Yukon 2008 Vacation Planner - 87

Yukon SCEnIC DRIVES Route The historic Alaska Highway crosses into the Yukon through Watson Lake, near the B.C. border, and exits near Beaver Creek at the Alaska border. Distance: 910 km (one-way) Time recommended: 5 nights Features: Alaska Highway history, First Nations cultures, Whitehorse attractions, Kluane National Park Activities: Camping, wildlife viewing, fishing and hiking, walking tours, shopping, flightseeing, visiting cultural and heritage attractions Trip Planning Places to visit: Watson Lake, Teslin, Marsh Lake, Whitehorse, Haines Junction, Destruction Bay, Burwash Landing, Beaver Creek • Information Centre in downtown Whitehorse for information on events, attractions and activities throughout the territory. The Yukon River flows through downtown and a network of trails surrounds the city. The carefully restored S.S. Klondike, the largest sternwheeler to ply the Yukon River, is a Parks Canada National Historic Site. The Yukon Transportation Museum shares Yukon’s transportation legacy, and the Beringia Centre interprets the Yukon’s ice age history. Whitehorse has a large community of talented artists, many major art galleries, and several museums. above: Driving into Haines Junction – YG, below: Black bear – YG Gateway to the Yukon Watson Lake is the first Yukon community to greet Alaska Highway travellers. The history of the town is closely linked to construction of this renowned highway during World War II. The Watson Lake Visitor Information Centre interprets the remarkable story of the Alaska Highway. Right next door is the town’s world-famous Sign Post Forest. The Northern Lights Centre is dedicated to the science and folklore of the aurora borealis. In Watson Lake, visit the trails, sandy beach and outdoor waterslide at Lucky Lake, and spend an afternoon birdwatching at Wye Lake in the heart of town. Golf, day adventures and camping are located nearby. kluane Country Two hours beyond Whitehorse lies the picturesque mountain village of Haines Junction. Nestled at the edge of Kluane National Park, Haines Junction is a popular starting point for glacier flightseeing, hiking, canoeing and river rafting. From Haines Junction to Beaver Creek, the Alaska Highway parallels the majestic outer rim of Kluane National Park and Kluane Wildlife Sanctuary. Kluane is the Yukon component of the largest internationally protected area in the world and home to grizzly bears, moose, wolves, Dall’s sheep and mountain goats. Beyond the front ranges lies Mount Logan, Canada’s highest peak. This scenic highway weaves northward between a sweeping mountain range and deep blue Kluane Lake, the largest lake in the Yukon. The communities of Destruction Bay and Burwash Landing are situated on the shore of this glacier-fed lake. Stop at the Tachäl Dhäl (Sheep Mountain) Visitor Centre to look for bands of Dall’s sheep on the slopes, and visit the Kluane Museum of Natural History in Burwash Landing to view First Nations’ cultural displays and wildlife dioramas. At the northern edge of Kluane Country is Beaver Creek, the most westerly community in Canada. Beaver Creek lies a few kilometres from the Yukon/Alaska border on the Alaska Highway, a convenient stopover with a range of visitor services. Watson Lake to Whitehorse: 454 km (5 hrs) Whitehorse to Haines Junction: 159 km (2 hrs) Haines Junction to Beaver Creek: 298 km (3.5 hrs) • • Highways travelled: Alaska Highway #1 Yukon and Community Visitor Information Centres: Watson Lake, Teslin, Whitehorse, Haines Junction, Beaver Creek Local Attractions Sign Post Forest/Watson Lake Visitor Information Centre • Northern Lights Centre • Historical Airport Terminal • George Johnston Museum • Teslin Tlingit Heritage Centre • Yukon Transportation Museum • S.S. Klondike National Historic Site • Kluane National Park Visitor Information Centre • Tachäl Dhäl (Sheep Mountain) • Kluane Museum of Natural History • Mount Logan and St. Elias Icefields • Beaver Creek Visitor Information Centre • Home of the Inland Tlingit Located approximately halfway between Watson Lake and Whitehorse, Teslin Lake is a popular destination for fishing and boating. The scenic lakeside community of Teslin is the home of the Inland Tlingit. Visit the George Johnston Museum to view the Yukon’s largest collection of Tlingit artifacts and learn about the Alaska Highway and the Tlingit people. The Teslin Tlingit Heritage Centre provides a venue for local artists and craftspeople to showcase their work. The talented hands of Tlingit artists nurture a Yukon carving tradition established by their ancestors. The Wilderness City Whitehorse has it all—wilderness out the back door, and modern living in town. This colourful capital city is a natural base for a Yukon visit. Make your first stop the Visitor travelyukon.com 87

Yukon 2008 Vacation Planner

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Yukon 2008 Vacation Planner