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Aussie travellers can pack in twice the fun during June and July in Canada’s north-western Yukon Territory when the sun literally shines all day and night.
Read on for three ways to make the most of endless days and beautiful skies in the ‘land of the midnight sun’.
Take a selfie with a lynx
In a territory where the moose outnumber the humans two to one, it’s a safe bet you’ll encounter wildlife roaming freely during your explorations of the Yukon. But for slow, breathtakingly close encounters with everything from Canada lynx to prehistoric-looking muskox, spend a day at the Yukon Wildlife Preserve (YWP), just 25 minutes from downtown Whitehorse.
700 acres of lush green hills, marshes and cliffs are home to all manner of northern Canadian mammals, from bison, moose and woodland caribou, to elk, foxes and mules at the YWP. Book a VIP tour to go behind the scenes of the Wildlife Rehabilitation and Research Centre and learn how to feed these unique carnivores. New for 2022, the YWP Photography Tours will take you inside some unique habitats for mind-blowing photo opps that will set your Instagram feed on fire.
Highway to heaven
With almost 5000 kilometres of roads to explore, Yukon’s fly/drive itineraries are among the best in the world. From gold-rush history to vast rivers and untouched landscapes, every Yukon route serves up easy driving, breathtaking vistas and inviting detours.
The famous Alaska Highway nudges alongside the UNESCO site of Kluane National Park, west of Whitehorse, a staggering collection of Canada’s five tallest mountains and the largest ice-fields outside the North and South Poles. Relish the wide-open spaces of this iconic route steeped in history, and tick off this bucket-list drive.
In the Yukon’s south-east, wander the paths of Watson Lake’s quirky Sign Post Forest and add your own sign pointing home, just like the soldier who started it all during the construction of the famous highway.
Trace some of the gold seekers’ paths as you drive the historic Yukon River route, which begins south of Whitehorse at Tagish Lake, part of which belongs to British Columbia. All along this route, you’ll pass through gorgeous wilderness scenery and enjoy amazing wildlife viewing right from your vehicle.
A perfect paddle
There’s something truly unforgettable about paddling late at night under the midnight sun, when the weather is mild and the serenity feels other-worldly. And you don’t have to go far for fantastic paddling. The Yukon River runs right through the capital city of Whitehorse, and many other communities sit along rivers or close to lakes.
Follow the gold seekers’ route on the mighty Yukon River and drift past centuries-old sites of First Nation fish camps and meeting places. At its peak during the Klondike gold rush, nearly 30,000 gold seekers in 7,000 boats travelled the river on their way to the goldfields in Dawson City.
Visit during June to witness the Yukon River Quest, known as ‘the race to the midnight sun’, the longest paddling race in the world. Notorious as one of the most arduous marathon events on Earth, canoers and kayakers are permitted just two mandatory rest stops along the way as they race through the rapids from Whitehorse to the finish line in Dawson City, 715 kilometres away.
There’s nothing quite like the glistening-green current carrying you away while surrounded by the stunning raw beauty of northern nature. Keep your eyes peeled for wildlife like golden eagles, osprey, moose, and even grizzlies. Up North Adventures and Arctic Range Adventures offer expert-guided tours.