Why Winter Is the Best Time to Visit the Yukon
While summer draws road-trippers to the Alaska Highway, winter is when the Yukon is at its most spectacular. The long nights that may intimidate first-time visitors are precisely what make November through March prime time for viewing the northern lights.
It is a common misconception that winter travel here is unmanageable. While temperatures are genuinely cold, the region experiences a dry cold, which feels far more comfortable than humid coastal winter weather when you are dressed in proper winter layers.
During a typical winter, Whitehorse-Yukon sees average daily high temperatures around -11°C (12°F) in December and January, with daily lows averaging around -19°C (-2°F), though cold snaps can send temperatures significantly lower.
💡Note: While the Yukon is one of the best places on Earth to see the aurora borealis due to its low light pollution and high latitude, northern lights displays are a natural phenomenon dependent on solar activity and clear skies, so sightings can never be guaranteed.
Want to experience Canada’s True North at its winter best? From world-class northern lights viewing to bucket-list wilderness adventures, here are the 10 best things to do in the Yukon in winter.
©Dan Carr
1. Chase the Northern Lights
Seeing the aurora borealis live is top of mind for almost every northern traveller. The Yukon sits directly under the Auroral Oval, making it an epic location for viewing the green, magenta, and violet ribbons of light that stretch across the sky.
While the aurora season runs from late August to mid-April, deep winter offers the longest dark hours, providing the maximum probability of catching a display. The best way to experience them is to be away from city light pollution, staying warm inside a heated wall tent or cabin with hot drinks between sky-gazing sessions.
👉Learn more about ideal timing in our guide to the best time to see the northern lights.
❄️Ready to go? Book a guided winter Northern Lights tour departing from Whitehorse, or compare more departures across our Northern Lights tours in Canada.
©Gov’t of Yukon / Cathie Archbould
2. Drive Your Own Dog Sled Team
Nothing captures the spirit of northern history like dog sledding in the Yukon. Instead of simply sitting back in a passenger basket, guided dog mushing excursions give you the chance to stand on the runners, hold the handlebar, and drive your own team of eager Alaskan Huskies across frozen lakes and quiet boreal forests.
Steering a sled through the silent boreal forest, with nothing but the crunch of snow and the sound of padding paws, is an unbeatable way to experience the North!
👉Experience the rush firsthand on a dog sledding adventure.
©Taylor Burk Photography INC, ©NWT Tourism / CTC
3. Soak in Hot Springs While It Snows
Soaking in rich mineral water while cold air turns your hair to ice is a classic Yukon right of passage!
The historic springs, historically known as Takhini Hot Springs, now operate under Eclipse Nordic Hot Springs.
👉This facility features natural mineral pools (kept at around 40°C / 104°F), Scandinavian-style saunas, steam rooms, and outdoor relaxation areas. During sub-zero winter temperatures, it is also famous for hosting the International Hair Freezing Contest, where bathers sculpt frozen hairstyles right out of the steaming water!
4. Try Ice Fishing on a Frozen Lake
Ice fishing offers a serene counterpoint to high-adrenaline winter activities. Guided ice fishing trips bring you out onto frozen lakes surrounded by snow-capped peaks, where you drill through thick ice to fish for lake trout or Arctic char.
Most guided experiences provide heated ice huts, warm drinks, all necessary tackle, and expertise to ensure beginners have a successful day on the ice.
©Gov’t of Yukon
5. Snowmobile Through the Backcountry
For those looking to explore vast stretches of untouched wilderness, snowmobiling (or “ski-dooing”) is unmatched. A guided snowmobile tour allows you to cover distances impossible on foot, zooming along mountain ridges, across wide valleys, and along forested trails.
💡The best part is that beginners do not need prior experience. Guides usually provide full safety briefings, thermal gear, and route navigation so you can enjoy the thrill safely.
6. Snowshoe or Fat Bike the Trails
If you prefer self-powered recreation, snowshoeing and winter fat biking are fantastic things to do in Whitehorse in winter. Whitehorse boasts an extensive network of multi-use trails right at its doorstep, for example:
- Chadburn Lake Park: Offers miles of groomed winter trails through quiet pine forests and frozen lake shorelines.
- Grey Mountain Trails: Great for scenic viewpoints overlooking the Yukon River valley.
Local outfitters in Whitehorse rent both snowshoes and fat bikes (💡Fat bikes are bicycles equipped with extra-wide tires designed to roll over snow).
©Govt of Yukon / Yukon Wildlife Preserve
7. Meet Arctic Wildlife at the Yukon Wildlife Preserve
Located just 25 minutes from downtown Whitehorse, the Yukon Wildlife Preserve offers 700 acres of natural habitat for northern mammals.
Winter is arguably the best time to visit: the animals, including woodland caribou, muskoxen, Canada lynx, moose, thinhorn sheep, and Arctic foxes, are in their element, sporting thick winter coats that make for beautiful wildlife photography against the snow. You can explore the 5-kilometer loop trail on foot, by kick-sled, or via a guided bus tour.
©Gov’t of Yukon / SS Klondike National Historic Site, ©Gov’t of Yukon / Kwanlin Dun Cultural Centre
8. Explore Whitehorse: Museums, Food and Northern Culture
Whitehorse serves as the warm, welcoming hub for all Whitehorse winter activities. Between wilderness excursions, spend time soaking in northern heritage and local cuisine:
- MacBride Museum: Dive deep into First Nations history, the 1898 Klondike Gold Rush, and northern frontier life.
- SS Klondike: Stroll along the frozen Yukon River to admire this restored historic sternwheeler.
- Local Culinary Scene: Warm up at local spots for artisanal coffee, or sample award-winning craft beer brewed with glacier water.
9. Experience First Nations Culture at the Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre
Located along the banks of the Yukon River (Chu Ník), the Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre celebrates the heritage and contemporary art of the Kwanlin Dün First Nation.
Visitors can explore art exhibits, traditional hand-crafted beadwork, carving showcases, and educational displays.
©Inn on the Lake
10. Stay in a Remote Lakeside Lodge
If you ask seasoned northern travellers, staying at a cozy, wilderness-surrounded lodge is one of the absolute best ways to experience a Yukon winter.
Unlike staying in downtown Whitehorse, where viewing the northern lights requires getting dressed, getting into a vehicle late at night, driving out to a remote viewing site, and waiting around till past midnight before driving back to your hotel, a lodge-based stay puts you right under the night sky.
Far from light pollution, many of our Yukon winter packages like the Yukon Deluxe Winter Northern Lights feature lodge stays where you can step right outside your cabin door whenever the lights appear. You can spend the evening relaxing by a roaring fire, sipping hot cocoa, and watching the aurora dance over frozen lakes without leaving your accommodation.
Bonus: Time Your Trip to a Winter Festival
Winter in the Yukon is a season of celebration. If you visit during February, you can top off your trip by experiencing the northern community at its liveliest during annual winter festivals:
- Yukon Quest Dog Sled Race: Watch world-class mushers and elite sled dogs take on legendary long-distance trails. (💡Fun fact: Some of the dogs you’ll meet on our Yukon dog sledding tours have competed in the Yukon Quest themselves!)
- Yukon Sourdough Rendezvous: Whitehorse’s iconic winter festival featuring snow sculpting, chainsaw carving, flour-sack carrying, traditional fiddling, and costume contests.
- Available Light Film Festival: Canada’s largest winter film festival, screening high-profile Canadian and international films right in Whitehorse.
How Cold Is the Yukon in Winter and How Do You Prepare?
Whitehorse winter temperatures typically range between -10°C and -20°C (14°F to -4°F) during the day, occasionally dipping below -30°C (-22°F) during cold snaps. However, because the northern air is dry rather than damp, proper thermal base layers, an insulated winter parka, snow pants, and rated winter boots make outdoor activities surprisingly comfortable.
👉For a complete breakdown on staying cozy in sub-zero weather, check out our guide on what to pack for a Yukon winter.
How to start planning a Yukon adventure?
The good news is, you do not need weeks of planning or complex logistics to enjoy the iconic winter activities in the Yukon.
Multi-day tour packages usually bundle top experiences such as nightly aurora viewing, dog sledding, snowmobiling, ice fishing, and Yukon Wildlife Preserve visits, into seamless 4 to 5-day itineraries. Depending on the package you choose, round-trip flights from Vancouver to Whitehorse, comfortable hotel accommodations, transfers, and high-performance cold-weather outerwear rentals would also be handled for you.
Ready for your winter adventure? Plan your Arctic getaway with our Yukon winter tours.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best month to see the northern lights in the Yukon?
The best months to see the northern lights in the Yukon are from late August through mid-April, with December through March offering the longest dark night hours. Cold, clear winter nights provide excellent viewing conditions when solar activity is high.
What should I wear for Yukon winter activities?
Dress in three main layers: a moisture-wicking base layer (merino wool), an insulating middle layer (fleece or down), and a windproof, waterproof outer shell. Heavy-duty winter boots rated for cold weather, thermal socks, insulated gloves, and a warm toque (beanie) are essential. See our full Yukon winter packing guide for details.
Is the Yukon worth visiting in winter?
Yes, the Yukon is exceptionally rewarding in winter. It offers world-class northern lights viewing, bucket-list activities like dog sledding and ice fishing, breathtaking snow-covered landscapes, and a genuinely authentic northern experience.
Do you need a car for Yukon winter activities?
No, you do not necessarily need a car, especially if you book a Yukon winter tour package. Tour packages typically include airport transfers, shuttle service to activity sites, and nightly transport to aurora viewing locations, allowing you to relax and avoid driving on icy northern highways.
