Provinces and Territories

About Yukon

Yukon is Canada’s land of mountains, rivers, and adventure. A funny fact about Yukon: more moose than people roam here—so your biggest traffic jam might have antlers too. From the rugged peaks of the St. Elias Mountains to the sweeping valleys carved by glaciers, this territory is pure northern wonder.

The name “Yukon” itself comes from the Gwich’in phrase Yu-kun-ah, meaning “Great River,” in honor of the mighty Yukon River that winds across the land. Indigenous peoples, including the Gwich’in, Hän, and Tlingit, have lived here for thousands of years, and their traditions continue to shape life and culture today.

The capital, Whitehorse, is nicknamed the “Wilderness City,” offering easy access to trails, rivers, and mountains. Yukon is also famous for the Klondike Gold Rush, which drew thousands of dreamers in search of fortune at the turn of the 20th century.

Today, visitors come for more than gold—they come for midnight sun hikes, dogsledding in winter, paddling the Yukon River, and the chance to experience one of the most untouched landscapes on earth.