With endless daylight stretching deep into the night, Canada's Yukon Territory is a summer playground like no other. Beneath the glow of the midnight sun, this northern wonderland offers an unparalleled canvas for adventure seekers and nature lovers alike. Whether you're hiking through untouched wilderness, paddling historic rivers, or spotting wildlife under a never-fading sky, the Yukon's extra hours of sunshine ensure you'll pack more thrills into every unforgettable day. Read on for some of the best ways to soak up the sun.

Explore Kluane National Park

Home to Canada's highest peaks (Mount Logan takes the crown), the world's largest non-polar icefields, and lush alpine meadows, this UNESCO World Heritage Site offers breathtaking scenery and incredible wildlife encounters, from grizzlies to Dall sheep. Summer's long daylight hours provide ample time to explore diverse trails, from easy walks to challenging backcountry routes. Join an expert guide with Yukon Guided Adventures to learn about the park's geology, ecology, and Indigenous history.

Alternatively, Indigenous-owned Who What Where Tours provides day trips from Whitehorse along the famous Alaska Highway, with stops along the way and wildlife viewing opportunities. Whether trekking past turquoise glacier-fed lakes or enjoying panoramic views from mountain ridges, Kluane National Park is a bucket-list destination that celebrates the rugged beauty of Canada's wilderness.

Take a bird's-eye view

For a different vantage point, explore Kluane National Park by air. Icefield Discovery Tours takes you over the jaw-dropping Saint Elias Mountain Range, with its glittering blue glaciers and roaming bears and moose. For the experience of a lifetime, make a safe landing on the icefields for a view of Mount Logan, the tallest mountain in all of Canada.

For a heli-tour like no other, lift off from the Whitehorse's base camp and take flight on the Country Alpine Tour. You'll soar over Whitehorse and take in some of the Yukon's tallest peaks, alpine ridges, and the beautiful Lake Laberge. Your return flight takes you over the Yukon River and Canyon City, a northern port for riverboats during the gold rush era, as well as Miles Canyon.

The catch of a lifetime

Almost every Yukon community is close to a body of water, so you won't have to go far to find somewhere to cast your line. Lakes, rivers and streams are home to numerous species including rainbow trout and salmon. Stay at Ruby Range Wilderness and Fishing Lodge, set along the most remote reaches of Kluane Lake, ideal for wildlife viewing, photography, canoeing, kayaking, and hiking. The pure waters are home to healthy populations of lake trout, Arctic grayling, northern pike, whitefish, burbot and inconnu. A few casts before dinner could add fresh fish to the menu—a delicious lake-to-plate take on farm-to-table dining.

Alternatively, head out in a boat for a day trip with Yukon Fishing Adventure, or take a float plane with Wilderness Fishing Yukon to one of seven outpost fishing camps or two luxury wilderness lodges for a world-class fishing experience. Yukon fishing licenses are available online from some tour operators and at various places throughout the territory. Please note that Kluane and Ivaavik National Parks require a separate Parks Canada fishing license.

For a true bucket-list wilderness fishing adventure, escape to Tincup Wilderness Lodge, situated on the shore of Tincup Lake close to Kluane National Park. Surrounded by kilometres of pristine forests and the Ruby Range mountains, the lodge can only be reached by floatplane or helicopter. With guests limited to 8-10 per week, Tincup provides a rare opportunity to connect with nature, yourself and, of course, your trusty fishing reel. Fish for Lake Trout, Arctic Grayling, Northern Pike, Burbot, Whitefish and even the Chinook Salmon, with a strict, catch, photograph and release rule applied to ensure a plentiful supply of fish for future generations.

Two-wheel explorations

Yukon's breathtaking cycling routes offer something for all levels of fitness. The Millennium Trail in Whitehorse runs along the Yukon River and crosses two bridges to form a loop. It connects to the downtown Waterfront Trail with access to attractions, shopping and lots of places to lock up and grab a snack.

For a longer ride through beautiful wilderness, the Southern Lakes loop leads to beaches and to Carcross' historic and cultural attractions. Head the opposite direction toward Haines Junction and become a part of the panoramic scenery beneath the Saint Elias Mountain Range. Or satisfy your sense of adventure with a multi-day ride to Dawson City, roughly following the river route of the Klondike gold seekers.

Just 15 minutes from Whitehorse, Mount Sima is a formidable alpine adventure park all year round. During the long summer days, beginner mountain bikers love the 3.9-kilometre flow trail starting at the very top of Mt Sima, while intermediates can pick up speed on the single-track trail, straight from the chairlift, featuring fun features and rock slabs. Single track slayers can brave the rock slabs, down ramps and bridges decorating the numerous hair-raising black runs. Bikes and protective gear can be rented at Icycle Sports in Whitehorse and delivered to the mountain.

Canoe the Yukon River

You don't have to go far for fantastic paddling. The Yukon River runs right through the capital city of Whitehorse, rich in history and culture. Follow the gold seekers' route and drift past centuries-old sites of First Nation fish camps and meeting places. Full-day canoe tours on the Yukon River are provided by Up North Adventures, perfect for beginners and experienced paddlers alike, while Kanoe People offers everything from half-day paddling excursions on the Yukon River from downtown Whitehorse, to a 7-9 day adventure combining the traditional canoe with an exciting floatplane or boat ride into the Yukon wilderness. 

For spectacular scenery and unique wildlife viewing, it doesn't matter if you're a beginner paddler or a pro. The Yukon doesn't discriminate!

How to get to the Yukon

Air Canada offers daily direct flights to Vancouver from Sydney and Brisbane. Direct flights from Sydney to Vancouver are also available on Qantas. Internal flights to Whitehorse and Dawson City are available on Air North and Air Canada. Additionally, travellers now have the ability to combine WestJet and Air North on a single ticket or itinerary, offering seamless baggage transfer and convenience across Air North's network and more than 100 WestJet destinations.

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