Yukon Territory

Yukon, the smallest and westernmost Canadian territory, is more than 183,000 square miles of mostly untouched wilderness. The Klondike Gold Rush gave Yukon its claim to fame, and it remains a place filled with legends, historic artifacts, and some of the most rugged wilderness on the continent.

About the Yukon Territory

Considered one of the last remaining frontiers in North America, Yukon—also known as “the Yukon” or “Yukon Territory”, has an estimated population of between 35,000-40,000 people. About two-thirds of the total population live in the capital city of Whitehorse, and around 25% of Yukon’s residents are Native Americans. As the least populated of Canada’s territories and provinces, 80% of Yukon remains wilderness and is untouched by the effects of human settlement.

Visiting Yukon Territory

The legacy of the Klondike Gold Rush pushed Yukon’s remote wilderness into the forefront of North American history, and it remains a popular place to explore rugged wilderness and relics of Canada’s past. With a motto of “Larger than Life”, Yukon relies heavily on tourism and is renowned for its hunting and fishing, hiking, skiing, and dogsledding adventures.

Typically, cruise ship visitors travel to the Yukon from Skagway. View all of our Yukon tours.

History & Geography

First Nation people first populated the Yukon, and some of the earliest evidence of human settlements can be found within the many archeological sites of the territory. These First Nations built up extensive trading networks, including the fur trade with European settlers in the 1800s.

It wasn’t until gold was discovered in the area that settlers and prospectors began to move into the First Nation territory, driving the population up and leading to the formation of the official Yukon territory in 1898 by separating it from the Northwest Territories.

Yukon is known for more than just the Gold Rush era—it also has some of the most beautiful and rugged terrain of North America. Mount Logan in Kluane National Park and Reserve stands at 19,551 ft, making it the highest Canadian mountain and second only in height to Denali on the North American continent. The Yukon River system is the heart of the Yukon landscape, and it’s also home to the St. Elias Icefields. As the world’s largest non-polar icefields, it contains more than 2,000 glaciers.

Interesting Facts

Yukon is known for its Gold Rush history and the stunning landscape and geology of the area. Whether you’re looking to step into the past by exploring deserted Gold Rush settlements or you want to try your hand at some of Canada’s most challenging outdoor adventures, there are few places in Canada that have such a fascinating story.

• Yukon is known for its extreme seasonal climate, and record temperatures come in at 97.7° in the summer of 2004 to -81.4° F in February 1947.
• Wildlife rules in Yukon. Bears are a threat to hikers, and there are about 70,000 moose in the territory—nearly double the number of people!
• Ravens—the official bird of the Yukon—can make more than 100 different vocalizations.
• Every year, 200,000 porcupine caribou perform the world’s largest and longest mammal migration in the Yukon.
• Yukon is official a bilingual territory—with both English and French being spoken—but several First Nations languages are also recognized by the government.
• The Carcross Desert, which is referred to by locals as “the smallest in the world”, is found in Yukon and covers only 1.6 square-kilometers.
• The Yukon is home to three national parks and preserves, 12 National Historic Sites of Canada, and many different annual cultural events that celebrate the significance of First Nation people.
• With it’s far-north location, Yukon is one of the best places in Canada to get stunning glimpses of the Northern Lights.

Points of Interest

Whether you come for the cultural and music festivals, to see the Northern Lights, or to walk through memories of the Gold Rush era, Yukon is a beautiful and exciting territory to explore. Every year, thousands of tourists make their way through the rugged Yukon landscape to experience pristine wilderness and a glimpse of what life was like back at the turn of the 20th century.

View more of the best things to do in Skagway or all of our Skagway tours.