Chasing Northern Lights in Yukon
I feel incredibly lucky to live out my dreams and travel the world with my husband. One of our bucket-list dreams is to see the Northern Lights all over the world.
In 2021, we travelled to Alaska and saw an amazing show in Fairbanks. 2024 promised incredible Northern Lights displays, and we couldn’t resist, so we embarked on a journey to Canada and were simply blown away.
Whitehorse in Yukon, Yellowknife in Northwestern Territories and Churchill, Manitoba are the three top destinations for Northern Lights in Canada. On this trip we decided to explore two of these three - Whitehorse & Yellowknife.
I’ll be sharing our experiences in Whitehorse in this blog post. Our trip to Yellowknife deserves its own post, as there are so many details to share.
Whitehorse
Whitehorse is a top destination for Northern Lights viewing. It is the capital of Yukon, one of Canada’s northern territories. It sits directly beneath the Aurora Oval, a prime spot for witnessing the Northern Lights. With long winter nights stretching from late August to mid-April, it promises plenty of opportunities to experience the magic of aurora.
Trip Duration
Even though Whitehorse is an amazing place to see the Northern Lights, it’s not a sure thing every night. Sometimes, the weather’s cloudy, and sometimes, the lights just aren’t playing. But the longer you stay, the better your chances of witnessing that incredible aurora borealis. Aurora watching is a game of patience :)
We visited in November and booked three nights, hoping to catch the Northern Lights. Another key takeaway from any aurora hunting trip is to have a backup plan. Luckily, Whitehorse has plenty to offer, from wildlife tours and hot springs to dog sledding and snowshoeing.
Accommodation
Yukon Black Spruce is a cozy getaway minutes away from Whitehorse downtown. The rooms are impeccably clean and comfortable, with thoughtful touches like easy-to-use lock codes that demonstrate a commitment to guest convenience. The room is also equipped with a well-stocked kitchen, board games for cozy evenings, and a tablet that provides real-time weather updates and aurora forecasts. It’s the perfect place for a romantic getaway.
The sauna is a fantastic amenity, easy to book and a perfect way to relax after a day of exploring. It is FREE, but you just need to pre-book it. This was our first time using a sauna, and we both loved it.
The story behind the hotel’s construction is fascinating and adds to the overall experience. There was a handbook in the cabin which was a lovely read. Laird is an amazing host and also helps with booking local tours in the area.
Renting a Car
We rented the car from Driving Force which was recommended by our cabin host and had great reviews. We had a good experience with them. The car pickup and drop off was at the airport itself.
Did you know? Whitehorse has a Visitor Parking Pass Program. As a part of it, visitors can obtain a free 3 day Parking Pass from the Yukon Visitor Information Centre. This allows you to park at parking meters for free.
Day 1
We started the day at Horwoods Mall. I grabbed a veggie bagel from Bullet Hole Bagels and Antriksh got a coffee from Baked Cafe & Bakery. Both were amazing!
Yukon Wildlife Preserve
We decided to check out Yukon Wildlife Preserve. This preserve prioritizes animal welfare and rehabilitation. The animals here are a mixture of animals that have been born and bred here, and others that are injured or abandoned. We saw musk ox, elk, moose, caribou, bighorn sheep and lynx.
The preserve can be explored on foot or in a regularly scheduled bus tour. The walking trail is 3.1 miles long.
Check out the trail on AllTrails — Yukon Wildlife Preserve.
It was quite cold so we decided to take a vehicle tour. The fee for the bus tour is ~30$. More details on the website here.
After the tour, we stopped at Bean North Coffee Roasting Co Ltd to get coffee before heading back to town.
Yukon Beringia Interpretive Centre
The Yukon Beringia Interpretive Centre explores the ancient land bridge of Beringia, showcasing Ice Age giants like woolly mammoths and showcasing the arrival of the first people in the Americas.
After a long day, we just strolled along downtown and enjoyed the lights around the city.
Aurora was a no show this night :( but we still had 2 more nights!
Day 2
We grabbed coffee at Midnight Sun Coffee Roasters and decided to checkout the Millennium Trail. It was freezing outside so we strolled along for 15 mins but didn’t stay there for long.
Fish Lake
Fish Lake is a great spot for watching aurora at night. We decided to scout the location during the day to prepare for our nighttime aurora hunt. The drive to the lake was truly magical, feeling like we were in a winter wonderland.
Fox Lake
This was another recommendation for the aurora hunt. This place was a bit far for a late night drive so we decided to just check it out in the day. Another frozen lake and a winter wonderland drive :)
Eclipse Nordic Hot Springs
Soaking in hot springs is a perfect way to unwind in the cold weather and is a must-do activity while visiting Whitehorse.
Takhini Hot Springs is a natural hot spring that First Nations people have used for centuries. It’s been popular in the Whitehorse area for a long time, despite the new and modern pools and amenities. The natural hot springs water from Takhini Hot Springs feeds the pools of Eclipse Nordic Hot Springs.
Once you check-in, there is an orientation video which explains the process. We received a basket to carry our belongings into the shower area. After showering and changing into our swimsuits, we exited the shower area and entered the main hot springs facility. There are a variety of unique rooms and pools, each with its own special character. We enjoyed the eucalyptus steam room and the outdoor pools the most.
Inside the facilities, you will leave your phone turned off and locked in the provided lockers. Enjoy the digital detox!
They also have a fun hair freezing contest that runs from December to March on days that are below -20 celsius (to make sure your hair actually freezes!). It was not yet cold enough for the hair freezing contest during our visit.
This was one of our best experiences in the city and I highly recommend it.
After a full day of activities, we were hungry for some ramen. Wood Street Ramen popped up on our search and we gave it a try. They even had vegetarian options which is rare! Both of us really enjoyed it.
The Northern Lights didn’t make an appearance again, which was a bit of a bummer at first. But we were having such a fantastic trip that we quickly moved on.
Day 3
We started the day by grabbing breakfast at Burnt Toast Cafe before heading out to Carcross.
Carcross
The town was originally called Caribou Crossing, as woodland Caribou migrate through the area. The species is protected here and you can still spot them when they migrate in the spring. We didn’t see any during our visit in November.
Bennett Beach Lookout
The town was completely deserted, but the stunning views of the Bennett lake made it all worthwhile.
Carcross First Nation Headquarters
The boardwalk is a delightful stroll showcasing First Nations artistry. The historical markers and statues are beautifully crafted and provide fascinating insights into the area’s past. And of course, the views of Grayling Bay are simply breathtaking.
Tagish Bridge Recreation Site & Marsh Lake
We started our journey back to Whitehorse, with few notable stops on the way. Tagish Bridge Recreation Site & Marsh Lake were beautiful.
Finally the Northern Lights!!
Finally the stars aligned and aurora was predicted for tonight! We decided to go checkout the lights at Annie Lake Road. It was a perfect spot away from city lights.
The whole experience was surreal. Watching the sky light up is just so magical.
📸 Photos
- Check out my instagram stories here. Don’t forget to follow me on Instagram for more travel inspiration (@hkasera).
- My husband Antriksh Saxena, captures amazing photos from his DSLR. Check out some of his photos of our trip on https://antrromet.com/northern-canada
Stay tuned for my next blog post, where I’ll share my experiences from our trip to Yellowknife.
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