Dawson City

If you didn't know its history, Dawson City would be an atmospheric place to pause for a while, with a seductive, funky vibe. That it's one of the most historic and evocative towns in Canada is like gold dust on a cake: unnecessary but damn nice.

Set on a narrow shelf at the confluence of the Yukon and Klondike Rivers, a mere 240km south of the Arctic Circle, Dawson was the center of the Klondike Gold Rush. Today, you can wander the dirt streets of town, passing old buildings with dubious permafrost foundations, and discover Dawson’s rich cultural life (that person passing by may be a dancer, filmmaker, painter or miner).

Dawson can be busy in the summer, especially during its festivals. But by September the days are getting short, the seasonal workers have fled south and the 1400 year-round residents are settling in for another long, dark winter.

Explore Dawson City

K
Klondike National Historic Sites
It's easy to relive the gold rush at myriad preserved and restored places. Parks Canada runs walking tours through the day that allow access to various…
D
Dredge No 4
The scarred valleys around Dawson speak to the vast amounts of toil that went into the gold hunt. Most emblematic is Bonanza Creek, where gold was first…
J
Jack London Museum
In 1898 Jack London lived in the Yukon, the setting for his most popular stories, including Call of the Wild and White Fang. At the writer's cabin there…
B
Bonanza Creek Discovery Site
Some 1.5km up the valley from Dredge No 4, this national historic site is roughly where gold was first found in 1896. It's a quiet site today with a…
M
Midnight Dome
The slide-scarred face of this hill overlooks the town to the north, but to reach the top you must travel south of town about 1km, turn left off the…
C
Crocus Bluff
Near Dawson's cemeteries, there's a short path out to pretty Crocus Bluff, which has excellent views of Dawson and the Klondike and Yukon Rivers. If…
C
Commissioner's Residence
Built in 1901 to house the territorial commissioner, this proud building was designed to give potential civic investors confidence in the city. The…
F
Fortymile Gold Workshop/Studio
Watch as jewelry is made from local refined gold, which is silky and has a rich yellow color, as opposed to the bling you see peddled on late-night TV…
D
Dawson City Museum
Make your own discoveries among the 25,000 gold-rush artifacts at this museum. Engaging exhibits walk you through the grim lives of the miners. The museum…

K
Klondike National Historic Sites
It's easy to relive the gold rush at myriad preserved and restored places. Parks Canada runs walking tours through the day that allow access to various…
D
Dredge No 4
The scarred valleys around Dawson speak to the vast amounts of toil that went into the gold hunt. Most emblematic is Bonanza Creek, where gold was first…
J
Jack London Museum
In 1898 Jack London lived in the Yukon, the setting for his most popular stories, including Call of the Wild and White Fang. At the writer's cabin there…
B
Bonanza Creek Discovery Site
Some 1.5km up the valley from Dredge No 4, this national historic site is roughly where gold was first found in 1896. It's a quiet site today with a…
M
Midnight Dome
The slide-scarred face of this hill overlooks the town to the north, but to reach the top you must travel south of town about 1km, turn left off the…
C
Crocus Bluff
Near Dawson's cemeteries, there's a short path out to pretty Crocus Bluff, which has excellent views of Dawson and the Klondike and Yukon Rivers. If…
C
Commissioner's Residence
Built in 1901 to house the territorial commissioner, this proud building was designed to give potential civic investors confidence in the city. The…
F
Fortymile Gold Workshop/Studio
Watch as jewelry is made from local refined gold, which is silky and has a rich yellow color, as opposed to the bling you see peddled on late-night TV…
D
Dawson City Museum
Make your own discoveries among the 25,000 gold-rush artifacts at this museum. Engaging exhibits walk you through the grim lives of the miners. The museum…

Top attractions

These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Dawson City.

See
Klondike National Historic Sites
It's easy to relive the gold rush at myriad preserved and restored places. Parks Canada runs walking tours through the day that allow access to various…
See
Dredge No 4
The scarred valleys around Dawson speak to the vast amounts of toil that went into the gold hunt. Most emblematic is Bonanza Creek, where gold was first…
See
Jack London Museum
In 1898 Jack London lived in the Yukon, the setting for his most popular stories, including Call of the Wild and White Fang. At the writer's cabin there…
See
Bonanza Creek Discovery Site
Some 1.5km up the valley from Dredge No 4, this national historic site is roughly where gold was first found in 1896. It's a quiet site today with a…
See
Midnight Dome
The slide-scarred face of this hill overlooks the town to the north, but to reach the top you must travel south of town about 1km, turn left off the…
See
Crocus Bluff
Near Dawson's cemeteries, there's a short path out to pretty Crocus Bluff, which has excellent views of Dawson and the Klondike and Yukon Rivers. If…
See
Commissioner's Residence
Built in 1901 to house the territorial commissioner, this proud building was designed to give potential civic investors confidence in the city. The…
See
Fortymile Gold Workshop/Studio
Watch as jewelry is made from local refined gold, which is silky and has a rich yellow color, as opposed to the bling you see peddled on late-night TV…
See
Dawson City Museum
Make your own discoveries among the 25,000 gold-rush artifacts at this museum. Engaging exhibits walk you through the grim lives of the miners. The museum…

Guidebooks

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