Welcome to our August featured travel destination, the Yukon, Canada. How much do you know about the Yukon? A lot of Americans only know the basics: It’s the part of Canada that borders Alaska, it’s where thousands of people flocked in the 1890s to join the Yukon gold rush, and it’s cold.
I visited the Yukon for a week in July and August and discovered a bunch of great sights and activities, such as a two-day major music festival, unique attractions like a cabin where The Call of the Wild author Jack London once lived, some cute and remote small towns, plenty of great hiking and wildlife, and lots of character (and characters) that I will never forget.
Facts About the Yukon
Before getting to the highlights of my summer visit, let’s get caught up with a few fun facts about the Yukon:
-Only about 34,000 people live in the Yukon territory. More than 23,000 of those reside in Whitehorse, the capital city, while nearly another 2,000 live in Dawson City. The rest are scattered in smaller communities.
-The Yukon has the second-highest mountain in North America. Mount Logan, part of Kluane National Park, is 19,551 feet tall, trailing only Alaska’s Mt. Denali among American peaks.
-At its peak during the gold rush, Dawson City was once home to around 40,000 miners. Interestingly, gold mining remains one of the biggest industries in Dawson, though the current levels of gold production are nowhere near what they once were. Tourism is also a big draw right now.
-First Nations – the Canadian equivalent of Native Americans – are a huge part of Yukon society. About 30% of Dawson City’s population consists of First Nations members, and the various tribes are represented throughout the territory with artwork, festivals, museums and historic sites. Many towns and attractions (such as Kluane National Park) are named after First Nations.
Yukon Weather in July and August
June through August is the Yukon’s short-lived summer season. High temperatures can approach 80 F (27 C), though they are usually closer to 70 F. The mountainous scenery is beautiful.
There’s no snow in the summer, unless you go visit some of the Yukon’s mountain peaks. The hiking trails are mostly clear and dry, perfect for taking a stroll through the forest (watch for bears!)
The cool thing about visiting the Yukon at this time is that sun stays out almost until midnight. I attended the Dawson City Music Festival, and by the time I was heading to bed, it was still light outside. How unusual!
Yukon Blog Content
This month, I posted a ton of content on a variety of Yukon topics, including:
–Trying my hand at gold panning
–Consuming the Infamous Sourtoe Cocktail
–Lessons learned from the wisdom of Yukon First Nations
–The history and power of the Yukon River
Have you visited the Yukon during summer?
