Destinations

Kluane National Park and Reserve, Canada. Photography: Kalen Emsley.

Canada’s Yukon – where nature rules

By Tiffany West

Briefly …

Canada’s Yukon is a vast wilderness of mountains, forests, and rivers. From Kluane National Park’s soaring peaks to glacier-fed lakes and the Yukon River, solo travellers can hike, paddle, fish, or fly for unforgettable adventures under northern skies.

Few places on Earth stir the imagination like Canada’s Yukon. Vast, wild, and largely untamed, it stretches across a rugged landscape where jagged peaks meet endless boreal forest, and mighty rivers carve their way through valleys that seem untouched by time. The boreal forest is mostly made up of hardy trees like spruce, pine, and fir, which can survive cold winters and short summers. It’s one of the world’s largest ecosystems and is home to animals like moose, wolves, bears, and migratory birds.

The Yukon is mountainous and sparsely populated. Kluane National Park and Reserve includes Mount Logan, Canada’s highest peak, as well as glaciers, trails, and the Alsek River. In the far north is Ivvavik National Park, with protected calving grounds for Porcupine caribou. In the south are numerous glacier-fed alpine lakes, including the boldly coloured Emerald Lake.

Mount Logan is the tallest mountain in Canada. Photography: Gerald Holdsworth, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The numerous glacier-fed alpine lakes include the boldly coloured Emerald Lake. Photography: Joris Beugels.

This is a land where nature still rules, where wildlife roams freely, and where the midnight sun or the shimmering northern lights can transform the sky into something unforgettable. But the Yukon is more than wilderness. It’s a place woven with stories of the Indigenous people who have lived here for millennia, of the Klondike Gold Rush that drew dreamers from around the world, and of communities that thrive on resilience and connection to the land.

The northern lights, or aurora borealis, Yukon, Canada Photography Leonard Laub

The Northern Lights, also known as the Aurora Borealis, are one of nature's most spectacular displays. Yukon, Canada. Photography: Leonard Laub.

For the solo traveller, the Yukon offers not just breathtaking adventure but also the rare chance to experience solitude on a grand scale, where every trail, river, and road seems to whisper its own invitation.

The Kings Throne trail is a steep trail up to a spectacular cirque (an amphitheatre-like valley formed by glacial erosion), the ‘seat’ of the King’s Throne. Photography: Yukon Guided Adventures.

Kluane National Park and Reserve

Home to Canada's highest peaks, the world's largest non-polar icefields, and lush alpine meadows, this UNESCO World Heritage Site offers breathtaking scenery and incredible wildlife encounters, from grizzlies to Dall sheep. Summer's long daylight hours provide ample time to explore diverse trails, from easy walks to challenging backcountry routes. Join an expert guide with Yukon Guided Adventures to learn about the park’s geology, ecology, and Indigenous history.

A stunning wooden carving of an orca, painted in traditional Indigenous art style, in Carcross, Yukon. Carcross, originally known as Caribou Crossing, is home to the Carcross/Tagish First Nation. Photography: Joseph Corl.

Indigenous-owned Who What Where Tours provides day trips from Whitehorse along the famous Alaska Highway, with stops along the way and wildlife viewing opportunities. Whether trekking past turquoise glacier-fed lakes or enjoying panoramic views from mountain ridges, Kluane National Park is a destination that truly celebrates the rugged beauty of Canada's wilderness.

Looking out over the Kluane Wilderness Photography Jack Church

Flying over the Kluane National Park and Reserve. Photography: Jack Church.

For a different vantage point, explore Kluane National Park by air. Icefield Discovery Tours takes you over the jaw-dropping Saint Elias Mountain Range, with its glittering blue glaciers and roaming bears and moose. For the experience of a lifetime, make a safe landing on the icefields for a view of Mount Logan, the tallest mountain in all of Canada.

For a Heli tour like no other, lift off from the Whitehorse's base camp and take flight on the Country Alpine Tour. You'll soar over Whitehorse and take in some of the Yukon's tallest peaks, alpine ridges, and the beautiful Lake Laberge. Your return flight takes you over the Yukon River and Canyon City, a northern port for riverboats during the gold rush era, as well as Miles Canyon.

Hiking in the Kluane National Park. Photography: Joris Beugels.

Wilderness fishing adventures

Almost every Yukon community is close to a body of water, so you won't have to go far to find somewhere to cast your line. Lakes, rivers and streams are home to numerous species including rainbow trout and salmon. Stay at Ruby Range Wilderness and Fishing Lodge, set along the most remote reaches of Kluane Lake, ideal for wildlife viewing, photography, canoeing, kayaking, and hiking. The pure waters are home to healthy populations of lake trout, Arctic grayling, northern pike, whitefish, burbot and inconnu. A few casts before dinner could add fresh fish to the menu – a delicious lake-to-plate take on farm-to-table dining. Or you could consider heading out in a boat for a day trip with Yukon Fishing Adventure, or take a float plane with Wilderness Fishing Yukon to one of seven outpost fishing camps or two luxury wilderness lodges for a world-class fishing experience.

For a true bucket list wilderness fishing adventure, escape to Tincup Wilderness Lodge, situated on the shore of Tincup Lake close to Kluane National Park. Surrounded by kilometres of pristine forests and the Ruby Range mountains, the lodge can only be reached by floatplane or helicopter. With guests limited to between eight and ten per week, Tincup provides a rare opportunity to connect with nature, yourself and, of course, your trusty fishing reel. A strict, catch, photograph and release rule applied to ensure a plentiful supply of fish for future generations.

Dawson City, Yukon, Canada. Photography: Patrick Federi.

Cycling

Yukon’s breathtaking cycling routes offer something for all levels of fitness. The Millennium Trail in Whitehorse runs along the Yukon River and crosses two bridges to form a loop. It connects to the downtown Waterfront Trail with access to attractions, shopping, and lots of places to lock up and grab a snack.

For a longer ride through beautiful wilderness, the Southern Lakes loop leads to beaches and to Carcross' historic and cultural attractions. Head the opposite direction toward Haines Junction and become a part of the panoramic scenery beneath the Saint Elias Mountain Range. Or satisfy your sense of adventure with a multi-day ride to Dawson City, roughly following the river route of the Klondike gold seekers.

Just 15 minutes from Whitehorse, Mount Sima is a formidable alpine adventure park all year round. During the long summer days, beginner mountain bikers love the 3.9-kilometre flow trail starting at the very top of Mount Sima, while intermediates can pick up speed on the single-track trail, straight from the chairlift, featuring fun features and rock slabs. Single track slayers can brave the rock slabs, down ramps and bridges decorating the numerous hair-raising black runs. Bikes and protective gear can be rented at Icycle Sports in Whitehorse and delivered to the mountain.

The Yukon River running through Miles Canyon. Photography: Heather E Campbell.

Paddling the Yukon River

You don't have to go far for fantastic paddling. The Yukon River runs right through the capital city of Whitehorse, rich in history and culture. Follow the gold seekers’ route and drift past centuries-old sites of First Nation fish camps and meeting places. Full-day canoe tours on the Yukon River are provided by Up North Adventures, perfect for beginners and experienced paddlers alike, while Kanoe People offers everything from half-day paddling excursions on the Yukon River from downtown Whitehorse, to a 7–9 day adventure combining the traditional canoe with an exciting floatplane or boat ride into the Yukon wilderness. For spectacular scenery and unique wildlife viewing, it doesn't matter if you're a beginner paddler or a pro. The Yukon doesn't discriminate!

You can explore more of The Yukon here.

Tiffany West is The Solo Traveller’s Editorial and Pictorial Assistant Lead. This feature includes information provided by international news agencies and public relations representatives, published here with editorial oversight. You can read The Solo Traveller’s editorial policy regarding external sources here.