As Australia shivers through the winter months, Aussies are dreaming of the day they can soak up the endless sunshine of Canada’s Yukon territory, where the further north you travel, the longer the days. In fact, above the Arctic Circle, the Yukon’s midnight sun doesn’t set for weeks.
That’s a lot of sunshine and, fortunately, there’s a lot to explore. From dramatic glaciers and valleys to historic rivers, rugged mountains and epic highways, experiencing the Yukon’s midnight sun is high on the bucket-list of Aussie travellers when international borders are relaxed.
Read on for 5 ways to soak up the midnight sun.
Take a hike
With its dramatic wind-carved mountains, including the craggy granite peak of Tombstone Mountain, alpine lakes and dazzling tundra, Tombstone Territorial Park is often referred to as the ‘Patagonia of the North’. Located just 112 kilometres from Dawson City, it’s one of the easiest places to hike in Yukon, with wildlife viewing and tundra walks accessible to even the most novice explorer.
The dramatic, sub-arctic landscape offers outstanding wildlife viewing, birding and hiking. The Park lies within the traditional territory of the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in First Nations people who have hunted, camped and traded here for centuries.
Take a road trip
Yukon’s Alaska Highway nudges alongside the UNESCO site of Kluane National Park, a staggering collection of Canada’s five tallest mountains and the largest ice-fields outside the North and South poles. The Dempster Highway takes you far off the beaten track along an unsealed road that passes through diverse geological terrain through the iconic Tombstone Territorial Park, and on past the Arctic Circle to Canada’s northern coast. In fact, it’s the only way in Canada to cross the Arctic Circle by road – a bucket-list road trip for sure!
Take a ride
The Yukon has earned a global reputation for unparalleled single-track riding, with its easily accessible single track mountain trails, downhill runs, and back-country roads. Some of the best trails include Whitehorse’s Porcupine Ridge, Cottonwood Trail in Haines Junction/Kluane National Park and Reserve, and volcanic Montana Mountain in Carcross. Download this Whitehorse Trail Guide App, click here for 4 of the best mountain biking spots, all easily accessible from Yukon’s capital city of Whitehorse – and keep your eyes peeled for bearded white mountain goats and woodland caribou as you zoom down into the valley!
Fly high
Take a flightseeing excursion for an incredible bird’s-eye view of Kluane National Park and Reserve. Circle Canada’s tallest peak, Mount Logan, and witness the ethereal majesty of the world’s largest non-polar icefields from thousands of metres above. Keep the camera poised as you glide over the expansive park where grizzly bears, moose, sheep and mountain goats live in abundance.
Go deeper
There’s nothing quite like the blissful feeling of slicing through water in a canoe, making rhythmic strokes with your paddle, endless wilderness as far as the eye can see. With 70 wilderness rivers to choose from, it’s easy to tailor-make your adventure to suit your level of experience.
The historic Yukon River, named “great river” in Gwich’in, is perfect for all levels of ability, with guided tours ranging from a half-day to multi-day sojourns on the water. Likewise, the famed Tatshenshini River serves up a diverse range of rafting, canoeing and boating expeditions, perfect for exploring the Tatshenshini-Alsek Provincial Wilderness Park, the wild heart of one of the largest bio-preserves in the world. Your river adventure will take you past vast glaciers and lakes filled with massive icebergs. Look out for bald eagles, grizzlies feeding on spawning salmon, and even the rare blue glacier bear.
For more information about Yukon visit www.travelyukon.com.
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