Page 148 - Travel Guide to Canada 2019
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Dawson City. Bring your passport—the
crossing from the Yukon to Alaska is the
most northern international border
crossing in all of North America.
The breathtaking and bumpy Dempster
Highway, a wilderness route, is best
travelled in summertime. The 740-km
(460-mi.) gravel roadway is Canada’s only
all-weather road across the Arctic Circle.
The paved Alaska Highway is one of the
continent’s great wilderness drives. In 1942,
a workforce of thousands of U.S. soldiers
and Canadian and U.S. civilians built the
lengthy highway in record time. It winds
RAFTING, TATSHENSHINI RIVER • TOURISM YT
through eight communities, Kluane National
Explore Dawson City, the “heart of the Park and major attractions including the
Special Events Klondike Gold Rush,” that bustles with the Sign Post Forest, the Northern Lights Centre
history of a wild era when prospectors
and the Teslin Tlingit Heritage Centre.
FEBRUARY rushed to follow dreams of riches.
• AVAILABLE LIGHT FILM FESTIVAL, WHITEHORSE FAMILY FUN
• YUKON ARCTIC ULTRA, WHITEHORSE At Montana Mountain in Carcross, about All kids brighten up at the chance to spy
• YUKON QUEST INTERNATIONAL SLED DOG 40 km (25 mi.) of trail have been built for some wildlife. The Yukon Wildlife Preserve
RACE, WHITEHORSE TO FAIRBANKS, ALASKA the enjoyment of hikers, mountain bikers, features 13 species of northern Canadian
• YUKON SOURDOUGH RENDEZVOUS snowshoers and skiers (www.destination mammals in their natural environment—
FESTIVAL, WHITEHORSE
carcross.ca). including woodland caribou, lynx, moose,
MARCH mountain goats, wood bison and foxes.
• PERCY DEWOLFE MEMORIAL MAIL RACE,
Winter or summer, take a sightseeing fl ight Open year-round, the preserve can be
DAWSON CITY
by small plane or helicopter over the explored on self-guided walking/biking/
• THAW DI GRAS SPRING CARNIVAL,
spectacular Kluane National Park Icefi eld skiing trails or by interpretive bus tour
DAWSON CITY
Ranges, one of the world’s largest non-polar (www.yukonwildlife.ca).
• TREK OVER THE TOP, DAWSON CITY
icefi elds (www.kluaneglacierairtours.com).
JUNE
• DA K̓ NÄN TS’ÉTTHÈT DRUMMING &
Try a traditional healing camp, First Nations
DANCE FESTIVAL, HAINES JUNCTION Park Pick
• KLUANE MOUNTAIN BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL, adventure tour or cultural experience,
HAINES JUNCTION including activities such as beading, S.S. KLONDIKE NATIONAL
• NATIONAL INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY, trapping and drum making (www.shakat HISTORIC SITE
TERRITORY-WIDE tunadventures.com).
th
In the early 20 century, before roads
• YUKON RIVER QUEST CANOE AND KAYAK
opened up the north, riverboats and
RACE, WHITEHORSE TO DAWSON CITY
Learn from the experts about stargazing and rails linked the Yukon to the rest of
JUNE – JULY viewing the aurora colours of the night sky
• ADÄKA CULTURAL FESTIVAL, WHITEHORSE the country. The S.S. Klondike was the
at Northern Nights: Kluane’s Dark Sky
last Yukon River sternwheeler in
JULY Festival. Workshops include painting, active service and was designated a
• DAWSON CITY MUSIC FESTIVAL photography and bat house building.
• MAYO ARTS FESTIVAL AND CANADA DAY Combine it with an overnight stay in one of national historic site to commemo-
CELEBRATION rate the era of steam-powered
Kluane National Park's new oTENTiks, a
• YUKON GOLD PANNING CHAMPIONSHIPS, riverboat transportation in the north.
cross between a tent and a rustic cabin
DAWSON CITY It was the largest in a fl eet of wood-
(www.parkscanada.gc.ca/kluane).
AUGUST fi red sternwheelers that carried
• DISCOVERY DAYS FESTIVAL, DAWSON CITY passengers and cargo along the Yukon
SCENIC DRIVES
• YUKON RIVER TRAIL MARATHON, River between Whitehorse and
The Golden Circle Route’s 600-km (373-mi.)
WHITEHORSE Dawson City. The Klondike now sits
begins in Whitehorse and circles to include
• YUKON RIVERSIDE ARTS FESTIVAL, on dry land in Whitehorse, restored
DAWSON CITY Skagway, Alaska and Kluane National Park,
and refurbished to her 1937-40
SEPTEMBER showcasing spectacular alpine scenery. appearance, and is open for self-
• GREAT KLONDIKE INTERNATIONAL guided tours as well as guided tours
OUTHOUSE RACE, DAWSON CITY The secluded Top of the World Highway,
(www.parkscanada.gc.ca/ssklondike).
• KLONDIKE TRAIL OF ’98 INT’L ROAD RELAY, open seasonally only, hugs the top of
SKAGWAY, ALASKA TO WHITEHORSE mountains for outstanding scenery. At the National Parks and Historic Sites:
east end of the unpaved drive, hop on the www.parkscanada.gc.ca
www.travelyukon.com/en/things-to-do 1-888-773-8888
free car ferry and cross the Yukon River to
