Whitehorse

Whitehorse is the capital of the Yukon. It has spectacular scenery, and easy access to the natural splendor and recreational opportunities around it, such as paddling on the Yukon River and hiking, biking, or skiing its many trails. As the territory's largest city, it has museums and services.

Understand

Whitehorse has been the capital of the Yukon since 1953, and has a population of around 30,000 (2019), which is about 75 percent of the population of Yukon Territory. The city is along the banks of the Yukon River. It is in a rain shadow area, so Whitehorse is Canada's driest city.

Whitehorse's downtown and Riverdale areas occupy both shores of the Yukon River, which originates in British Columbia and meets the Bering Sea in Alaska. The city was named after the White Horse Rapids for their resemblance to the mane of a white horse, near Miles Canyon, before the river was dammed.

History

Archeological research south of the downtown area at Canyon City, has revealed evidence of use by First Nations (Indigenous people) for several thousand years. The surrounding area had seasonal fish camps, and, in 1883, there was a portage trail used to bypass Miles Canyon. Before the Gold Rush, several different First Nations passed through the area seasonally and their territories overlapped.

The discovery of gold in the Klondike in August 1896 set off a major change in the historical patterns of the region. Early prospectors used the Chilkoot Pass, but by July 1897, crowds of neophyte stampeders had arrived via steamship and were camping at "White Horse". By June 1898, there was a bottleneck of stampeders.

On their way to find gold, stampeders also found copper in the "copper belt" in the hills west of Whitehorse. The first copper claims were staked in 1898 and 1899. Two tram lines were built, one 8 km (5 mi) stretch on the east bank of the Yukon River from Canyon City to the rapids, just across from the present day downtown, the other was built on the west bank of the river. A small settlement was developing at Canyon City but the completion of the White Pass railway to Whitehorse in 1900 put a halt to it.

The White Pass and Yukon Route narrow-gauge railway linking Skagway to Whitehorse was completed in 1900. By 1901, the Whitehorse Star newspaper was already reporting on daily freight volumes. That summer there were four trains per day. Whitehorse was booming.

Until 1942, rail, river, and air were the only way to get to Whitehorse, but in 1942 the US military decided an interior road would be safer to transfer troops and provisions between Alaska and the US mainland and began construction of the Alaska Highway. The entire 2,500-km (1,553-mi) project was accomplished between March and November 1942. The Canadian portion of the highway was only returned to Canadian sovereignty after the war.

In 1953, the city was designated the capital of the Yukon Territory when the seat was moved from Dawson City after the construction of the Klondike Highway.

Climate

Whitehorse has a dry-summer subarctic climate. However, because of its relative proximity to the Pacific Ocean, winter temperatures are milder than other comparable northern communities such as Yellowknife. With an average annual temperature of −0.1 °C (31.8 °F), Whitehorse is the warmest city in the Yukon.

At this latitude winter days are short and summer days have just over 19 hours of daylight. Whitehorse has an average daily high of 20.6 °C (69.1 °F) in July and average daily low of −19.2 °C (−2.6 °F) in January.

Local information

Get in

Airport

Airlines

By car

Two highways combine on to the same road within Whitehorse, and diverge once they leave this city:

By bus

Get around

The Trans-Canada Trail runs through the city, and there are some bike trails.

By public transit

By taxi

Taxis are metered and cost $4.50 plus $2.25/km; a trip from downtown to the airport is $18 (as of 2018).

By bicycle

By car
  • The downtown core has metered parking six days a week. Visitors can obtain a free parking pass, valid for 3 days, from the tourist information.

See
  • 🌍 S.S. Klondike National Historic Site, ☏ +1 867 667-4511, . Late May to early Sep: 9:30AM-5PM. A sternwheeler paddleboat, turned into a museum. Free admission. (updated Jun 2018)
  • 🌍 Miles Canyon. The Miles Canyon Basalts are volcanic rocks exposed and easily accessible at Miles Canyon on the Yukon River south of Whitehorse. The former White Horse Rapids (now a hydroelectric generating site) represented the head of navigation for paddle-wheel river boats which could proceed no further. The townsite of Closeleigh (now the City of Whitehorse) was chosen because of this obstacle to navigation. 
  • 🌍 MacBride Museum, 1124 Front St, ☏ +1 867 667-2709, . Summer Tu-Sa 9:30AM-5PM. Local historic museum, opened in the 1960s in former Government Telegraph Office building. The Yukon Historical Society operates the MacBride Museum (1124 Front St.), the MacBride Copperbelt Mining Museum (Mile 919.28 Alaska Highway, ☏ +1 867 667-6198) and the MacBride Waterfront Trolley (1127 Front St, ☏ +1 867 667-6355). Programs include museum tours, recreational gold panning and the occasional live music event. Adults $12, seniors (65+) or students or youth (13+) $11. (updated Sep 2023)
  • 🌍 Beringia Interpretive Centre, Kilometre 1423 (Mile 886) Alaska Hwy, ☏ +1 867 667-8855. May-Sep: daily 10AM-6PM; Oct-Apr: Sa-M noon-5PM. A research and exhibition facility tells the story of Beringia, a 3200-km landmass which stretched from the Kolyma River in Siberia to the MacKenzie River in Canada during the Pleistocene era. Archeologists and paleontologists believe this non-glaciated crossing played a crucial role in the migrations of many animals and humans between Asia and the Americas. $6/adult, $5/senior, $4/student. (updated Jun 2022)
  • 🌍 Eclipse Nordic Hot Springs, KM 10/Mile 6 Takhini Hotsprings Road (take the Alaska Highway north, exit north onto the Klondike Highway, then west on Takhini Hotsprings Road), ☏ +1 867 456-8000. Outdoor hot spring. Must be 19+ to enter. $19. (updated Jun 2022)
  • 🌍 Yukon Transportation Museum, 30 Electra Crescent, ☏ +1 867 668-4792, . Mid-May-Aug: W-Su 10AM-6PM; Sep-mid-May: Sa-M noon-5PM. Automotive and air transportation museum. Home of the world's biggest wind vane - a DC-3 mounted on a pivot pedestal, with the nose always pointing into the wind. Adults $10, seniors (65+) or youth (12-17) $8, child (5-11) $5, under 5 free. (updated Feb 2024)
  • 🌍 Old Log Church, 3rd Avenue and Elliott Street, ☏ +1 867 668-2555. Summer: Tu-Su 1-4PM, winter by appointment. A collecion of material related to the history of the Anglican church in the Yukon back to 1861. Adult $8, senior or student $6, child (5-11) $4, Family Pass $16. (updated Jun 2022)
  • 🌍 Whitehorse Fishway, Whitehorse dam, ☏ +1 867 633-5965. Sep-Jun: 9AM-5PM; July: 9AM-6PM; Aug: 9AM-9PM. The longest wooden fish ladder in the world allows migratory salmon to bypass a Yukon Energy hydroelectric station. View fish through the underwater window and learn about salmon and other species from displays inside the interpretive centre. A fish hatchery, located just downstream from the fish ladder, operates year-round; the fish are tagged and stock various waterways. $3 suggested donation. 
  • 🌍 Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre, 1171 Front Street, ☏ +1 867 456-5322, . M-F 10AM-5PM. Cultural centre with collection showcasing the Kwanlin Dün First Nation. Interpretive programming available upon request. (updated Mar 2024)

Do
  • 🌍 Canada Games Centre, 200 Hamilton Blvd, ☏ +1 867 667-4386. The main centre for indoor recreation activity in Whitehorse. Includes, among other things, a large aquatic centre and three skating rinks. Adult $7.80/day, senior or student $6.35/day, youth (2-18) or disabled (doctor's note required) $4.05/day. 
  • Frostbite Arts and Music Festival, Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre. One full weekend (F-Su), early Mar or late Feb. A winter festival showcasing Canadian and Yukon musical acts. $15/afternoon, $30/evening or $90 for the entire weekend. 
  • Whitehorse Cross Country Ski Club. A popular cross country skiing facility with 85 km of groomed trails. There is also a large indoor wax room, washrooms and changeroom facilities and saunas for getting toasty warm apres ski. Plus 20 km of single track trails for mountain biking in summer. 
  • Yukon African Music Festival. Annual two-day dance event in February with live music by professional African musicians. 
  • Yukon River Trail Marathon. Every August. Full marathon, half marathon, relay and half marathon walk. (updated Aug 2022)

Buy

Eat
  • 🌍 Alpine Bakery, 411 Alexander St (downtown, near 5 Ave), ☏ +1 867 668-6871, . M-F 8AM-6PM, Sa Su 8AM-4PM. This bakery and café offers excellent organic breads and other baked goods, hand-made chocolates, and fair trade coffee. A hot daily special and hearty soups are also offered during lunch time hours. (updated Jun 2018)
  • 🌍 Tokyo Sushi, 204B Main Street (downtown). This restaurant provides a reliable source of satisfactory Japanese food. It features a large menu, average prices, friendly staff, and ample Japanese pop music. 
  • 🌍 Giorgio's Cuccina, 206 Jarvis Street, ☏ +1 867 668-4050. Italian food. (updated Aug 2018)
  • 🌍 Burnt Toast Cafe, 2112 Second Avenue. Good breakfasts. No WiFi. (updated Jun 2019)
  • 🌍 Big Bear Donair (Corner of Alexander and Fourth). Good kebabs, amazing range of hot sauces. (updated Jun 2019)

Drink
  • 🌍 Woodcutter's Blanket, 2151 Second Avenue. Bar which has decent food and brews their own beer. Tacos on Wednesday. (updated Jun 2019)
  • 🌍 Yukon Brewing, 102 Copper Road. Micro-brewery with a large gift shop and a tiny tasting room. (updated Jun 2019)
  • 🌍 Winterlong Brewing, 83 Mount Sima Road. Micro-brewery with a tasting room. (updated Jun 2019)
  • 🌍 Deep Dark Wood Brewing, 2A Collins Lane. Very small micro-brewery specializing in wild yeast and sour beers. No tasting room, only bottle sales. (updated Jun 2019)

Sleep

Accommodation in Whitehorse ranges from hostels to B&Bs, motels and quality hotels. They tend to get full quick, so advance bookings are recommended during summer.

Budget

Mid-range
  • 🌍 Midnight Sun Inn Bed and Breakfast, 6188 6th Ave (corner of 6th Ave. & Cook St.), ☏ +1 867 667-2255, toll-free: +1-866-284-4448, . Check-in: 4PM, check-out: 11AM. Each of the four theme rooms has a private bathroom, hairdryers, telephone, TV, Internet access and work desk. One of the highlights of the facility is the large lounge area with a full kitchen, laundry and a 32" TV. It is near the scenic clay cliffs, which have hiking and walking trails. No pets, no smoking. The innalso has rooms in nearby buildings. $200 (June - early Sept), $10-25 cheaper at other times. (updated Jun 2022)
  • 🌍 Best Western Gold Rush Inn, 411 Main St, ☏ +1 867-668-4500. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. No pets. (updated Jul 2017)

Splurge
  • 🌍 Inn On The Lake, Lot 76 McClintock Place, Marsh Lake (southeast of town, on the Alaska Highway), ☏ +1 867 660-5253, . As featured on Martha Stewart Living and listed by National Geographic Traveller as Top 150 places to stay for 2009, this lodge is 35 minutes by car from Whitehorse. It is the top-rated accommodation and conference centre in the Yukon. $180 and up. 

Connect
  • 🌍 Whitehorse Public Library, Front and Black St (next to the Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre), ☏ +1 867 667-5239, . M-Th 10AM-9PM, F-Su 10AM-6PM. Provides free public internet and computer access. 30 minute sessions available. You may call to book in advance. (updated Jun 2018)
  • 🌍 Visitor Information Centre, 100 Hanson St. Free Wi-Fi. (updated Jun 2019)

Go next

Drive West on the Alaska Highway towards Haines Junction to visit the Kluane National Park, or drive South and then take the Klondike Highway towards Carcross and Skagway to see 🌍 and the 🌍.

Routes through Whitehorse
Tok ← Haines Junction ←  W  E  → Watson Lake → Dawson Creek
END ← Dawson City ←   N  S  → and becomes → Skagway


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