The Best Hiking Destination You've Probably Never Heard Of
The Yukon is one of the best hiking destinations in the world.
Bold statement, but I’ll tell you why.
The Canadian Yukon is home to:
The planet’s most massive mountain
A region known as "the Patagonia of the North"
A National Park bigger than Jasper & Banff combined
The largest non-polar icefield in the world
A National Park which sees less annual visitors than the summit of Mt Everest
Loads of mountains (1368), not many people (35k) and So. Much. Wildlife.
Some of the best Northern Lights viewing opportunities in Canada!
All of which make this remote and rugged wilderness one of the best kept secrets of the hiking world.
The Yukon is home to 1368 mountains, many of them unexplored - photo by Bex Dawkes
If you’re not familiar with Canada’s best places to hike, you may not know much about The Yukon, other than that it’s cold, and some dude found gold there once. Although it does get chilly in the winter, mild temperatures and exceptionally long daylight hours during the summer months make The Yukon a fantastic hiking destination in Canada, and also host to a massive amount of beautiful natural attractions and fun things to do.
One thing that really set the Yukon apart from the hiking trails in the Canadian Rockies is the vast expanse of untouched wilderness: much of it relatively unexplored and uninhabited. Cell service is limited, resupply stations are minimal and wildlife roams free. In a remote and wild environment like this one, planning and preparation is key. But those who put in the work are rewarded with empty trails, breathtaking scenery and a trip you’ll remember for a lifetime.
Yukon area is right next to Alaska and shares some of the States National Park regions as well!
Browse through our Yukon hiking guide below and discover some of the best places and trails to hike in Canada’s north.
The Best places to hike in the yukon
The view of Kluane from Haines Junction - photo by Bex Dawkes
hiking in Kluane National Park & Reserve
Perched in the South West corner of the territory, holding its own against Alaska, is Kluane. This National Park covers more than 22,000km2 (bigger than Jasper & Banff combined) and contains 17 of Canada’s 20 tallest mountains. Including the tallest - Mt Logan, which is also considered the most ‘massive mountain’ in the world, due to its enormous circumference. The park also houses the biggest non-polar icefield in the world, and is part of a UNESCO World Heritage site and the largest protected area on the planet.
Much of Kluane is unexplored by foot and can only be accessed by plane or helicopter. That being said, there are extensive hiking and mountaineering opportunities available on the fringes of this mountain wonderland.
Top trail tips:
The ‘gateway’ to Kluane is the tiny town of Haines Junction - home to just 613 year round residents. So even during the ‘busy’ summer months, you still won’t see more than a couple of other people out on the trail each day!
King’s Throne reflected in Kathleen Lake, Kluane National Park - photo by Bex Dawkes
hiking in Tombstones Territorial Park
Often referred to as ‘the Patagonia of the North’ and known as the ‘ragged mountain land’ by the local First Nation community; this magnificent park spans both the continental divide and the legendary Dempster Highway. Dramatic rock formations, striking peaks, windswept tundra, unusual permafrost landforms and rare Beringian plant species can all be discovered in a park which feels out-of-this-world.
A frontcountry campground is accessible just off the Dempster Highway, close to the park’s interpretive centre and offers a number of short trails and day hikes nearby. For the real taste of the Tombstones however, you’ll want to get further into the backcountry. Permits are required for this, so be sure to book before heading out there.
As with many other Yukon hiking destinations, marked trails in this park are rare and most of the hikes involve route finding and advanced navigation. Make sure you’re prepared for all eventualities and weather conditions - snow in July is not uncommon.
Top trail tips:
View from Miles Canyon while hiking in Whitehorse - photo by Bex Dawkes
hiking in Ivvavik National Park
Do you know how many people summit Mt Everest every year? I’ll tell you: around 800. And how many people visit Ivvavik National Park each year? About 100.
Nestled in the very northwest corner of The Yukon, this 9775km2 park borders Alaska to the west and the Arctic Ocean to the North. Created as part of an aboriginal land claims agreement, Ivvavik is a vast expanse of wilderness that very few people have explored. In fact, paths are so untrodden that there are no marked hiking trails within the park at all - meaning any visitors must be adept at navigation or hire a guide.
The park is home to hundreds of different species including: muskox, polar bears, grizzlies, moose, dall sheep, Arctic char, gyrfalcons and migrating herds of porcupine caribou, making the wildlife watching second to none.
With no roads into Ivvavik, the only way to access the park is via charter plane from Inuvik (North West Territories) or by booking a guided trip directly with Parks Canada. As Ivvavik is “about as far away as you can get from anywhere” very few put in the time and effort it takes to plan an expedition. But those who do, are rewarded with endless hiking opportunities in one of the last great wildernesses.
Top tips:
The best time to visit for hiking is mid June - mid August.
Call Parks Canada directly to discuss your trip plan with them
Hiking in the Yukon offers many of Canada’s best hiking trails.
hiking in Whitehorse
Whitehorse is home to more than 80% of The Yukon’s population. And while this bustling urban area contains all the creature comforts you might need, it isn’t known as The Wilderness City for nothing.
Drive for just 15 minutes out of the downtown hub to get into the backcountry. If you’re willing to go a little further afield, you can access areas like the Carcross Desert and Marsh Lake within an hour - offering a huge diversity of landscapes to experience, right on the doorstep.
Whitehorse has even got some amazing hiking options if you don’t have a vehicle. There are a number of hikes accessible via public transit, plus there are a couple of interpretive trails running along the banks of the Yukon River - telling the fascinating story of the Gold Rush era. While some sections might only take you an hour, it is possible to link multiple trails together to reach Miles Canyon - giving you a full day loop hike, starting right in the city centre.
Top trail tips:
Montana Mountain (Carcross)
The Yukon is a majestic, undiscovered gem of a hiking destination. Whether you’re looking for epic mountain ranges, amazing wildlife experiences, well-trodden trails or peaceful off-the-beaten path adventures; this incredible corner of Canada has it all.
To make the most of your Yukon hiking experience, discover one of the Fresh Adventures Yukon hiking guided trips - all of the epic with none of the hassle.
The Yukon is one of the best places in Canada for hikers, but can be made even better by combining with a trip in the Rockies, which are not far south of here (by Canadian standards). Check out our guide to the best backpacking trails in the Rockies!
About THe Author - Bex Dawkes
Bex may not have grown up in the mountains but if you saw her gallivanting around the Kootenays you’d think she was a local as grizzled as any! Among hucking herself off pillows and paddling through remote ocean passages, she manages to find time to keep the adventure travel world informed and capture jaw dropping beauty on her camera. She’s easiest to track down at a local brewery and, if you’re lucky enough, you may just be able to explore with her on some of our tours too!