Check out Whitehorse's best tours and attractions listed below, and don't forget to visit:
Alpine Aviation is a full service
aviation charter company based in Whitehorse. They offer year-round
access to the Yukon wilderness on wheels, floats and skis. 867-668-7725,
cell 867-333-9249
Beringia Interpretive Centre. This multimedia exposition features life-size exhibits of animals of the last ice age, interactive CD-ROM kiosks and dioramas depicting the unique landscape, flora and fauna of Beringia. A full-size cast of the largest woolly mammoth ever recovered and a reconstruction of the 24,000-year-old Bluefish Caves archaeological site are the highlights.
View the Centre's half-hour film which combines breathtaking scenes of modern-day Yukon and computer animation with rare archival photos. Listen to the stories of North America's First People whose ancestors actually lived in the ancient world of Beringia. See frozen ice age carcasses uncovered by gold miners in the Klondike area of central Yukon - finds more valuable than gold itself!
The Centre is located on the Alaska Highway, just south of the Airport 5 minutes from downtown. Ample parking is available for recreational vehicles. Wheelchair accessible. 867-667-5340.
MacBride Museum of the Yukon 1st Avenue
and Wood Street; 867-667-2709 fax 867-633-6607. The museum
covers half a city block, with four large galleries, open
air exhibits and a gift shop. Celebrate Klondike Gold Rush
by visiting the "Rivers of Gold" exhibition, the
largest public collection of Yukon gold in world. Revel
in the art and artistry of First Nations cultures. Open
year round, summer hours 10 to 6 daily mid-May to September,
call for winter hours.
Mountain View Golf Course 250 Skookum Drive 867-633-6020 or 633-6030. Scenic 18-hole challenging par 72 course just 5 minutes from downtown Whitehorse. The course features spectacular views of the river, valley and mountain ranges. Play a round in the Land of the Midnight Sun, where you can tee off as early as 6:30am or as late as 9:00pm.
Takhini Hot Springs is a year-round
recreation complex that contains a concrete swimming pool,
full service restaurant and campground. The water
is clear, mineral-laden and without odor or taste. There are dressing
rooms, showers and suit rental. The pool is open daily 8am to 10pm
during the summer months.
You will find a large wooded campground here with individual RV
sites, central dump station and water. Trail rides, hiking
and cross-country ski trails are also available.
To reach Takhini Hot Springs, turn off the Alaska Highway at kilometre
1488 /mile 925 and drive 5 km/3.1 miles on Klondike Highway
No. 2 to a paved road which leads 10 km/6 miles to the Springs.
867-633-2706.
The Yukon Transportation Museum interprets the history and evolution of travel in the Yukon. Learn about the Alaska Highway and Canol Road history while sitting in an authentic military tent! Visit the Bush Pilot Room, a photo exhibit of Yukon’s aviation history, and see a replica of Queen of The Yukon, sister ship to Lindbergh’s Spirit of St. Louis. Open mid-May to Labour Day 7 days a week 10:00 am to 6:00 pm (867) 668-4792
White Pass & Yukon Route “Scenic
Railway of the World” on the Trail of ’98. Passengers
travel across the White Pass on a narrow-gauge railway that parallels
the trail followed by the frantic gold seekers in 1898. Daily scheduled
summer “Through Motorcoach/Rail Service” between Whitehorse,
Yukon and Skagway, AK. Morning and afternoon Rail Excursions to
the summit of White Pass. For information call 907-983 2217 or 1
800 343 7373
Chilkoot Trail is a testament to the
great human journey that was the Klondike Gold rush. The trail is
long and strenuous (33 miles/53 km). You must be well equipped,
self sufficient, and in good physical condition. The
terrain is rough and the weather is often extreme. The trail
takes 3 to 5 days to complete. Plan your trip carefully. The
Canadian Parks Service provides planning information packages.
Write to: Area Superintendent, Yukon National Historic Sites, Box
5540, Whitehorse, Yukon, Y1A 5H4.
City Hall houses a prizewinning mural depicting Whitehorse history. Located at Second Avenue and Steele Street, City Hall was built during Canada's centennial year 1967.
Frantic Follies is a turn-of-the-century
show that presents a lively evening of fun and nostalgia for the
entire family. The Canadian cast of professional entertainers
recreates the Yukon's turn of the century days with a fresh,
original and lively approach to vaudeville. The two-hour romp through
the era includes the ragtime piano styling of the "professor"
as he sings and plays his way through the ballads and tunes of the
day. The nightly presentation of the "highest honor in
the north"-the Grand Exalted Yukon Order of the Garter, is
a highlight of the evening.
Much of this highly recommended show is built around the works of
the Bard of the Yukon, Robert W. Service. You will see and hear
his poetry brought to life in the cast's hilarious portrayal
of "The Cremation of Sam McGee" and other famous
Service works.
Throughout the evening, the Klondiker (that's you) will be entertained
by the colorful routines of the Gold Nugget dancing girls and moved
to laughter by the antics and tomfoolery in the numerous skits and
comedy routines. Editor's note: Don't miss this excellent old-fashioned evening of entertainment.
Advance tickets are available from the box office in the Westmark
Whitehorse Hotel, 867-668-2042.
Log Skyscraper.
During the construction of the Alaska Highway every hotel and home
in Whitehorse was overflowing with army and air force personnel.
Even the riverboats that tied up overnight were used to accommodate
construction crews. The shortage of rental units and space promoted
Martin Berrigan then in his early 70's, to begin building the log
skyscrapers.
The three-story skyscraper was the last of Berrigan's many log buildings
and was completed in 1947. It is 58 logs high and is made of logs
weighing at least 300 pounds each. It was originally founded on
the ground but concrete footings have been recently added. Both
skyscrapers have been insulated, drywalled and equipped with
plumbing and electric heating. The original five rental units are
still leased as apartments.
This is also the home of Log Skyscraper Trading Post. See Shopping.
Mt. McIntyre is a multiuse recreation
& convention facility. Room for a parties of 2 to 2000, with
specialized menus or a great selection of prepared menus. Open year
round with hiking trails in the summer and cross-country ski trails
in the winter. There are excellent tennis courts located on the
property with a great view. We are located approximately 5 minutes
from downtown with plenty of parking for big rigs.
Old Log Church Museum located one
block off Main at Elliott and 3rd Avenue. Open to the public late
May to Labor Day 9am - 6pm; Sunday 12:30pm to 4pm. Admission
fee. The building is the original Anglican Church built
in 1900 by Rev. R.J. Bowen. Recently restored this log church and
rectory have been declared the first territorial historic
site in the Yukon. The church houses exhibits showing the
pre-contact life of aboriginal people, early exploration, gold rush,
whaling, missionaries and the construction of the Alaska Highway
relics, photographs and books representing early day religious
denominationsin the Yukon.
Rotary Park is a large grassy park
with riverside benches and children's playground. The park is located
just downstream of the Robert Campbell Bridge and SS Klondike
Riverboat at the south end of Second Avenue. No overnight
camping.
S.S. Klondike, a restored Yukon sternwheeler beached near the
Yukon River at the south end of Second Avenue, is part of a fleet
of 250 riverboats that once plied the Yukon. The S.S.
Klondike has been designated a National Historic Site. Open
daily June 1 to Sept. 15; make tour reservations at nearby information
center. There is a fee for the tour.
Swimming pool, located on Fourth Avenue
next to the High Country Inn, is indoor and heated. Dressing rooms
are provided.
The Red Serge Program is a joint project
of the Yukon Territorial government, the Justice Department, City
of Whitehorse, and M Division of the RCMP and local
businesses. The local high school and university student's
patrol the downtown area dressed in period uniforms of the Northwest
Mounted Police. They act as ambassadors and give information
to visitors and locals. For approximately 10 weeks during
the summer, a Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer and his
horse are also a part of the program.
Yukon Chamber of Mines, 3rd and Strickland
St., displays an extensive collection of Yukon rocks and mineral
samples.
Yukon Mural, in the main Yukon Territorial
government Administration Building, is a 120-foot-long acrylic
resin mural portraying the historical evolution of the Yukon. The
mural is designed in a series of 24 panels each measuring
four feet by five feet.
Yukon Permanent Art Collection: Yukon Government Administration
Building Northern landscapes and lifestyles are evident in the works
of prominent Canadian artists, on the display in the foyer.
Open weekdays, 8:30am to 5pm. Second Avenue and Hawkins
Street.
Yukon Transportation Museum. Discover
Yukon's transportation history, Alaska highway construction,
dog sleds, early aviation, Whitepass & Yukon Route, riverboats.
Gift shop open, tours available. Open daily: mid-May to mid-September.
Km 1455/mile 904 next to the Whitehorse Airport. 867-668-4792
fax 867-633-5547.
Nearby Attractions Chadburn Lake has a wide gravel beach and canoe club cabin, but allows no powerboats.
To reach the lake, travel along the road that leads from the hydro
dam and fish ladder along the Shore of Schwatka Lake for 8 km/5
miles.
Grey Mountain Viewpoint approximately
6.5 km to the parking area high above Whitehorse that offers spectacular
views. After crossing the Robert Campbell Bridge turn off
Lewes Blvd. at Alsek Drive and continue to a sign marking a road
on the left, which leads to Grey Mountain.
Hydro Dam & Fish Ladder, located
upstream of the Robert Campbell Bridge, is a hydroelectric dam that
provides power for Whitehorse as well as the town of Faro. The water
backed up by the dam forms Schwatka Lake which has tamed the infamous
Whitehorse Rapids. On the east side of the dam, you can see one
of the world's longest all-wooden fish ladders. In August, when
salmon are running upstream to spawn, you can view the fish through
a window at the side of the ladder.
Old Log Tramway Trail has been cleared
and signed along the remains of an old log tramway used at the turn
of the century to portage supplies around the once-treacherous
Whitehorse Rapids. The trail has been cleared from Robert Campbell
Bridge on the east side of the Yukon River and ends at the
fish ladder.
Miles Canyon and Suspension Footbridge is six miles upstream from
Whitehorse on the Yukon River. Miles Canyon is a slash in the earth
where green water swirls past multi-colored cliffs of volcanic
rock. You can reach the canyon and a suspension footbridge by taking
a side road branching off the Alaska Highway at km 1467/mile 912.
Cross the bridge and take the path to the right to reach the
site of Canyon City, where gold rush stampeders off-loaded boats
and scows to portage freight around Whitehorse Rapids.
Yukon Game Farm. This preserve covers hundreds of acres of forests, meadows and marshlands, you may see elk, caribou, bison, moose, mountain goats, snowy owls, ducks, geese and maybe even a rare Peregrine falcon. Take lots of film! Departure: Daily. Time: Approximately 1 1/2 hours. For reservations call 867-668-3225. Or stop by the Gray Line desk in the Westmark Whitehorse.
Fishing Lake trout, northern pike and grayling can be caught in many of the lakes and streams.
Tagish Lake and Tagish River, Atlin Lake, Little Atlin Lake, Carcross River, Lake Bennett, Marsh Lake and Marsh Lake Dam are all south of Whitehorse
and accessible via the Alaska Highway and the Atlin and Carcross roads.
Jackson Lake, with public campground and fly fishing for small rainbow, can be reached by following a 24 km side road which branches off the Alaska Highway at km 1478.5/mile 919.
Fox Lake at km 56/mile 35 on the Klondike Loop highway has a large public campground.
