There are strange things done in the midnight sun
By the men who moil for gold;
The Arctic trails have their secret tales
That would make your blood run cold;
The Northern Lights have seen queer sights,
But the queerest they ever did see
Was that night on the marge of Lake Lebarge
I cremated Sam McGee.
Imagine viewing the fantastic Aurora Borealis in a pristine wilderness setting. In the Yukon Territory, it's possible!
What is the best time to see the aurora? Our Yukon summers are blessed with
nearly 24 hours of daylight, and it's not until the dark nights return that the Northern Lights
are visible. From about the middle of August until the end of April is our aurora-viewing season.
The longest night is December 21st, so that's also the night that gives the most hours so see
a display.
The auroral displays can't be forecast more than 4-5 days ahead (which is
unfortunate as far as trip planning is concerned), but
researchers at the University of Alaska Fairbanks do make forecasts -
click here to see the
current outlook.
In addition to aurora viewing, the Yukon offers the following activities in the winter:
- cross-country skiing or snowshoeing;
- snowmobiling and ice fishing;
- dog sledding;
- until the lakes freeze, boat trips;
- outings to Takhini Hot Springs, which is only a 25-minute drive away from downtown Whitehorse.
Our Winter Photo Album will give you an idea of how beautiful
a Yukon winter is!
