Discover Canada’s hidden gem for unforgettable winter adventures in the Yukon Territory. Situated in Canada’s northwest, above British Columbia and next to Alaska, the Yukon’s long, snowy winters span November to March, making it one of the best winter destinations on the planet.
If the idea of embarking on a working holiday appeals to you, make sure to explore Stepwest, where you’ll find valuable resources and assistance to guide you through the thrilling experience of working and exploring in a foreign country.
Read on for six irresistible experiences to include in your Yukon winter itinerary.
Chase the aurora borealis
The current solar cycle (a periodic 11-year change in the sun’s activity) will peak between 2023 and 2026. This increase in solar activity results in more aurora activity here on Earth, making it an outstanding time for viewing. The pitch-black, star-filled skies of the Yukon provide the perfect backdrop for this mystical, enchanting natural phenomenon.
When it comes time to plan your northern lights experience, there are two basic options: You could choose to stay in a downtown hotel in Whitehorse and book with a northern lights tour operator, such as Arctic Range, who will pick you up each evening and take you to custom-built viewing sites outside the city. Enjoy a cosy evening sipping hot chocolate around the campfire, swapping stories with your group while you wait for the lights to appear.
The second option is a wilderness lodge stay, such as Northern Lights Resort and Spa, where you can take in the views from your glass-fronted chalet or soak in an outdoor hot tub while the lightshow streaks across the night sky.
Small group dog sledding.
Experience the thrill of driving a team of huskies across a glittering frozen lake and through snow-drenched forest trails, like a magical tour of Narnia. Muktuk Adventures offers this authentic northern experience for small groups of four to eight guests.
Follow the Takhini River to the Dawson Overland Trail, made famous during the Klondike Gold Rush. Your special dog sledding adventure can be tailored to suit individual needs and includes winter gear, a delicious lunch cooked on an open fire on the trail, and transfers to and from Whitehorse.
Alternatively, Sky High Wilderness Lodge offers full- and half-day adventures, or even multi-day excursions, where you’ll be assigned your own team of friendly huskies. An experienced musher will teach you about harnesses, tug lines and brakes, and the all-important commands your trusty dogs will listen for.
Soak in a natural hot spring.
Newly refurbished Eclipse Nordic Hot Springs is heated by natural geothermal activity, featuring multiple outdoor soaking pools framed by large boulders, nestled within an enchanting snowy forest 20 minutes from Whitehorse. Use the saunas, steam rooms and fire pits, and enjoy lunch in the new restaurant featuring spa-fusion food, including homemade soups and sandwiches.
The famous Yukon Hair Freezing Contest is back this winter, with patrons invited to soak their hair, allow it to freeze in weird and wacky positions and then pose for an entry photograph. To enter, participants must visit the Eclipse Nordic Hot Springs when the temperature falls below 20°C.
Catch an icy one.
Ice fishing is a quintessential must-do Yukon tradition, best carried out with a thick parka and sturdy snow boots, available for rent in Whitehorse. It won’t be long before lake trout, northern pike, Arctic grayling, rainbow trout, and Arctic char are tugging on your line as you sip on hot coffee or cocoa and take in the glittering surrounds as the winter sun hits the snow-drenched trees framing the frozen lake. If you’re lucky, your guide will fillet your catch and grill it on the ice for lunch you’ll never forget.
Explore on two wheels.
Named for their thick, oversized tires, “fat bikes” are designed for easy traction on snow. It’s an exciting way to explore the wilderness and access some areas more quickly than you would during summer. Winter’s iced-over lakes mean you can bike straight across rather than hike around. Once you’re back in the treed trails, watch for wildlife tracks, like foxes and snowshoe hares.
Head out to Bennett Lake near Carcross, grab a hot coffee and enjoy the view of snow-covered mountains rising from the shoreline. In Whitehorse, the multi-use Millennium Trail is also easy to access, with a large stretch running alongside the Yukon River that flows right through town.
For something extra special, book a fat biking tour with Terra Riders for a night cruise under the shimmering northern lights.
Winter wildlife viewing.
The whole of Yukon is a wildlife sanctuary where the moose outnumber the humans two to one. Head to the Yukon Wildlife Preserve, where 700 acres of snowy hills, marshes, steep cliffs and flat lands are the perfect ecosystem for 11 species of northern Canadian mammals. We’re talking bison, moose, mule, deer, woodland caribou, elk, mountain goats, Canada lynx, and foxes, to name a few.
Just 25 minutes from downtown Whitehorse, you can walk, ski, snowshoe, or fat-bike the five-kilometre viewing loop or jump on a bus tour with a knowledgeable interpreter. However, if you choose to experience it, be prepared for magical encounters of the four-legged kind as the Yukon’s wild creatures show off their incredible northern adaptations.
GETTING THERE
Air Canada offers daily direct flights to Vancouver from Sydney and direct flights between Brisbane and Vancouver four times per week. Direct flights from Sydney to Vancouver are also available on Qantas. Air North and Air Canada offer internal flights to Whitehorse and Dawson City.
For more information about Yukon, visit www.travelyukon.com.
