Last updated on April 13th, 2024 at 10:26 pm

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This blog post will go over everything you need to know about visiting the Yukon in the winter.

In December, I visited the Yukon for the first time. Despite having lived in Canada my whole life, I had never even considered visiting. This autumn, however, during Vancouver Island’s grey, rainy season, I began to dream of a winter getaway to experience a real Canadian winter. Having lived on the West coast my whole life, most of my winters have been very overcast and rainy. I craved an authentic Canadian winter adventure somewhere off the beaten path, while still being accessible. I found all of this on my trip to Whitehorse, Yukon. My trip was amazing, and I’ve put together this blog post with all my Yukon travel advice. So, is the Yukon worth visiting in the winter? Read on to find out!

Why is the Yukon worth visiting over other Canadian winter destinations?

Canada is known around the world for being cold and snowy. There are many other places in Canada that are more popular to visit in the winter than the Yukon. Banff, for instance, while beautiful, is overpriced and overcrowded with tourists. Quebec City is also lovely in the winter, but lacks outdoor activities that you can find in the Yukon.

The Yukon offers a truly authentic Canadian winter experience. It hasn’t been affected by over-tourism, but still has a multitude of unforgettable winter activities available. Staying in Whitehorse will afford you the conveniences of staying in a city (hotel and restaurant options, an airport right in the city, not having to rent a car, etc), while also providing access to the rugged Canadian wilderness.

What is there to do in the Yukon in winter?

Whitehorse, Yukon is the perfect destination for outdoor lovers. You can take a snowy stroll by the river, go skating outdoors, try snowshoeing, or go cross country skiing. If you are more of a wildlife fan, visit the Yukon Wildlife Preserve, and see many native species in their natural habitat. As someone who lives in a city where it rarely snows, I found it absolutely enchanting to see the city, and wildlife in the snow. Truly a winter wonderland!

There are many more bucket list outdoor winter experience available as a day trip from Whitehorse. I did a dog sledding and snowshoeing excursion, and it was one of the most unique experiences I have ever had travelling. I also saw day tours available for snowmobiling and ice fishing. Most of these activities offer hotel pick up; you don’t need to rent a car to access them!

Whitehorse, Yukon is also the perfect place to see the Northern Lights. They are sometimes visible from the city itself, but driving even a short distance out of the city away from light pollution, will give you a much better chance of spotting Aurora Borealis. I did a viewing tour which picked me up from my hotel in the evening, and went out to a cabin in a dark area outside of town. The tour guide made a campfire and we all roasted hot dogs and drank hot chocolate while we waited for the northern lights to make an appearance. It was my first time ever seeing them! Definitely something to check off the bucket list. In my opinion, this tour alone made the Yukon worth visiting.

Check out my post all about my favourite day trips from Whitehorse. I included all the details about costs and how I booked them!

Is the Yukon too cold to visit in the winter?

I won’t lie, the weather in the Yukon can be very, very cold in the winter. It got down to -35 °C during my visit to Whitehorse! You need to be prepared for the cold if you visit- a good parka and snow boots are a must! I would recommend bringing wool socks and hats as well.

Whitehorse, Yukon also offers some nice spots to warm up after a long day in the cold. While there are not a ton of restaurant options, I found that Whitehorse did have a few cute cafes and cool pubs to relax in and enjoy a snack or a beverage. My favourites were the Burnt Toast Cafe, and the saloon at the ’98 Hotel. Both made for a great spot to get a quick break from the cold. I also loved spending a couple hours at the MacBride Museum of Yukon History. Better yet, you can take a trip to Eclipse Nordic Hot Springs, and spend an afternoon soaking in the therapeutic waters. Sadly, it was closed for renovations while I was there, but it is back open now, and I have heard that it is lovely.

So, is the Yukon worth visiting?

In my opinion, yes! All in all, I absolutely loved my time in the Yukon. I only had four full days there, and I felt like that was enough time to see Whitehorse, and do a few outdoor activities. It was easy to find accommodation; there were numerous options, including some hotels, cabin rentals, and Airbnbs. I will say that none of the accommodation options I saw were particularly lavish; if you are looking for a luxury travel destination, Whitehorse might not be the spot for you. However, if you are looking for an affordable and authentic winter destination in Canada, I can’t recommend the Yukon enough.

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• The Best Day Trips from Whitehorse