Explore the Yukon
Your Black Spruce stay puts some of the Yukon’s best outdoor experiences within easy reach. Discover local trails, chase the Northern Lights, explore by bike or venture beyond Whitehorse for a day surrounded by mountains, lakes and wide-open landscapes.
Summer Activities
Long summer days make it easy to get outside and explore the Yukon. From hiking and mountain biking to swimming, road trips and local events, here are a few of our favourite ways to experience summer around Whitehorse.
Hiking
There’s no shortage of places to hike or backpack in the Yukon. From easy trails around Whitehorse to full-day hikes and backcountry adventures, the possibilities are nearly endless.
Yukon Hiking is a great online resource for discovering trails, checking difficulty levels and planning your next hike.
Mountain Biking & Trail Running
Mountain biking is one of the Yukon’s best-kept secrets. The trails are flowy, scenic and incredibly diverse, with excellent riding on Grey Mountain and extensive trail networks around Whitehorse and Carcross.
Many of these trails are also fantastic for trail running. Trailforks is one of the best resources for finding trails and navigating the local networks.
Swimming
Yes, the water can be cold — but on a warm Yukon summer day, it might surprise you!
Long Lake is one of our favourite local places for a swim and an easy option when you want to spend some time by the water without travelling far from Whitehorse.
Take a Road Trip
One of the best ways to appreciate the scale of the Yukon is to get in the car and explore.
Haines Junction and Carcross make excellent day trips, while a drive to Skagway, Alaska, takes you through some spectacular mountain scenery. Each route offers something different, and sometimes the drive itself is the highlight.
Fireweed Community Market
If you’re staying with us on a Thursday during the summer, stop by the Fireweed Community Market at Shipyards Park.
The market starts at 3:00 PM and is a great place to sample local food trucks, browse Yukon-made products and pick up fresh local produce.
Festivals & Events
Summer brings plenty of festivals, concerts and community events to Whitehorse. Adäka Cultural Festival is one of the highlights, celebrating Indigenous arts and culture from across the North.
It’s also worth checking local event listings and the Yukon Arts Centre calendar while you’re here — you never know what might line up with your stay.
Wildlife Viewing
The Yukon Wildlife Preserve is an excellent place to see northern wildlife in large natural habitats, including species such as muskox, caribou, moose and Arctic fox.
Wildlife can also be encountered while travelling throughout the Yukon. If you spot animals along the road or on the trail, give them plenty of space and enjoy the experience from a safe distance.
Winter Activities
Winter opens up a completely different side of the Yukon. From cross-country skiing and snowshoeing to wildlife, hot springs and winter road trips, here are some of our favourite ways to explore around Whitehorse.
Cross-Country Skiing
There are several excellent places to cross-country ski around Whitehorse. The main destination is Mount McIntyre, home of the Whitehorse Cross Country Ski Club. The club maintains approximately 100 km of trails and offers day passes, rentals and programs. There’s even a sauna at the club base.
Whitehorse Cross Country Ski Club
Chadburn Lake Park is another great option, with four groomed trails — Blue, Red, Green and Yellow. Trailforks is useful for navigating the trail network.
For adventures farther from Whitehorse, Mt. Lorne and Marsh Lake also have groomed trails. Depending on snow conditions, Carcross has a smaller network that is best suited to more experienced skiers — and the views are well worth the trip.
Fat Biking
Whitehorse has a great network of groomed winter trails for fat biking. Rentals and local trail information are available through the Whitehorse Cross Country Ski Club and local bike shops.
Snowshoeing
The Whitehorse Cross Country Ski Club maintains dedicated snowshoe trails and also offers rentals.
Chadburn Lake Park is another great place to explore on snowshoes, and many of the urban trails around Whitehorse become packed enough during winter for snowshoeing.
Canada Games Centre
Looking for an indoor break from the cold? The Canada Games Centre is Whitehorse’s major recreation facility and a great place for a swim, hot tub soak or steam. A variety of other recreational activities and drop-in programs are also available.
Local Shopping
If you’re looking for Yukon-made products, northern books or something unique to bring home, downtown Whitehorse has plenty to explore. Mac’s Fireweed Books and Well-Read Books are great stops for northern reading. Aroma Borealis carries local teas, skincare products and more. Continue along Main Street and you’ll find other shops featuring local products, including The Collective Good in Horwoods Mall.
Wildlife Preserve, Hot Springs & Coffee
This makes a great winter day trip from Black Spruce. Start at the Yukon Wildlife Preserve, where you can see a variety of northern animals, including Arctic fox and muskox. Stop for coffee at Bean North, then finish the outing with a relaxing soak at Eclipse Nordic Hot Springs.
Carcross
Carcross is home to the Carcross/Tagish First Nation and sits at the gateway to the Coast Mountains. It’s a quiet place in winter, but that’s part of the experience. Take in the mountain scenery, walk along the sandy shoreline or enjoy the snowy landscape around the Carcross Desert.
Museums
If the weather calls for an indoor day, Whitehorse has several museums worth exploring.
The Yukon Transportation Museum tells the story of transportation in the North, while MacBride Museum explores Yukon history and the Yukon Beringia Interpretive Centre takes you much farther back into the region’s Ice Age past.
Local Events
There’s almost always something happening in Whitehorse. Pick up a copy of What’s Up Yukon around town to find local events, festivals and activities happening during your stay. From community events and yoga classes to live performances and films, it’s worth checking what’s on while you’re here.
Winter Driving
Winter road conditions in the Yukon can change quickly. If you’re heading beyond Whitehorse, check conditions before leaving, dress warmly and keep your cellphone charged.
Northern Lights
Seeing the Northern Lights is one of the Yukon’s most memorable experiences — and when conditions are right, you may even see them from Black Spruce.
If you’d like to head out in search of clearer skies and darker surroundings, you can explore on your own or join a guided Aurora tour.
Check the Aurora Forecast
Before heading out, check the Aurora forecast to see what conditions are looking like for the evening.
We recommend the My Aurora Forecast & Alerts app, available for both Android and iOS. Turn on notifications and you can receive alerts when Aurora activity is expected to increase.
Self-Guided Aurora Viewing
If you have a rental vehicle, it’s quite possible to head out and look for the Northern Lights yourself. Here are two of our recommended viewing areas away from the brighter city lights.
Chadburn Lake Road
Located across the Yukon River through Riverdale, Chadburn Lake Road provides plenty of opportunities to find a dark spot and watch the sky.
You can explore along the road or continue toward the lake at the end. Find a safe place to stop, settle in and keep an eye on the sky.
Fish Lake
Fish Lake is another beautiful Aurora-viewing area, but the drive requires more care, particularly during winter.
The road has numerous curves and winter conditions can make driving challenging. Take your time, drive for the conditions and continue toward the lake, where the darker surroundings can provide excellent viewing when the Aurora appears.
Make Yourself Comfortable
Sometimes Aurora viewing involves a little patience. Dress warmly and, if conditions allow, step outside for a walk while you wait. Otherwise, stay comfortable in the vehicle. Bring a podcast, some music or even a board game — sometimes waiting is simply part of the adventure.
Winter Driving
If you’re heading out in winter, be prepared for changing road and weather conditions. Wear warm clothing, keep your cellphone charged and consider wearing your winter jacket even while driving so you’re prepared if you need to leave the vehicle.
Take your time and drive according to the conditions.
Take an Aurora Tour
Prefer to leave the driving and planning to someone else? A guided Aurora tour is an easy way to experience the Northern Lights with knowledgeable local guides.
Black Spruce works with Northern Tales to offer guided Aurora viewing experiences. Contact us during your stay for current tour information and availability.