Yukon Territory

Introducing Yukon Territory

The name Yukon is evocative as well as descriptive: adventure, the far north, wilderness, moose. How can you even hear ‘Yukon’ and not feel a stirring within? And for good reason. This vast and thinly populated wilderness – most species far outnumber humans – has a grandeur and beauty only appreciated by experience. You can’t just pop in and go ‘neat!’ Getting here is part of the thrill and even the roads have their own lore.

Few places in the world today are so unchanged over the course of time. Aboriginal people, having eeked out survival for thousands of years, hunt and trap as they always have. The Klondike Gold Rush of 1898 was the Yukon’s high point of population yet even its heritage is ephemeral, easily erased by time.

Any visit will mean much time outdoors. Whether it’s treks into Kluane National Park, canoe expeditions down the Yukon River or Arctic explorations in the north, it will be you and the Yukon. Yes, the summers are short, but like the explosion of wildflowers in July, they are intense, magnified under the near-constant light. Fall comes early but with its own burst of color as leaves turn shocking shades of gold and crimson. In winter, you’ll understand why so many would never leave. Days of utter quiet to contemplate a snowy solitude. You’ll also appreciate the people, who find freedom to be themselves in a land where there are few to judge. Join the offbeat vibe of Dawson City, the bustle of Whitehorse and the unique character of villages throughout. Find your own meanings of the Yukon.

Last updated: Feb 17, 2009