Poet Robert Service once referred to the Yukon as "that raw-ribbed wild that abhors all life." The Yukon is a tamer place than it was in Service's lifetime—the lawlessness of the gold-rush days has faded, and a few refined towns now dot the map. But no one would dispute that the territory contains some of the most majestic wilderness on the continent.
This is a raw, isolated land—many places remain literally untouched. Clear blue lakes, mountains, glaciers and silence stretch for miles/kilometers, and both the caribou and the bears outnumber the people. During winter, the green, red and blue northern lights flicker overhead.
Most visitors just pass through this territory as they go from British Columbia to Alaska (or from Alaska's panhandle to the interior of the state). This is unfortunate, because they miss a chance to see great scenery and to relive the rugged life of the gold rush—either in relatively comfortable and fascinating tours of the region or in high-adventure outings that will challenge even the most experienced outdoor enthusiast. Besides scenic hiking and driving, the territory offers white-water rapids, dogsledding, biking, canoeing and mountain climbing.
Most visitors miss something else, too—the territory's rich native traditions. Approximately one-fifth of the Yukon's population is Native American, and the majority of these people belong to one of the Athabascan or Tlingit language families: Gwitchin, Han, Northern Tutchone, Southern Tutchone, Kaska, Tagish, Upper Tanana and Tlingit. Historically they hunted caribou, moose and sheep, but they used any animal resource available (lynx, snow hares, salmon, beavers). Many Native Americans continue to practice subsistence hunting, fishing and trapping today.
The Yukon's most dramatic landscapes are its mountains—including Canada's highest summits—and broad river valleys. Most of the territory is a plateau, however, ranging between 2,500 ft/760 m and 4,000 ft/1,220 m above sea level. The Yukon River slashes through the heart of the territory, rising near the Pacific Ocean and flowing to the Bering Sea, a route of 2,000 mi/3,200 km.
It was not until the 1840s that members of the Hudson's Bay Company explored the Yukon in any detail. Gold miners pushed into the territory beginning in the 1870s, and in 1896, a major strike was made near the Klondike River, initiating the gold rush. About US$125 million in gold was taken out of the area over the next 10 years. Prospectors from around the world flooded into the region in hopes of getting rich quick, though many found only backbreaking toil and long, cold winters. The influx of miners developed the Yukon, however: Dawson City became the thriving center of the mining activity, and Whitehorse was connected to the Alaskan coast by rail.
The rush had a short life. Once the easily accessible placer gold had played out, the Yukon's population plummeted. At the height of the rush, Dawson City was the largest western city north of San Francisco: It had 38,000 residents. Just 20 years later, only 975 people called it home. During World War II, the Yukon experienced another brief period of growth as the Alaska Highway and other war-related projects were introduced.
Mining for gold and other minerals has continued since the 1900s, though it is now carried out by large companies using heavy industrial equipment. Government and tourism are the major employers. Visitors to the territory are amazed by the wealth of tribal culture that has been preserved. In recent years, Yukon First Nations tribes have pursued land claims and have had some success regaining control of portions of their traditional territory. Only two of the 14 First Nations have not yet finalized land claim and self-government agreements with Canada's federal government.
The Yukon's main attractions include Arctic wilderness, mountains, lakes, rivers, forests, scenic highways, historic sites, outdoor recreation, wildlife and handicrafts.
The territory will appeal most to those travelers who seek exotic and occasionally rugged adventure in a remote, mountainous location. Those who insist on urban recreation (organized entertainment, fine restaurants, deluxe accommodations) or inexpensive wilderness vacations will have to look elsewhere.
Unlike most of the world's, the Yukon's population was greater at the turn of the 20th century than it was at the beginning of the 21st century.
The northern lights (aurora borealis) are visible throughout the Yukon November-March. Native legends say the lights represent ancestors and whistling at them sends messages of remembrance.
More than 20% of the Yukon's inhabitants are aboriginal. They are from two clans: Crow and Wolf. Check with local authorities to see if tribal celebrations (such as the Commissioner's Potlatch, Moosehide Gathering, stick gambling or hand game competitions) are taking place during your visit.
In hopes of alleviating shortages in the gold-rush boom towns, Canadian officials required each person entering the country through the Chilkoot Pass to transport 2,000 lbs/900 kg of provisions. Because horses and mules were unable to ascend the steep trail, the prospectors hauled the goods themselves—sometimes making as many as 50 trips through the pass. You can hike the same route today: It's a challenging 34-mi/55-km hike from Dyea, Alaska, to Bennett, British Columbia.
The 420 mi/675 km Dempster Highway is the only public road in Canada that crosses the Arctic Circle. The highway hosts a European racing event each February. Car companies use the highway for testing cars in extreme temperatures.
Above the Arctic Circle, the sun never sets on 21 June and never rises on 21 December.
During its two-year gold-rush period, the town of Dawson was built and burned down three times.
The Yukon is 15% larger than California but has only one person per 7 sq mi/11 sq km, on average.
The southwestern Yukon has the world's largest concentration of grizzly bears and the largest number of Dall sheep in the world.
