City Profile: Whitehorse

Whitehorse call of the wild

Established during the Gold Rush, Whitehorse is the gateway to Canada’s true north, says Stuart Forster

The territorial capital of the Yukon is more than just a staging post for self-drive holidays. Established as a provisioning hub for miners during the Klondike Gold Rush of the 1890s, its downtown district's frontier-ofcivilisation feel is a draw in itself.

The pastel facades of stores on Main Street look much like those from the sets of Western movies. Refreshingly remote, Whitehorse has the best air quality of all Canada’s cities and it’s easy to explore the broad streets of its compact core on foot.

Star Struck

A bust of Jack London, the author of The Call of the Wild - a tale that was told in the 2020 movie of the same name, starring Harrison Ford as John Thornton, who ventures north with his dog, Buck - stands at the corner of Main Street and Fourth Avenue. Similarly, a bronze statue of a gold rush prospector and his dog also resides in the heart of the city.

Dog sledding and northern lights viewing count among winter activities popular in and around Whitehorse.

Close to the city, the aurora glass chalets at the Northern Lights Resort and Spa still have availability during the 2021-22 winter season. Meanwhile, Yukon Heli Ski is taking bookings for day trips from the territorial capital for the 2022 season.

Buses operate in Whitehorse but to explore the wilderness beyond visitors will need to hire a vehicle – motorhomes are a good choice – or join a group tour.

Nearby highlights include the country’s tallest mountain, Mount Logan, and the world’s largest non-polar icefield in Kluane National Park, two hours’ drive west along the Alaska Highway. The Carcross Desert, the smallest in the world, is less than an hour south of the city.

Served by Air Canada and Air North, Whitehorse is a two-hour-and-20-minute flight from Vancouver.

Paddle steamer s.s. KlondiKe

Top Experiences

Museums: Get the lowdown on the Klondike Gold Rush and First Nations’ stories in the MacBride Museum, which is built around a cabin-like telegraph office. The summer-only MacBride Copperbelt Mining Museum is a few miles out of town.

The White Pass and Yukon Railway:

The narrow-gauge system was built in 1898 to connect Whitehorse with Skagway in Alaska. Coaches now run to and from Fraser, in British Columbia, for the return trip over the White Pass Summit to Skagway. Winter fat biking: Terra Riders operate three-hour guided fat biking tours. Guests pause to appreciate the landscape - and maybe the northern lights.

The Robert Lowe Suspension

Bridge: Just outside the city, this provides outstanding views of the steep basalt walls of the Miles Canyon. Drinking holes: Lovers of craft beers can mosey into the likes of the Dirty Northern Bastard pub, the Gold Pan Saloon and the Winterlong Brewing Co’s taproom. Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre: This modern riverside building showcases the arts, crafts and heritage of the Kwanlin Dün First Nation, hosting artists in residence, interpretive events and dance acts. SS Klondike: Goods and people once travelled between Whitehorse and Dawson City on this paddle steamer, now a National Historic Site on the Yukon River.

Yukon Beringia Interpretative

Centre: This attraction near the airport explores the human settlement of North America and the Ice Age wildlife that used the land bridge linking Asia.

Book it with... Canadian Affair

The 15-night Yukon's Klondike Kluane Loop costs from £1,996pp including international and domestic flights, 14 days’ motorhome rental plus two nights' accommodation.. 0203 424 9789 canadianaffair.com