Finding Nowhere: Tracking Down Camping Spots in The Yukon
Overland travel enables us to experience life differently and live in the present moment. A chance to reconnect with nature, slow things down, and discover new or unfamiliar places within ourselves and the land. It’s about the journey as much as it is the destination. The goal is to engage in open exploration and adventure and reconnect with the simplicity of life. And maybe you’ll learn a thing or two from past generations and how things came to be along the way.
With your vehicle and the clothes on your back in a rugged place like the Yukon, new adventures can be found at every turn. There is no trip that is too short or too long to have the experience of a lifetime. Understanding the untouched Yukon frontier is a task as vast as the landscape itself. It is estimated that 165,000 caribou, 70,000 moose, 22,000 mountain sheep, 7,000 grizzly bears, 10,000 black bears and 250 species of birds inhabit these lands.
“Finding nowhere” in the Yukon is simply a state of mind. Things are harder here. We must work for our fun. Hikes are steep. Our summers are short. The weather is unpredictable, and at times harsh. Roads are rugged and access is limited unless you pave your own way. Us Yukoners cherish the rugged outback and look forward to experiencing it. Overland Yukon's goal is to offer visitors the resources to do the same and experience a side of the Yukon that they might not have encountered on their own. There are endless possibilities for what you will discover along the way, both physically and spiritually, when you decide to embark on a journey without a destination. In this guide to finding camping spots in the Yukon, we discuss:
Campgrounds vs. Dispersed Camping
What to look out for when selecting a campsite
Camping permit must knows and rules of the road
Why the Yukon is an ideal place for dispersed camping
Arriving Prepared
Upon picking up your rental car (we like to call it your adventure mobile) from the Overland Yukon headquarters in Whitehorse, you will want to stop at a grocery store to pick up your food and other camping necessities. The Yukon is a remote place where you will not run into many grocery stores outside towns and hub communities, so it is best to make smart purchases and choose items that can be incorporated into multiple recipes. This will help you save money and not waste food along the way.
Related: Grocery Stores In The Yukon
Your Overland Yukon vehicle doubles as a vehicle, bedroom, kitchen, and hangout space, so you can rest assured knowing you have the necessities you need when you touch down off your plane. There are sleeping arrangements for every vehicle, with vans having a sink and a pull-out bed, and jeeps featuring an overland tent for sleeping. Equipped with a dual burner stove, electric cooler, cookware, and utensils, Overland Yukon vehicles make preparing food in the wilderness easy and enjoyable for all.
Equipment Included: 4FT Folding Table, 45 L Cooler, Dual Burner Stove, JetBoil, Folding Camp Chairs X 4, Pots X 2 (2.2 L and 1.2 L), Frying Pan (7.5"), Kettle (800 ml), Spatula, Spoon and Tongs, Mixing Bowls X 3, Plates X 4, Bowls X 4, Thermal Mugs X 4, Cutlery Sets (Fork, Knife, Spoon) X 4, Kitchen Knives & Cutting Board, Coffee Press, Portable Sink, Large Microfiber Towel, Hammock, Lanterns X 2, Water Jug (5 G), Axe, Garmin InReach
Optional Add-Ons: Bike Rack & Mountain Bikes, Pack rafts (inflatable boats), Sleeping Bags & Pillows
Dispersed Camping & Campgrounds : What’s The Difference?
Dispersed Camping
“Dispersed” or “wild camping” is camping outside of a designated campground. It is not about having amenities, it does not involve reservations, and it is unlikely that you will meet other campers. Dispersed camping appeals to those who love the remote nature of being “nowhere”. The convenience of having a car allows you to expand the places you're able to visit and run into things you wouldn't otherwise have had access to. If you are someone who enjoys adventures off the beaten path, then consider setting up a camp off-road at this amazing spot at Quill Creek. Sleep aside the Kluane river while gazing into the summer sky.
Campgrounds
If you want to reserve a spot, then campgrounds are the way to go. Campgrounds in the Yukon and information about them can be found using this map. The green areas mark conservation areas like territorial parks, wildlife sanctuaries, and habitat protection areas. The map also outlines backcountry campgrounds, so campers looking for dispersed camping can still use it. It is important to note that not all campgrounds have a water supply, pull-throughs, or kitchen shelter, so if these are things you are looking for, use the map to indicate where each service is available.
Park Fees
Although the Yukon has some of the lowest camping fees in the country, Yukon Parks has recently increased daily camping fees in the parks from the current $12 to $20. Or, $18 if you get a prepaid camping permit, or purchase your permit online.
Registering Your Campsite
Campground Permits
Camping season starts on April 29 in the Yukon. If you simply want to camp in these road-accessible campgrounds, you do not need a park permit. You only need a campground permit. Camping fees apply to all campsite use, including by Yukon residents, from May 1 to September 30 each year. October through April, campground permits are available at the information kiosks in Yukon Parks 42 road-accessible campgrounds. You can still access these campgrounds and recreation sites, but most are not serviced. Note that some have locked gates. View a printable list.
Park Permits
Park permits are required for commercial land and air based activities within Yukon Parks. For park permits, a $40 non-refundable application fee is required for all applications received on or after January 1, 2022. The fee helps cover the administrative cost of processing your application, and applications will not be processed until payment is received. Payment does not guarantee a permit will be issued.
According to Yukon Parks, complete applications will be processed in thirty (30) business days, with the exception that Land Use applications will be processed in sixty (60) business days. If proposed activities occur between May 1 and September 30, it’s recommended to submit your application early.
Choosing A Dispersed Campsite
Utilize Visitor Centres. For an inside track into the best places to stay, keep an eye out for Yukon Parks visitor centers and ask the true locals for their suggestions. We Yukoners are more than willing to assist you with maintaining our pristine natural paradise, and one way we do that is by knowing where to camp.
Explore Google Maps. View the area on Google Earth to get a sense of the roads and landscape when you are planning out your itinerary or passing through areas with cell service on your trip.
Google Maps is great when you have a full signal, but when road tripping in a place as remote as the Yukon, we recommend downloading or printing out a backup map.
Attempt to camp on a paved road, as camping on level ground makes sleeping more comfortable. If not possible, camp on bare, well-packed dirt or gravel. Note that this is done at your own risk: if renting an Overland Yukon vehicle, you are NOT covered by insurance if you are OFF a paved road.
If you’re going to an area where others have camped before, pick a site that has been used before. Plants, soil, and wildlife are impacted by new campsites so using existing ones will minimize your impact on the forest. Always follow Leave No Trace principles.
Leave No Trace Principles
Plan Ahead and Prepare
Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
Dispose of Waste Properly
Leave What You Find
Minimize Campfire Impact
Respect Wildlife
Be Considerate of Other Visitors
Dispersed Camping Rules of the Road
Do not sleep on the side of the road – it is illegal. Laws for overnight parking and sleeping in your car may vary by region because they have different consequences depending on where you are. To prevent resource damage, keep your campsite within 150 feet of a roadway.
Bring plenty of your own water or have a way to treat it. Just because you found a campsite near a stream or river with nothing else around does not mean the water is safe to drink. Always treat the water you get from natural sources so that you don’t have to end your trip early!
Be bear aware. Everywhere in the Yukon is considered bear country. Store food and other scented items in a bear canister or outside of your vehicle overnight. Read more about wildlife safety in Yukon here.
Dispersed camping means there are no bathrooms in the area. To dispose of human waste while you camp, dig a hole six inches (15 cm) in the ground at least 100 feet away from any water source. Fill the hole with dirt and take toilet paper with you to dispose of in the garbage. Used toilet paper pollutes local water sources.
When living outside of your vehicle, you will need something on hand to charge your camera, phone, and other electronic devices. Luckily, Overland Yukon equips all travelers with Goal Zero charging batteries so your devices can stay well fueled along your journey.
Potential Routes
As evident, the Yukon provides a plethora of camping and dispersed camping adventures. Overland Yukon recommends some fantastic itinerary options that you can drive, such as the Golden Circle, the Dempster Highway, and the Klondike Highway. Consider these if you’re looking for some breathtaking scenery and a genuine adventure. Access a Yukon regional map here.