Published April 8th, 2025

Photography by Claudia Laroye unless otherwise noted.

With the “Elbows Up” movement in full swing and Canadian tourism becoming increasingly popular, it’s an excellent time to discover, or rediscover, our captivating country.

So you’re looking at the Yukon for a summer vacation and asking yourself “what’s there to do in the Yukon in summer?” So, so, so much! The Yukon is superb for family road trips, a guys and or gals trip, a couples getaway or a solo adventure.

If one of your summer travel destinations is the Yukon, we’ve got a stellar list for you to either follow or include in your exploration of this beautiful part of Canada.

Whitehorse

The capital of the Yukon has a wonderfully walkable downtown filled with great museums, markets and cultural centres.

Stroll the path along the Yukon River and stop into the Kwanlin Dun Cultural Centre to learn about local First Nations. If visiting on a Thursday, don’t miss wandering among the Fireweed Community Market’s 80 weekly vendors.

A few blocks further, the MacBride Museum of Yukon History highlights everything you’d ever want to know about the territory’s history, the Klondike Gold Rush and the many colourful characters who’ve made their home in the Yukon.

Pop into the North End Gallery for authentic local arts and crafts, and Aroma Borealis for locally-made all-natural body care and wellness products.

View the Northern Lights

More northern lights illuminate the night in the Yukon.jpeg

Northern lights light up the night in the Yukon.jpeg

While there’s never a guarantee that you’ll catch a glimpse of the Aurora Borealis (aka Northern Lights), the Yukon is one of the best places in the world to view them.

Peak aurora activity times are between late August and mid-April. Getting away from city lights on a guided aurora tour will increase your viewing opportunities.

The Yukon is north of the 60th parallel so in summer, you’ll experience the land of the Midnight Sun (yay) but will need to stay up late (or early) to view the lights.

Eclipse Nordic Hot Springs

Located 30 kilometers from Whitehorse, the Eclipse Nordic Hot Springs are a relaxing escape with Scandinavian and Japanese Onsen healing practices, relaxation rooms and natural hot spring pools.

The facility offers yoga classes and some accommodations in a nearby campground. The hot springs are home to the famous Hair Freezing Contest in winter, and a great place to see the Northern Lights or enjoy a late summer sunset.

Kwanlin (Miles Canyon)

Just outside of downtown Whitehorse, the roaring waters of the Yukon River have carved out the impressive Kwanlin, or Miles Canyon.

The canyon’s basalt cliffs are home to some of the most scenic hikes and trails in the capital region. During summer, enjoy a free guided two-hour tour of the canyon by the Yukon Conservation Society.

There are spectacular views from the 1922 suspension bridge, and the canyon is also an excellent location for mountain biking in summer and cross-country skiing in winter.

Don’t forget to carry bear spray – the Yukon is grizzly country.

Kluane National Park

In this UNESCO World Heritage Site two hours west of Whitehorse, you’ll find both Canada’s tallest mountain, Mount Logan, and the world’s largest non-polar glacier.

The easiest way to see the impressive National Park is to get a bird’s eye view of its many glaciers and mountain peaks with a flightseeing tour over the Kluane Icefield.

If weather and time permit, you may have the chance to land and walk on the Icefield’s impressive glaciers.

The National Park is home to many active outdoor activities, including mountaineering, backcountry camping, boating, bird watching and fishing.

Dawson City

Dawson City is the home of the Klondike Gold Rush. Fun fact: during the gold rush, Dawson City was the largest city north of Seattle and west of Winnipeg.

Much of downtown Dawson City is a designated National Historic Site, and that’s where you’ll find reminders of that bygone era.

Channel your inner prospector at Diamond Tooth Gertie’s Gambling Hall, with its casino, cabaret and can-can shows.

Belly up to the bar at Sourdough Saloon for its infamous Sourtoe Cocktail, made from your preferred shot of alcohol and a mummified human toe.

Visit Carcross + Desert

Carcross was home to the Tagish and Tlingit First Nations before becoming one of the territory’s original gold rush towns.

There’s a visitor information centre and historic buildings covered in colourful First Nations murals, as well as totem poles, informative exhibits and small shops selling local fireweed jelly and caribou jerky.

Nearby, the sand dunes of the Carcross Desert may (or may not be, depending on who you talk to) be the world’s smallest desert, at just over 2.5 square kilometers.

Visitors can walk in the dunes but tread lightly, the desert is a fragile environment.

Watson Lake Signpost Forest

Watson Lake is a small community along the Alaska Highway north of the border with British Columbia. It’s famous for its quirky Signpost Forest, which is a big draw for travellers driving along the storied road.

Take a trip around the world and explore tens of thousands of signs. It’s a tradition for road trippers to bring their own signs and post them in the forest for others to enjoy. You’ll spot license plates, wayfinding signs and fun random signs from around the world.

In 2042, Watson Lake will open a time capsule that was buried in the forest in 1992.

Fall under the spell of the Yukon and enjoy an unforgettable summer sojourn in this great Canadian northern territory.

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