If you missed visiting Whitehorse in the summer don’t worry, there are still plenty of reasons you should visit the Yukon in the fall. I have put together some ideas to get you started on your adventure Plus clothing you should pack, and other tips for your trip.
Yukon Adventure
Reasons you should travel to Yukon in the fall
- Beautiful scenery
- To see the Northern Lights
- A large amount of wildlife
- Crystal clear water
- Epic Adventures
- Countless amount of hiking trails
- The busy summer tourist season will be over so it will be less busy
Weather in the Yukon in Fall
Fall only has two short months from September to October. You will not want to miss out on the beautiful bright leaves changing color.
In September to October the average temperature in the Yukon reaches highs of between 4 degrees celcius and 19 degrees celcius and lows between -3 degrees celcius and 7 degrees celcius.
wildlife viewing in the Yukon
There is a lot of Wildlife in the Yukon if you want to be guaranteed to see some, be sure and visit the Yukon Wildlife Preserve about 30 minutes from Whitehorse. If you are wanting to spot some on your own there are a few useful things you should know to increase your chances:
Wildlife tends to be more active in the morning and evening. The best way to spot wildlife is to spend a lot of time outside watching, and looking for signs of where they might be. Understanding wildlife and their habitat before venturing out will increase your chances of spotting some.
There are many different types of animals that call the Yukon home. Some of them are:
- Red fox
- Mountain Goat
- Bison
- Bears
- Caribou
- Moose
- Wolf
- Coyotes
What to know about the yukon before you go
If you are planning to visit Whitehorse in the fall there are some things you should know before you go that will make your experience even better.
- When you are out driving watch for wildlife there is plenty around
- Fuel up before you Leave on your adventure, gas stations and services can be a tricky thing to find. Know where the next ones will be before you leave
- Know what roads you will be taking to reach your destination, make sure the vehicle you are in is equipped to handle rough terrain
- Keep in mind that cell services and wifi might be limited in certain areas especially if you go off the beaten path
Popular Places to visit around Whitehorse
While visiting Whitehorse there are many things you can do around town. There are also places worth seeing that are just a short distance away. All of these will be a unique experience and will be enough to keep you busy for days.
- Miles Canyon – A most dramatic natural feature near Whitehorse
- Lowe Suspension Bridge – An 85 foot suspension bridge constructed in 1922. Across the bridge there are hiking trails
- Yukon Wildlife Preserve – It is only a 26 minute drive from downtown Whitehorse and it is open year round for animal viewings and experiences.
- Macbride Museum – Home to 40,000 objects that illustrate stories from Yukon First Nations, the natural world, the Klondike Gold Rush and more
- S.S Klondike – A National Historic site, it is the largest stern wheeler to ever ply the waters of the Yukon
- Yukon Beringia Interpretive Center – A museum offering archaeological exhibits and Beringia artifacts
Important items to pack for visiting yukon in the fall
Here is a list of thing you should pack with you if you are going to visit Yukon in the Fall
- Bring a lot of long sleeve shirts
- Windbreakers
- Toque/Warm headband
- Gloves
- Walking Shoes
- Waterproof hiking boots
- Fleece sweaters
- Warm socks
- Undershirts
- Thermal Underwear
- Warm Coat
5 easy hiking trails near whitehorse
There are over 700 km of marked hiking trails near Whitehorse. You will be able to see some of the beauty the wilderness city has to offer. Here are a few easy trails near Whitehorse that you can explore, since these are quite short you will still have plenty of time to do other activities around town after you complete your hike.
- Wolf Creek Trail – 6.9 km circular trail takes about 1 hour 47 minutes to complete
- Yukon River Trail – 13.7 km circular trail takes about 3 hours and 44 minutes to complete
- Long Lake Heights Trail – 2.9 km circular trail takes about 2 hours and 39 minutes to complete
- Black Street Stairs & Airport Trail – 5,3 km circular trail takes about 1 hour and 17 minutes to complete
- Whitehorse Millennium Trail – 4.5 km circular trail takes 58 minutes to complete
Northern Lights In the Yukon
The best time to view the Northern lights is from late August to mid- April. During the summer months the skies are not dark enough to see them. Going in the fall and winter is when it will be possible to see these breathtaking events. Another way to increase your chances of spotting the northern lights is by driving out of the bright city lights to a darker area.