Yukon Territory Travel Guide

Yukon © Judith Duk

The territory of the Yukon, Canada's 'True North', is wintry, wild and wonderful: a spectacular wilderness consisting of comprehensive national and territorial parks filled with stunning landscapes and rare wildlife, like the 120,000-strong Porcupine Caribou herd that is protected in the Vuntut and Ivvavik National Parks. Black and grizzly bears, Dall sheep, moose, wolves and musk oxen are some of the other creatures spotted regularly all over the territory.

The Yukon also has its own natural magical light show in winter: undulating ribbons of pale-green, pink and blue lights dance in the night sky as the Aurora Borealis phenomenon delights watchers. The province boasts Canada's highest mountain, the majestic Mount Logan peak in Kluane Park, set in a sea of ice.

Although 80 percent of the Yukon is wild, there are people living there too. Native Yukoners are spirited, uniquely connected with their land, and have plenty of tales to tell travellers. Many legends survive from the days of the Klondike Gold Rush in 1897, when 30,000 aspirants arrived in Dawson City in hope of making their fortunes. The First Nations culture is also well preserved and fascinating to investigate in museums, historic sites and interpretive centres throughout the province.