When is the Best Time to Visit the Yukon?
When is the Best Time to Visit the Yukon?
The age-old question when planning a trip up north. Look no further because we have the answers.
We Recommend Travelling in the Summers Because
While the winters are beautiful in the Yukon they can be harsh, dark, and cold and the activities available are limited. Summers are perfect because with the endless daylight you can be out exploring from the time you wake up to the time you head to bed.
So When is the Best Time to Visit in the Summer?
Well, that depends on what you are looking to experience! Our spring and summer comes later up north.
May in the Yukon
When Yukoners switch to mountain biking you know it’s spring.
May’s can be iffy. In early May, there can still be quite a bit of snow but by end of May in lower elevation areas (such as Whitehorse, Dawson, etc) the snow is gone and the plants are starting to bud. We suggest exploring the Yukon a bit later into the summer so that the landscapes are a bit greener and the mountains are more hikeable!
We recommend traveling in May if:
You are looking to get some spring backcountry skiing in. (the Whitepass and Haines Pass are rideable well into May check out https://www.yukonavalanche.ca/ for conditions)
You want to see snow-covered mountains
You want a chance of seeing the northern lights (more likely to see in early May)
Warm to cool temperatures during the day and cold at night
The light:
Sunrise time: between 5:50am - 4:50am
Sunset time: between 10:00pm - 11:00pm
June and July in the Yukon
The Caribbean blues of Emerald Lake.
If you want a taste of what the summers are like in the Yukon, this is the time to go! These are generally our hottest months. The weather can have a mind of its own in the Yukon, but that’s what makes it a wild place to visit! This is the peak time of our midnight sun where the “darkest” it will get is a blue hour glow. Pack an eye mask for sleeping if you think the midnight sun will affect your sleep.
A commonly asked question is “How bad are the bugs in the Yukon?”. The bugs for the most part aren’t that bad ( from a locals perspective, we are pretty tough people ). Your biggest enemy will be mosquitos but with bug spray and a light breeze, they are no match. Camping near wet and heavily treed areas ( ponds, still lakes, creeks, and marshes) and traveling into Northwest Territories is typically when you start to experience the “bad bugs” that the north is rumored to experience.
We recommend Travelling in June and July if:
You plan on doing lots of hiking and paddling ( some hikes can be closed in early June due to Lambing season )
You want to experience the full force of the midnight sun - the longest day of the year is June 21 ( the further north you go the lighter it gets )
You want to swim lakes ( won’t ever be hot but definitely will definitely less cold )
You want hotter temperatures. It typically ranges between 15-30°C
You want to see the green lush scenery and alpine flowers
You want to experience local culture and events
The Light:
Sunrise time: around 4:30am
Sunset time: around 11:30pm ( the sky stays light and the darkest it will get is dusk )
August in the Yukon
Bennett Lake Starting to show it’s fall colours.
August can be a wildcard in the Yukon. It’s common that August will stay hot sunny like in July but it is also common for it to start to cool. What you can expect is towards the end of fall the fall colors will start to show especially further north like in Tombstone or in higher elevation. Towards the end of the month, you will be able to see the night sky again. For some reason, the sunsets seem a lot more vibrant as well. August tends to be one of the busiest times for travelers.
We recommend Travelling in August if:
You want to do lots of hiking and paddling
You want a glimpse of what the fall landscapes ( starts in late August)
You don’t mind a little darkness at night
You want cooler temperatures
A chance of seeing the northern lights ( end of August )
The Light:
Sunrise time: 5:30am to 7:00am
Sunset time: 10:30pm to 9:00pm
September in the Yukon
Dempster Highway turning red and orange.
September is one of the most spectacular times in the Yukon. September is the prime time to take in the fall colors of the north. The mountains turn into blankets of red, orange, and green. We recommend starting north in the Tombstone region and then heading south towards Whitehorse to get the best timing. September is a popular time to visit for northern lights because they can be quite active at this time and you can watch them without freezing! Mother nature isn’t always predicltable, while it’s likely to be able to see the northern lights it isn’t guaranteed. The temperatures do start to get chillier so be sure to layer up!
We recommend Travelling in September if:
You want to see the northern lights
Take in the fall colors of the north
You want to do hiking and paddling
You want cooler temperatures at night and possibly a chance of snow in higher altitudes
You want the evening to get dark
The Light:
Sunrise time: 7:00-8:00am
Sunset time: 9:00-7:30pm