Best Things to Do in Whitehorse

Whitehorse punches well above its weight as a destination. As the Yukon’s capital — home to about 28,000 people, roughly three-quarters of the territory’s total population — it functions as a proper city with excellent restaurants, a craft brewery, Indigenous cultural programming, and a trail network that begins downtown and runs, without break, into some of the largest wilderness areas in North America. The challenge for a visitor is not finding activities but choosing between seasons, because winter Whitehorse and summer Whitehorse offer categorically different experiences.

This guide covers the best activities and attractions systematically, from the headline experiences to the less obvious ones that make a Whitehorse visit more than a transit stop to somewhere further north. For a broader overview of the city including where to stay and where to eat, see the Whitehorse destination guide.

Aurora borealis viewing

Whitehorse’s latitude — 60.7° North — places it close enough to the auroral oval for exceptional northern lights viewing from January through March. The Yukon’s dry continental climate produces the clear sky conditions that aurora viewing depends on: Whitehorse averages significantly more clear nights per year than comparable aurora-zone destinations in Norway or Iceland.

The standard approach is a guided tour that transports you from your downtown hotel to a dark-sky site 20–40 kilometres from the city. The best operators provide heated waiting areas (critical at -20°C), photography instruction, and context about how Yukon First Nations peoples interpret the aurora. The Takhini area north of the city, the Fish Lake road to the south, and the Chadburn Lake area are the common dark-sky destinations.

DIY aurora: If you have a rental vehicle, you can self-drive to dark-sky locations. The Alaska Highway west toward Haines Junction gets dark quickly once you clear the city’s light dome. Carry hand warmers, a sleeping bag (in case of mechanical trouble at -30°C), and a headlamp.

Best months: February and March balance the best aurora conditions — long nights, clear skies, slightly warmer temperatures than January — with reasonable daylight for other activities.

Book Whitehorse aurora borealis viewing tours — late-night pickup from downtown hotels

Dog sledding

Dog sledding is inseparable from Yukon identity, and Whitehorse is one of the best places in Canada to experience it authentically rather than theatrically. The Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race — widely considered the most demanding sled dog race in the world, tougher even than Alaska’s Iditarod — runs between Whitehorse and Fairbanks, Alaska every February.

Options range from a 30-minute introductory run to full-day excursions where you mush the team yourself under guide supervision. Lodge stays at sled dog kennels outside Whitehorse offer the immersive version — you meet the individual dogs, learn about their training and care, and participate in kennel routines alongside the runs. The dogs’ enthusiasm at departure time — the howling, the straining at the lines — is one of the genuinely joyful experiences in northern travel.

Timing: Dog sledding season runs from approximately mid-November through March in years with reliable snow. February and March are peak season for both conditions and operator availability.

Cost: A 1-hour introductory run typically costs CAD 120–180 per person. Full-day experiences with a kennel lodge run CAD 300–600 per person.

Miles Canyon: the gold rush gorge

Miles Canyon, 4 kilometres south of downtown Whitehorse, is where the Yukon River narrows through basalt columns and forms a dramatic gorge that terrified Klondike gold rush stampeders in 1898. The rapids here wrecked boats regularly until the North-West Mounted Police regulated the passage; today a suspension footbridge crosses the gorge and a trail runs along both banks.

The Miles Canyon trail is a 3.5-kilometre loop from the trailhead at the end of Miles Canyon Road — one of Whitehorse’s finest urban hikes. The dark basalt walls, green water, and forest setting are beautiful in any season. In summer, canoeists descend the Yukon River through the canyon as part of the longer river route to Carmacks and beyond.

In winter: The trail is accessible on foot or snowshoes and has a different character — the river ice, the snow-covered rocks, and the blue-grey winter light make it a worthwhile winter walk.

SS Klondike National Historic Site

The SS Klondike — a restored White Pass and Yukon Route sternwheel riverboat in permanent dry dock on the Yukon River bank near downtown — was the primary transport link between Whitehorse and Dawson City from 1929 until the road era ended river travel in 1955. Parks Canada has restored the vessel to its 1937 appearance; guided tours run through the engine room, passenger decks, and wheelhouse.

The site provides excellent context for the gold rush economy and the Yukon River as a transport artery — the perspective from the top deck, looking downriver toward the mountains, helps visualise the 740-kilometre journey north that riverboats made regularly for decades.

Hours and cost: Open late May through early September; Parks Canada entry fee or Discovery Pass applies.

Yukon Beringia Interpretive Centre

The Beringia Centre, adjacent to the Whitehorse airport, is dedicated to the Ice Age world of the land bridge between Asia and North America. The Yukon’s permafrost has yielded extraordinary Ice Age fossils — woolly mammoths, giant short-faced bears, horses, and camels that roamed the Yukon when global sea levels were 120 metres lower than today.

Full-scale reconstructions alongside genuine fossil specimens bring the extinct ecosystem to life. The displays are well-designed and genuinely informative about why the Yukon landscape looks as it does — the ecological history of the land bridge explains both the biodiversity and the wildlife that persist today.

Allow: 1.5–2 hours. Good for children and adults. Combines well with the MacBride Museum for a full history day.

Yukon Wildlife Preserve

The Yukon Wildlife Preserve, 23 kilometres north of Whitehorse, provides guaranteed close encounters with native Yukon species in a large, naturalistic setting. Moose, caribou, wood bison, Dall sheep, musk oxen, elk, lynx, and Arctic foxes are among the species that can be observed at close range without the wildlife volatility of the backcountry.

This is not a zoo — the animals move through large enclosures, and the experience of walking among wood bison or watching Dall sheep on a rocky slope provides genuine understanding of the scale and behaviour of these animals. For visitors who want wildlife experience without the uncertainty of backcountry viewing, the preserve is the most reliable option in the Yukon.

Guided tours: Guided walking tours provide natural history interpretation. Winter tours, when the animals are in full winter coat and the landscape is snow-covered, are particularly good for photography.

Browse all Yukon tours and activities including wildlife, aurora, and outdoor adventures from Whitehorse

Hiking the Whitehorse trail network

Over 600 kilometres of marked trails begin within the city or its immediate surroundings — Whitehorse’s best-kept secret for outdoor visitors. Key routes:

Millennium Trail: A riverside trail running through the city along the Yukon River — the orientation walk for any Whitehorse visit, connecting the downtown to Miles Canyon and beyond. Flat, paved in sections, and excellent for running and cycling.

Grey Mountain: A 13-kilometre return hike climbing 550 metres to the ridge above the city’s east side, with panoramic views of the Yukon River valley, the Nisutlin Bay delta to the south, and the mountains in every direction. Allow 4–5 hours.

Chadburn Lake area: A network of interconnecting trails south of the city through boreal forest and along lake edges — the best multi-hour trail options for those wanting forest walking rather than ridge hiking.

Montana Mountain (accessible from Carcross): 74 kilometres south, Carcross has the best developed mountain bike network in the southern Yukon, with hiking options on the same trail system.

Yukon River paddling

The Yukon River runs through Whitehorse and provides one of the most iconic paddling routes in Canada — the 740-kilometre route from Whitehorse to Dawson City, typically taking 2–3 weeks by canoe or kayak. This is a river with real history: gold rush stampeders, fur traders, and First Nations people all travelled this water.

For those without time for the full river trip, day and half-day rentals on the Yukon River in Whitehorse provide the experience of paddling on this historic river in a manageable timeframe. Miles Canyon to the Schwatka Lake dam and back is a popular afternoon loop.

Operators: Multiple Whitehorse outfitters offer rental canoes, kayaks, and inflatable paddleboards on the river, with guided tours for those who want interpretation.

Takhini Hot Springs

Located 27 kilometres north of downtown, Takhini Hot Springs — a natural hot spring pool operating year-round — has developed a specific winter identity: soaking in 40°C water while the aurora dances overhead has become a Whitehorse signature experience. The springs are family-friendly (varying temperature pools), and the combination of thermal water, cold air, and possible aurora viewing is genuinely memorable.

In winter: Aurora viewing at the springs is best after 11 PM when geomagnetic activity typically peaks. Check the KP index before going; Kp 3+ is reliably visible from the springs area.

Related destinations

Whitehorse is the hub for most Yukon travel. Day trips reach Carcross (74 km south), Haines Junction and Kluane (160 km west), and Takhini Hot Springs (27 km north). The Dempster Highway begins 40 km east of Dawson City, a full day’s drive north. The 7-day Yukon itinerary uses Whitehorse as its start and end point for a territory-wide circuit.

Frequently asked questions about Best Things to Do in Whitehorse

What is the single best activity in Whitehorse? In winter: an aurora tour to a dark-sky site 20–40 kilometres from the city. In summer: a half-day on the Whitehorse trail network followed by a riverside dinner. But dog sledding is the activity that most consistently surprises visitors — the experience of running a team through a boreal winter morning is unlike anything else in Canada.

Can I hike in Whitehorse without a car? Yes — the Millennium Trail and the Miles Canyon trail are both walkable from downtown accommodation. The Yukon Wildlife Preserve requires a vehicle or a tour bus. Most guided activities provide hotel pickup.

Is Whitehorse good for families? Excellent — the Wildlife Preserve, Beringia Centre, MacBride Museum, and Miles Canyon are all appropriate for children, and the trail network provides good options for varying fitness levels. Dog sledding with young children requires checking minimum age limits with individual operators (typically 4–6 years minimum).

How do I get around Whitehorse? The downtown is walkable. A rental vehicle is practical for day trips to Kluane, Carcross, and the Wildlife Preserve. Most tour operators provide hotel pickup for their activities.