Disclosure: Advertising and affiliate services, including Amazon Associates, help the cost of running my blog. Clicking ads or making purchases through affiliate links may, at no additional cost to you, earn me a small commission. I appreciate your support.
What better place for a Canadian winter wonderland adventure than Whitehorse in Yukon Territory. You’re all but guaranteed snow, and Whitehorse is the perfect mix of culture and outdoor activities, tied together in a charming (and walkable) city. Still not convinced? Check out some of my favorite things to do in Whitehorse this winter.
Getting to and around Whitehorse, YT
Canada is a big country – the second largest in the world after Russia. The Great White North is made up of 10 Provinces and 3 Territories. The Yukon is the westernmost of the three territories and lies north of British Columbia. Alaska borders the Yukon Territory to the west.
Given how far north the Yukon is, the easiest and quickest way to get to Whitehorse is to fly from one of Canada’s major cities. A flight from Vancouver is about 2 and a half hours.
You can explore Whitehorse without a vehicle – especially if relying on tours that include transportation. There are taxis at the airport, taking you the short distance into the city itself. And Whitehorse has local buses that you can take around town.
However, to best experience all that Whitehorse and the surrounding area have to offer I suggest renting a car. Even if you don’t rent a car for your entire stay, one or two days with a car will open up possibilities for further exploration.
TOP TIP: Rental cars are popular and often limited so make sure to book one as early as possible. We were only able to get a car for 2 day of our 6 days trip so had to rearrange our out-of-town plans to accommodate.
How cold is Whitehorse, Yukon?
The Yukon is cold. I’m not going to sugarcoat that. I visited in February and one night it got to minus 30°C (that’s -22°F). But it is a fantastically unique winter destination in Canada.
You’ll need a lot of layers and some good sturdy winter shoes, but with appropriate clothing you can enjoy a trip to Whitehorse without freezing your a$$ off completely.
Do not plan a trip to Whitehorse, or the Yukon, without making sure you’ve packed these items:
- Thick winter jacket – ski-style insulated coats are the best. I bought one with a zippered-in removable fleece layer
- Snow boots – the extra height, waterproof fabric and good sturdy soles means you’ll be prepared no matter how deep the snow gets
- All the thermal accessories – gloves, hat and scarf are all needed to make sure you keep as warm as possible
- Thick socks – merino wool socks are the coziest, but anything thick and comfortable – make sure your shoes are large enough to allow for extra thick socks
- Hand and foot warmers – you can easily find these in the dollar store or on Amazon. Open a pack when you’re cold and slip them in your shoes or gloves to keep your digits warm when outside for extended periods
Enjoying Whitehorse in the winter
Balance your day with outdoor time when it’s sunny and cozy indoor activities when it’s not. That’s probably the key to enjoying Whitehorse in the winter. Too long outdoors at one time and you might get so cold you won’t enjoy it.
There are some great little cafes and restaurants to warm up in when you need. When I was planning a lot of outdoor time I always carried a thermos of hot chocolate with me. The perfect way to warm up on the go.
Although Whitehorse and the Yukon Territory are known for their extreme cold in the winter, there are warmer days too. For that reason layers are your biggest friend just in case it’s not super cold. Plus, you won’t want to overheat when you go inside a store or a restaurant.
Best things to do in Whitehorse
Some of these activities are not seasonal and can be enjoyed year-round, however for the purposes of this post I’m going to talk about winter in Whitehorse. These are some of my top picks for enjoying Whitehorse in the colder months – a combination of indoor and outdoor activities.
Snowshoeing
If you haven’t been snowshoeing, you really should. It’s a low energy, easy winter activity. I’m not big on winter sports, but snowshoeing is like hiking…in the snow. Hitch a pair on snowshoes to the bottom of your winter boots, find a trail and go. It’s that easy.
In Whitehorse there are a number of fun trails outside of the city, you can check out All Trails for some of the best ones. There are also a couple of trails closer to the city. An easy one is the Black Street Stairs and Airport trail. Booking a tour will help if you don’t have a car.
TOP TIP: If in doubt of where to go, ask a local. One of the best trails we found was pointed out to us by a local, I still don’t even know what it was called. But the views were phenomenal.
MacBride Museum
Want to know more about the Yukon? This fantastic history museum is right downtown and a gem of a place to visit. Learn all about the first settlers of the Yukon, how Whitehorse grew as a city and stories of the First Nations from the area.
The city has a golden past which the MacBride Museum details alongside historic photographs and artifacts. Don’t leave without checking out the Cold Chamber. This is one of the best museums I’ve visited in a long time and is well worth seeing.
Dog Sledding
Wrap up warm to spend a few hours letting a bunch of dogs drag you around in the snow. On a sled, of course. It’s the best – and most unique – way to get around here in Whitehorse.
Half day and full day tours are available through a number of local companies. Just make sure to book in advance to avoid disappointment. Plus, at the end of it, you get to spend quality time with the dogs who are just all so happy and adorable.
Plan your vacation around watching the Yukon Quest dogsledding race which is one of the top things to do in Whitehorse each February. These epic races have the noisiest participants. The dogs can be heard blocks away yapping with excitement about getting to run in the snow.
Find some interesting street art
Just because Whitehorse is white with snow a lot of the time doesn’t mean there aren’t bright spots around the city. I was surprised at the number of colorful murals around Whitehorse.
Some of the major themes of the spectacular pieces of art involve First Nations art and history. That along with local landscapes and wildlife, they depict life in the Yukon through visual arts.
Glass blowing
Say what? Yes, you heard me right. One of the most unique things to do in Whitehorse has to be taking a glass blowing class. Lumel Studios in downtown Whitehorse has affordable and fun workshops that allow you to make your own souvenir.
Make a Christmas ornament, paperweight or bowl – choose your own colors for a completely personal design. The class is about an hour long and you’ll get step by step instructions. And if nothing else, you know it’ll be warm in here.
TOP TIP: Reserve your spot in advance, the team there are incredibly accommodating and helpful. Take an early morning class and grab a freshly baked cinnamon roll from Gather Café next door – they are divine!
Walk the Millennium Trail
Take a stroll down this urban trail for some views over the Yukon River and a bit of wildlife spotting. You might not have to go far before you catch a glimpse of a Bald Eagle or two looking for food over the partially frozen river.
The trail loop starts and ends in downtown Whitehorse and is just under 3-miles in length. The 4.5km trail can be done in an hour or so and is popular with locals as well as visitors. It’s flat and easy so don’t worry about it being a big hike.
Enjoy a brewery or two
One of my favorite things to do in Whitehorse – who am I kidding, I mean anywhere – is visit a local brewery. Yukon Brewing is just outside of the downtown area – a bus, taxi or designated driver are the best way to get there. From 2nd Avenue it’s about a 10 minute bus ride, or 5 minute drive. This is a great place to stock up on more local beer to take home.
Closer to the center of town is Polarity Brewing. They also serve food and have a good selection of seasonal and year-round brews on tap. Both are excellent breweries and if you can’t decide on a beer, make sure to order a flight of tasters.
Yukon Wildlife Preserve
Want to see some Canadian wildlife on your visit? The Yukon Wildlife Preserve is a fantastic place to do just that. Located about 25-minutes out of town, the Preserve is set over 700-acres and has more than ample space for it’s resident animals.
Driving here is easiest although the Preserve often has shuttle options – or you can book a tour like this one to take you there. Even in winter you can enjoy a couple of hours or more wandering around the Preserve. See elk, wood buffalo and moose – or if you’re really lucky you’ll spot the Arctic Fox.
See and buy some local art
Local artists often display their work at Arts Underground, along Main Street. The gallery is in the lower level of the Hougen Centre. Here you can buy some local artwork: paintings, jewelry or other items. Or simply go for a look around.
Be sure to wander to the other levels of the Hougen Centre. You’ll find historic photographs of Whitehorse on display leading to the art gallery. It’s really interesting to see how the city has changed – and how it hasn’t.
Shopping Yukon-made products
Downtown Whitehorse has some lovely little shops selling unique crafts and locally made products. Why not leave with some leather goods, or Northern Lights inspired tea/coffee? Definitely also stop by Mac’s Fireweed Books along Main Street for some Yukon-inspired titles. You’ll really get a feel for the place with some local history.
There are shops selling wall hangings and pottery – all of which are perfect for bringing a piece of the Yukon into your home. And even if you don’t make any glass ornaments yourself at the glass blowing studio you can stop by and pick up a few “here’s some I made earlier” pieces. Paperweights, Aurora-colored drinking glasses and more.
Eat good local food
I was pleasantly surprised at how good the food was in Whitehorse. As a remote place I didn’t expect to see such variety, especially with international food. But Whitehorse has some incredible restaurants.
Many restaurants make use of local ingredients, and their dishes are both creative and delicious. You may need to book reservations if a place allows it – or expect to wait for some of the most popular eateries. Wood Street Ramen was once such place – but the wait was worth it, and we even were served a beer while we waited for a table.
View the Northern Lights
This was perhaps the highlight of my trip – although with so many things to do in Whitehorse it was ridiculously hard to pick. Never having properly seen the Aurora Borealis we were disappointed to find that all local tours were fully booked. Then a last minute cancellation mixed with perfect timing made our northern lights dreams come true.
If you have a car you can of course head out of town to do some solo viewing – Fish Lake is a popular option. Or book this tour that I took – which includes round trip transportation, a camp fire and yurts to keep warm, and hot drinks. By the time you’ve stood outside for 3 hours you’ll be happier with this option.
TOP TIP: Check the Aurora forecast in advance for best possible viewing opportunities. Don’t risk not seeing the lights by not booking a tour in advance. Tours leave around 11am-midnight so be prepared for a late night.
The best way to experience Whitehorse
It’s my goal to see as much of Canada as I can, and I am beyond thrilled that I booked this last minute winter getaway to the northern city of Whitehorse. What a charming, and friendly place.
Locals were really nice, and very welcoming. The activities were unparalleled – and there really are so many things to do in Whitehorse. The natural surroundings are also spectacular, no matter what time of year you visit.
Everyone thinks of snow and ice when they think of Canada, so visiting Whitehorse in winter is a stereotypically Canadian experience. Embrace it, and you will have the time of your life in this fantastic city.
A great place for a few days, you can plan even longer if you’re big into the outdoors – one thing Whitehorse is famous for. Don’t let the plummeting temperatures put you off, this is somewhere not to be missed.
If you’ve enjoyed this post leave a comment or share using the social media buttons below. Have you visited the Yukon before? What things to do in Whitehorse are going to top your list after reading this?
This looks fun (but cold)! I didn’t realise there was so much stuff to do in this area!
Thanks for the great write up 🙂
With all that gear needed to keep warm I think I would have to hire it there – I’d never get it all in a suitcase! Those temperatures are crazy cold, and I can definitely say I’ve never been anywhere that cold.
Am surprised that they have a brewery there, are they able to grow hops etc in the Summer or is it all imported in and brewed in the area?
As I never got to see the Northern lights on my Iceland trip, looks like that is something that will certainly be on my list for a visit here.
The summer is apparently really good too so I’d imagine they were able to grow in the summer but honestly not sure. I can say that booking Air North – the easiest way to get there from Vancouver – you get 2 checked bags included in your ticket which really helped with the packing. We took a suitcase with all the winter clothing, and the second piece was our snowshoes which we took with us
I went into the Yukon on an Alaskan cruise and I knew right then that I wanted to return in the winter. I could check 2 things off my bucketlist…dog sledding and the northern lights. I was happy to read that they had some good restaurants and beer tasting. Fun things to do to escape the cold.
What a great post! I visited Whitehorse in summer 2018, and it makes me feel nostalgic 😊 My favourite spots were the Wildlife Preserve and Fireweed Books. I’d love to visit in winter, to see the Northern lights and a dogsledding tour. Keep up the good work 👍
You know Whitehorse is a favourite of mine! It’s such a walkable city and fun to explore, even in the freezing cold winter. Ice fishing is another great winter activity. Next time I’ll have to try glass blowing. This post makes me want to go back 😊
Fab post Emma! I have really fancied visiting White Horse in the summertime, but you are showing it also look fantastic (and sooo quintessentially Canadian) in the winter! I love that you even got to see a moose!
Oh yes, Whitehorse would indeed be the quintessential Canadian winter experience! Dog sledding, snowshoeing, craft brew, and northern lights! Sign me up! We, Canadians can handle -30 degrees – toque, mitts and all!
Whitehorse looks stunning in the winter! I love winter destinations. Dog sledding looks like so much fun! I’ve always wanted to take a glass blowing class – it’s such an intricate skill that also kinda terrifies me with something being that hot haha. Also, seeing a moose in the wild is on my bucket list – so COOL!
Oh Emma, as gorgeous as your pictures of Whitehorse in winter are, but there is no way in this world where I would voluntarily holiday in a winter destination. Minus 30 brrrrrrrr the ultimate Canada experience for sure! You may find me in one of those cosy ski huts and drinking a hot coffee instead.
Carolin
I have never experienced anything colder than -5 Celsius so -30 will be very testing but I’d be curious so see how long I can go without turning into an ice statue 🥶. I love the street art and the food sounds homely and comforting for the type of weather.
Although I had never heard of Whitehorse, I was completely surrendered to the snowy landscapes. So many interesting activities, breathtaking nature and northern lights caught my attention. It sounds like a very interesting destination despite the cold 🙂
Whitehorse during the winter seems a bit daunting for me. Winter is NOT my favorite season and I prefer to travel to warmer locations during the winter. However, seeing the wildlife at the preserve, the northern lights, and hikes seem like things I’d brave out in the cold of winter to visit Whitehorse.