Yukon 2008 Vacation Planner - 91

Yukon SCEnIC DRIVES Route Scenic lakeside roads wind from Whitehorse among six friendly Yukon communities and six enchanting Southern Lakes. Distance: 500 km Time recommended: 3 nights Features: Klondike Gold Rush history, Chilkoot Trail, Tagish and Tlingit cultures, Southern Lakes Activities: Fishing, boating and paddling on the Southern Lakes, hiking White and Montana mountains, Carcross and Teslin walking tours, visiting artists’ studios above: Hikers in the Carcross Desert – YG (Derek Crowe), below right: Johnsons Crossing Bridge – YG Trip Planning Places to visit: Mount Lorne, Carcross, Tagish, Marsh Lake, Teslin, Atlin, Whitehorse Whitehorse to Carcross: 73 km (1 hr) Whitehorse to Atlin: 182 km (2.5 hrs) • Whitehorse to Teslin: 181 km (2 hrs) • Carcross to Jakes Corner: 54 km (1 hr) • • Maze of Waterways The Southern Lakes Circuit carries travellers into the Yukon’s playground of waterways. This interconnected system of glacier-fed lakes forms the headwaters of the Yukon River. The circuit is comprised of four scenic highways joining the waterfront communities of Whitehorse, Mount Lorne, Carcross, Tagish, Marsh Lake, Teslin and Atlin. Boat launches, marinas and campgrounds are located at several strategic locations in the Southern Lakes Region. Lakeside pullouts and recreation sites offer launching points for picnics, beach days, canoeing and kayaking. Local hideaways line the route—plan your journey with ample time for stops at lodges, bed & breakfasts and artists’ studios. Tagish, Atlin, Teslin and Marsh Lakes A short drive connects historic Carcross to Tagish, a cottage community on the Six Mile River joining Marsh and Tagish lakes. Cabins, a marina and campground line the Six Mile, a strategic section of river where the North West Mounted Police established a key post during the gold rush of 1898. The Atlin Road begins west of Jakes Corner near the base of Mount White and winds past long narrow lakes, campgrounds and fishing holes to Atlin. Now the gateway to Atlin Provincial Park, this northern B.C. town on Atlin Lake was once the site of a gold rush of its own. The park is a spectacular collection of islands, inlets, glaciers and bays. Continue the circuit with a visit to Teslin, a scenic community on Teslin Lake and 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. Return to Whitehorse via Marsh Lake, a cottage and residential community with a range of tourism services and amenities. Stay overnight at a bed & breakfast, cabin, or resort, hike on the many trails, or take a rest stop at one of the several viewpoints. The Yukon River officially begins at the north end of Marsh Lake, and, like southern Yukon’s other large waterways, this beautiful lake beckons for boating, paddling and beach excursions. Highways travelled: South Klondike Highway #2, Alaska Highway #1, Tagish Road #8 and Atlin Road #7 Yukon and Community Visitor Information Centres: Whitehorse, Carcross, Teslin Local Attractions Carcross historic buildings Carcross Visitor Information Centre • White Pass & Yukon Route Railway • Tagish Bridge • George Johnston Museum • Teslin Tlingit Heritage Centre • Atlin Museum • Atlin Provincial Park • Swan Haven Interpretive Centre • • Carcross Culture and Heritage From the capital city, drive into the Southern Lakes Region on the South Klondike Highway. Aquamarine lakes and hikeable peaks line the route through Mount Lorne; then Lake Bennett beaches and panoramic views beckon around Carcross. Carcross forms the crossroads to the Klondike, where Yukon River headwaters, the highway and the White Pass & Yukon Route Railway converge. Originally called Caribou Crossing for the herd of caribou that swam the narrows between Bennett and Nares lakes, Carcross is a delight to historians and photographers. Century-old buildings, a train bridge and a breathtaking mountain backdrop greet visitors. Skookum Jim, the Tagish prospector who launched the Klondike Gold Rush with his Bonanza Creek gold strike, hailed from this area. travelyukon.com 91

Yukon 2008 Vacation Planner

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