half-day to spend, meeting Meta Williams, one of the co-founders of this unique authentic camp, is worth the trip just to learn her knowledge.

Visitors can take medicinal plant walks, learn about traditional living, engage in workshops like a drum-making class, help collect edible plants, and catch a glimpse of the traditional ways of the Southern Tutchone First Nations People.

Williams herself is a treasure to meet. A Yukon First Nations member with family ties to several Yukon First Nations communities, she and Harold Johnson started Long Ago Peoples Place more than 25 years ago as a way to share their stories, culture, and skills with others in order to break down barriers.

4. Fort Selkirk Weekend Tour

New in 2023 is the Fort Selkirk Weekend Tour with Teri-Lee of Tutchone Tours . While Teri-Lee has hosted Yukon River cruises from Minto to historic Fort Selkirk, we were the first group to experience her weekend camping tour.

In addition to learning about Fort Selkirk and its role in Yukon history, we camped in large canvas tents and spent the days with Teri-Lee to learn about the history and culture of the First Nations. The canvas tents all come with platform beds and a cast-iron stove to keep the chill of night at bay.

Teri-Lee led us in an Indigenous beading class, cooked up samples of First Nations cuisine, helped us forage for tangy little soapberries to make “soapberry ice cream,” collected sap for more spruce salve, and shared the songs and stories from her people around the campfire at night.

Daily boat tours gave us the chance to experience travel on the Yukon River to spot wildlife like Dall sheep and moose. A thorough tour of the amazingly preserved Fort Selkirk Historic Site rounded out the weekend.

Pro Tip: Tutchone Tours also offers day trips to Fort Selkirk. This tour includes an hour-long river boat ride to Fort Selkirk, where Teri-Lee expertly guides you through the restored buildings of the area. The tours leave from Minto, a historic abandoned village along the Klondike Highway, so budget about 2 hours to drive there from Whitehorse.

5. Carcross

Located just south of Whitehorse along the Klondike Highway, Carcross is a unique community within the Traditional Territory of the Carcross/Tagish First Nation .

Dotted with emerald-colored, glacier-fed lakes and home to the smallest desert in the world, Carcross is also rich with Indigenous art and culture, and that culture is highlighted at Haa Shagóon Hídi Learning Centre , which translates to “Our Ancestors’ House.” This museum/community center is easy to spot by its eight towering totem poles out front, but the center also delves into the history, art, and traditions that make up Carcross.

Carcross itself is a fun and interesting little city, home to the oldest hotel in the territory, the only one-way street in the Yukon, and the Yukon’s strongest bridge.

Downtown Carcross Commons has turned into a community hub of artisan shops, but the historic White Pass and Yukon Route Railway and Matthew General Store — the oldest in the Yukon — are also ways to enjoy an afternoon here.

6. The Kluane National Park And Reserve Visitor Centre

No visit to the Yukon is complete without seeing Kluane National Park and Reserve . It’s home to the sprawling St. Elias Mountains , the largest non-polar icefield in the world, and Mount Logan — the highest peak in Canada.

Learn about the park and its geology, but also its First Nations People, at the park’s two visitor centers. The Kluane National Park and Reserve Visitor Centre is located in the Da Kų Cultural Centre in Haines Junction. It has an impressive collection of audio recordings of traditional stories told by First Nation elders.

The Thechàl Dhâl’ Visitor Centre , located an hour north of Haines Junction, was developed in close collaboration with local First Nations and includes exhibits on the people who learned to live on this sometimes-harsh yet beautiful land. The exhibits also show off original beadwork created by the artisans of the Kluane.

Pro Tip: The only way to see the vast icefields and Mount Logan is by air, and the park offers several flightseeing tours, like Rocking Star Adventures .

7. Support Indigenous Artists

Exquisite beadwork, handcrafted leather goods, thoughtful paintings, astonishing carvings, and more by Indigenous artists can be enjoyed and found throughout the Yukon. In Whitehorse, you can browse and purchase these First Nations art pieces at numerous stores.

North End Gallery , for instance, carries and showcases Indigenous arts and crafts, but also other artwork unique to the Yukon.

The Northern Cultural Expressions Society Carving Studio and Gallery has items ranging from crafted jewelry and beaded moccasins to magnets, t-shirts, and prints. In Carcross, stop by the Carcross/Tagish First Nation Carving Centre to watch traditional carvers at work.

Pro Tip: Indigenous Yukon has a long list of various places to purchase art and crafts that support Indigenous artists.

Related Reading:

• 13 Unforgettable Experiences In Whitehorse, Yukon
• 6 Unique Experiences In Quaint Dawson City, Canada
• 8 Best Stops Along An Epic Yukon Arctic Road Trip During The Fall

This article originally appeared on TravelAwaits

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Whitehorse Visitor Information Centre

100 Hanson Street Whitehorse YT Y1A 2C6 Canada

Opening hours

Summer hours (May to September) Daily from 8:00 am - 8:00 pm

Winter hours (October to April) Monday to Friday 8:30 am - 5:00 pm  Saturdays 10:00 am - 2:00 pm

Closed on statutory holidays .

Located in downtown Whitehorse on Second Avenue and Hanson Street. 

Operated by the Department of Tourism and Culture. Located downtown on Second Avenue and Hanson Street. Enjoy the audio-visual presentations and displays on the Yukon. Open year-round.

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