Skip to main content
Usitour
Whitehorse

Whitehorse Travel Guide

Yukon's capital: a Klondike Gold Rush hub and aurora city under the midnight sun, gateway to Kluane glaciers.

📍 Destination Overview

Whitehorse, capital of Canada's Yukon, sits on the Yukon River — named for the white-maned rapids once found here — and rose to prominence as the hub of the 1898 Klondike Gold Rush. The paddlewheeler SS Klondike rests on the riverbank as the city's landmark; the turquoise water of Miles Canyon cuts through basalt walls, and the Whitehorse fishladder tracks each year's salmon run. Winters bring superb aurora viewing, while around the summer solstice daylight stretches nearly 20 hours. The city is also the gateway to UNESCO-listed Kluane National Park and historic Dawson City, and the end of the Alaska Highway.

🏞️ Location
Capital of Yukon, Canada
on the Yukon River
🗓️ Best season
Jun
Aug midnight sun / Nov—Mar aurora
🕐 Time difference
-15 vs Beijing (-16 in winter)
💰 Currency / Language
Canadian dollar CAD / English
🕐 Suggested duration
2
3 days — canyon + sternwheeler + aurora
🔌 Plug / Voltage
Type A/B · 120V · adapter needed

☀️ Best Time to Visit & Climate

☀️ Summer: Jun–Aug
Midnight-sun season with mild temperatures — canyon hikes, paddling and road trips.
🌌 Aurora Season: Nov–Mar
Long dark nights for northern lights, plus snowmobiling and hot springs — pack serious warm gear.
January
❄️
-13°/-22°
February
❄️
-8°/-17°
March
❄️
-1°/-11°
Aurora
April
🌤️
8°/-3°
May
☀️
15°/2°
June
☀️
20°/7°
Best
July
☀️
21°/9°
Best
August
☀️
19°/7°
Best
September
🌤️
13°/3°
October
🌧️
4°/-3°
November
❄️
-7°/-13°
Aurora
December
❄️
-12°/-20°
Aurora

📷 Top Attractions

Vuntut National Park
No.1 Whitehorse
Vuntut National Park
Vuntut National Park in northwestern Yukon preserves vast arctic tundra and wetlands, home to the Porcupine caribou herd and the traditional lands of the Gwitch'in people.
National Park & Nature

🎯 Whitehorse Experiences

Miles Canyon
Turquoise Yukon River through basalt walls — an easy half-hour loop.
SS Klondike
National historic site sternwheeler from the gold-rush era.
Aurora viewing
Drive out of town on clear winter nights for vivid northern lights.
Kluane National Park
Gateway to a UNESCO glacier wilderness and Mount Logan.
Takhini Hot Springs
Soak outdoors at -20°C amid steam and ice crystals.
Whitehorse has a subarctic climate: long frigid winters (January around -13/-22°C) and cool summers (July around 21/9°C). Visit June–August for the midnight sun and outdoor adventure, or November–March for prime northern lights — bring extreme-cold gear.

🚌 Transport & Stays

City Transport
✈️
Air
Erik Nielsen Whitehorse Airport links Vancouver, Whitecourt and more.
CAD 200-500
🚗
Car
End of the Alaska Highway — epic but sparse services.
CAD 80-120/day
🚌
Bus
Seasonal services to Skagway and Dawson City.
CAD 100-200
Recommended Stay Areas
🏨 Downtown / Main St
Walk to riverside sights and restaurants.
🌌 Out-of-town aurora lodges
Light-free cabins — step outside for the lights.
♨️ Near Takhini Hot Springs
Hot-spring cabins for winter soaks.
🌲 Riverside campgrounds
Summer camping under the midnight sun.
Free Consultation

Free Consultation

1-on-1 travel consultant customizes your Whitehorse trip for free based on your schedule and preferences.