Experience Winter at Its Finest in Yukon

It’s no secret that Yukon is home to epic landscapes, including the tallest mountain in Canada and the largest, non-polar ice field in the world. The definition of scenic road trips is found along its highways, with trafficless routes and spectacular scenery highlighted by wildlife encounters.

The nightly celestial light shows are entertainment wonders. Viewing conditions for the aurora borealis are best when the sky is dark and clear (preferably moonless) with a magic window between 10 p.m. and 3 a.m. Known as the “Wilderness City”, the capital of Whitehorse has the great outdoors at its doorstep. More than 700 kilometres (435 miles) of marked trails run along the river and out to picture-perfect lakes, ideal for outdoor winter adventures.

When most living things hibernate, the Canadian territory comes out to play.

Here are five not-to-be-missed winter activities in Yukon:

Witnessing the Yukon Quest

In February 1983, historian Roger Williams and musher Leroy Shank were dining at the Bull’s Eye Saloon in Fairbanks, Alaska, when they sketched out the idea of a rugged, 1,000-mile race. They named it the “Yukon Quest” — after the “old highway of the North,” the Yukon River. They envisioned the race as a true test of human and canine endurance while honouring the historic resiliency for survival of the arctic. One year later, 27 teams burst out of the chute in Fairbanks to mark the first Yukon Quest International Sled Race.

For 2025, the Yukon Quest will kick off on February 1 in Whitehorse. Mushers and their dog teams are challenged by the elements as they run across the historic Yukon trail, pushing through the forces of nature and their own limitations to reach the end of the epic journey. The Yukon Quest features three races that run simultaneously: The YQ100 is a 100-mile (160-km) race from Whitehorse to Braeburn; the YQ250 is a 250-mile (402-km) race from Whitehorse to Pelly Crossing; and the YQ450 is a 450-mile (725-km) race from Whitehorse to Dawson City. The trail weaves through the heart of the territory, passing along the Yukon River, traversing the pristine wilderness and through communities along the way.

Being present at the start of the race was unlike anything I’ve ever witnessed. Mushers gather from Yukon, British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, and Quebec. They line up one-by-one and race out of the chute like a cannonball. The dogs are eager to begin, salivating and barking to launch their adventure. The race is gruelling; the conditions aren’t favorable; and the temperature is freezing. Yet, it is a spectacular sport, both to be a part of and to watch. Something that began as a mode of transportation, turned into a popular winter activity, harnessing a huge part of Canadian culture. It is a trail enriched by history, and the legacy of the Yukon Quest grows each year.

Dog Sledding on Tagish Lake

Checking in to Southern Lakes Resort—which lies within the Traditional Territory of the Carcross / Tagish First Nation—your cabin overlooks a vast, frozen lake and mountains surrounded by nothing but nature and breathing in the crisp northern air. Once you’re settled, head out and explore the rugged beauty and vastness of Yukon’s northern landscape through several activities offered on-site.

Steps from your sleeping headquarters is Tagish Lake, where you can watch your dog sled pull up right in front of you. Tagish Kennels is next door to the resort. The dogsledding experience is run by legendary Yukon musher and multiple Iditarod and Yukon Quest winner, Michelle Phillips, and her partner, Ed Hopkins, who has finished the Yukon Quest in the top three. Becoming a dog musher and getting a glimpse into their world was an unbelievable experience. Some of my travel companions included Limbo, Bronco, and Mr. Pirate, who only had one eye. Phillips’s dogs always come running to see who is joining their team. I’ll never forget how those Alaskan Huskies looked into my eyes like they were piercing my soul.

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It was an unspoken bond, a promise that they will take care of me on the journey. You become part of the team and they have an undying love and devotion to keep you safe, to love you as though you are part of their tribe. The sled dogs glide across the frozen lake with views of Lime Mountain and snow lightly falling, making it feel like a magical place that would put Narnia to shame. The well-trained and lovable dogs take guests from lake to forest where white powder covers everything in sight. Stop and enjoy lunch and some hot tea while the dogs and mushers take a break.

A Guided Snowmobiling Ride

After warming up with a hearty lunch in the resort’s dining room, grasp the need for speed and head out on a snowmobile adventure. An expert guide will take you out on a two-hour ride. With the sun peeking through the mountains and the wind blowing as you traverse 70 kilometres (43.5 miles) across the frozen lake, it is nothing short of exhilarating. Stop and bask in the surroundings of nature, of quiet, where the only thing you can hear is your heart thumping and the adrenalin running through you. From lake to boreal forest, you manoeuvre and weave through the trees taking in the views, exploring Yukon’s winter wonderland.

The Marvels of Aurora Viewing

Aurora viewing can happen anywhere in Yukon. Sit outside of your cabin or venture to the AuroraCentre, located about 45 minutes by car from Whitehorse. Seek out the stunning Northern Lights while relaxing in sheltered comfort, or under the starry sky beside a warm fire with Arctic Range Adventures.

I’ve never seen the night so still. It was just me and the crunching of my boots in the snow at 1:30 in the morning. I was determined not to miss the aurora yet again, making up for my mistake of going to bed early four years ago. It was cold, but the wind had stopped blowing and it felt good, refreshing. I didn’t hear a sound, and it felt so nice to be out there alone. The serenity I needed away from city life in Toronto. And then, like a maestro gracefully moving its baton, guiding an orchestra with precise movements, the sky lit up. There she was, in all her glory. Greeting me with the reward of staying awake. The night sky was dancing. It was magnificent. Extraordinary.

Long Ago Peoples Place

In addition to its natural wonders, Indigenous Yukon allows visitors to connect on a deeper level. An hour west of Whitehorse, a scenic drive along the Alaska Highway, takes you to Long Ago Peoples Place-Kwäday Dän Kenji. Meta Williams (member of Little Salmon Carmacks First Nation) and Harold Johnson (member of Champagne and Aishihik First Nation) welcome visitors and invite you to learn about the traditional ways that Yukon First Nations people lived off the land, taking you back through time using recreations of traditional Southern Tutchone First Nations culture, structures, and tools. The Indigenous workshops educate as well as paint a picture as to what survival was like during the winter months in centuries past. Enjoy freshly made bannock and tea while sitting on logs around a fire, being captivated by Indigenous storytelling.

MORE ABOUT WINTER IN YUKON

Where to Stay: Accommodations at Southern Lakes Resort range from traditional log cabins to 600-square-foot deluxe villas to lakefront cabins. The lodge is located about 100 kilometres (65 miles) southeast of Whitehorse. Winter activities can be booked at the resort or online on its website.

Getting There: From Toronto, Air Canada flies to Whitehorse and Yukon Air flies from Toronto, Ottawa, Vancouver, Calgary, and Edmonton.

Tourism Information: Visit the Travel Yukon website for trip-planning ideas.