Kluane National Park and Reserve in the far southwest of the Yukon holds the largest icefields outside the polar regions and some of Canada's highest mountains, including Mount Logan, and together with neighbouring parks it forms a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You cannot see most of it from the road, but the approach is spectacular and Haines Junction, the gateway community about two hours west of Whitehorse, makes a good base for a day. The guided day trip from Whitehorse leaves from downtown hotels at 8:30 am and lasts nine to ten hours. Stops include a pass-by of the park, the cultural centre in Haines Junction, time in town including lunch at the Village Bakery, a stop at the visitor information centre and a short walk on the Soldier's Summit Trail. A guide handles the driving and the commentary on geology, wildlife and First Nations heritage, and the tour is rated 4.7 from 26 reviews. It suits those who want a big landscape day and do not mind a long drive.
Expect a day of seeing rather than doing. Kluane's best-known experiences, such as flightseeing over the icefields and multi-day hikes, are summer activities, so a winter day trip is about scenery, wildlife-watching along the highway, the cultural centre and the small-town atmosphere of Haines Junction. The itinerary includes a hike on the Soldier's Summit Trail, which gives a taste of the area's history, and the tour calls for a moderate level of fitness. Reviewers describe crisp, sunny winter days on the trip, which tells you it operates in the cold season.
Plan your layers and your appetite. Winter conditions on the Alaska Highway can change quickly, so the guide may adjust stops for weather or road safety. Bring warm boots, a parka and a thermos, and expect lunch to be at the bakery in Haines Junction, where baked goods and hot food are the point. Pickup is only from downtown Whitehorse hotel lobbies, and the tour is not wheelchair accessible. Because the day is long, it works best when you have an easy morning before and an easy evening after.
Who it suits
Travellers with a spare day who want to see the Yukon's mountain scale, photographers and anyone who has seen Whitehorse's sights and wants to go further. If time is short, the Carcross and Emerald Lake trip is shorter, and a night of aurora viewing may be a better use of a single free evening. A summer visit opens up far more of the park, so treat this as the introduction.
What to expect
The experience
A guided full-day trip west on the Alaska Highway to Haines Junction and the edge of Kluane National Park, with a cultural centre visit, lunch and a short hike.
Best time
Clear days in any season; winter gives snowy mountain scenery, summer opens far more of the park.
How long
Nine to ten hours including driving, starting at about 8:30 am from downtown hotels.
Tips
Dress for the cold, expect moderate walking, and know that pickup is only from downtown Whitehorse hotels.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Landscape lovers who want a full day of mountains, small-town stops and highway scenery.
- Families
- Best for older children who can handle a long drive and a short hike.
- Couples
- A long scenic day with a cosy bakery lunch and wide-open views.
- Pair with
- An aurora tour on the following night, with a slow morning in between.
- Time needed
- A full day, nine to ten hours.
Good questions
How far is Kluane National Park from Whitehorse?+
Haines Junction, the gateway community, is roughly two hours west by road along the Alaska Highway, and the day trip lasts nine to ten hours in total.
Is the trip running in winter?+
Reviews describe cold, sunny winter trips, so it operates in the cold season; confirm the date you want when you book.
What does the day include?+
A guide, a vehicle, lunch with a stop at the Village Bakery and gratuities, with stops at the cultural centre, Haines Junction, the visitor information centre and the Soldier's Summit Trail.
Is it suitable for wheelchair users?+
No. The tour is not wheelchair accessible, and travellers should have a moderate level of fitness.
Where does it start?+
Pickup is offered only from downtown Whitehorse hotel lobbies, with a start time of about 8:30 am.
