The Pros and Cons of Travelling in the Yukon
When traveling, there are always pros and cons to any destination you visit. We’ve made a list of what we feel are the pros and cons of traveling the Yukon to help you decide if a vacation up north is right for you. If you prioritize accessible nature, outdoor activities such as hiking, and scenic drives then the Yukon is the place for you.
Pros:
Close to nature. One of the best parts about the Yukon is how quickly you can find yourself surrounded by nature. In fact, even within the city limits of Whitehorse, there’s a river, mountain and several lakes. Once you get out of Whitehorse the views only get better. The scenic drives through the Yukon will have you feeling like you just stepped into Narnia and there plenty of hikes and lakes right from the road.
Endless daylight. Want to fit in paddling boarding, hiking, and driving all in one day? Well thankfully with the midnight sun you can do that. With the sun setting for just a few hours in the summer you can make the most of your time here starting from when you wake up right to when your head hits your pillow.
There are rarely ever crowds. From views overlooking mountains to restaurants, you can expect small groups of people (or even no one) wherever you go. Yukon has a small population of around 40,000 so there are far more trees than people here.
Untouched. Most of the Yukon has yet to be explored. Our towns make a very small footprint in our vast landscapes. You can easily step off the beaten path and into the rugged Yukon.
Diverse Landscapes. You will notice how the landscapes in the Yukon will vary from region to region. From the rugged peaks in Tombstone Territorial Parks, vibrant colored lakes of the Southern Lakes Region, and the towering peaks with vast glacial fields of Kluane National Park. The Yukon is home to many lakes, rivers, and mountains ranges that all offer unique features about them.
Accessible by road. The best destinations in the Yukon are accessible by road. These roads aren’t your typical highways, they offer endless views, wildlife sightings, and traffic-free.
Wildlife. Want to see a moose? Caribou? Porcupine? Or maybe a grizzly bear? No need to go to the zoo just go for a drive. Chances are you will see at least one of the above.
Lots of activities. The hardest part is picking what activity to do first. In the summer, you can go hiking, mountain biking, fishing, paddle boarding on a lake, whitewater rafting, go for a scenic drive, relax by a campfire, go for a dip in the Takhinni hot springs, take in the Yukon history, and culture and the list goes on.
It’s remote. If your idea of a vacation is to unplug from the rest of the world then the Yukon is your place. You will find you mostly get cell service in communities and you quickly lose service as you get further out — an easy excuse to not check your emails. 😉
Cons:
Daunting to plan. The Yukon can seem like a bit of a secret to the rest of the world and can be hard to find resources on where to go. Some people find that part of the fun of traveling here. If you need help planning your Yukon getaway you can request one of our many itineraries or we can help you put one together that’s right for you. Check out our itineraries here — https://overlandyukon.com/itineraries.
Tough Road Conditions. The main roads in the Yukon are paved however a lot of secondary roads are dirt or gravel. On these roads just take it slow. They can have potholes and soft shoulders so drive with caution.
Directions are hard to navigate. The Yukon is slightly lacking in terms of signage. Google Maps are generally pretty reliable in getting you to where you are trying to go. If you ever find yourself lost, just ask around! Yukoners are friendly people and will be more than happy to help you out.
Lack of cell service. While a lot of people see this as a win if they are trying to go off-grid. We do provide 2-way text satellite communication with all our rentals.
Can be expensive. Relative to the rest of Canada, the costs of gas and food can be a bit more on the expensive side. Due to the remoteness, the cost of living is higher.
Food variety. Whitehorse offers a strong variety of restaurants that accommodates different diets however once you leave Whitehorse the options get a bit more scarce. We suggest upon arriving in Whitehorse to stalk up on your favorite foods. Our rentals come with a camp a Jetboil, gas camp stove, cooking utensils, and cooler so you can chef up your favorite meals. Check our recommendations of where to shop to help you stock up — INSERT GROCERY BLOG LINK HERE
Short summer season. Due to how far north the Yukon is we have long winters and short summers. Our spring starts in April/May and transitions into fall in early September making our summer quite short. If you want to know when the best time is to visit check out — https://overlandyukon.com/blog/when-is-the-best-time-to-visit-the-yukon .
Unpredictable weather. Sometimes the weather here just can’t seem to make up its mind. One minute it might be sunny and the next it’s raining. The weather gives the Yukon some pretty dramatic-looking skies which are breathtaking to take in from mountain tops. Our suggestion is to always have layers with you ( a base layer, mid-layer, and shell ) and you will set to face whatever weather the Yukon throws at you.
Have you traveled the Yukon before? What were some pros and cons you encountered?
Let us know in the comments 👇