The YukonCarcross
Carcross is the easiest day trip out of Whitehorse, about 75 km and an hour's drive south. Stop at the Emerald Lake viewpoint for the turquoise photo everyone takes, then spend some time in Carcross itself: Caribou Crossing Coffee in Carcross Commons for coffee, pastries, and a look at the local First Nations artwork on display, the Bistro on Bennett for a proper lunch or dinner, the beach along Bennett Lake, and the world's smallest desert just outside town. If you've got energy left, Montana Mountain has trails ranging from an easy wander to a serious mountain bike descent. A full loop with stops runs 5 to 6 hours.
Skagway and/or Haines
This is a real day, and it needs a passport, since both towns are in Alaska. If you can spare two days instead of one, splitting this into the classic Golden Circle route (Whitehorse to Skagway, ferry or drive to Haines, back through Haines Junction) is a much better use of the drive than cramming both towns into a single long day. Either way, budget for border crossings adding real time on top of the driving itself.
Haines Junction
This one's simpler: just a beautiful drive. The Alaska Highway west from Whitehorse to Haines Junction runs along the edge of Kluane National Park, and the mountains only get bigger the closer you get. It's a good half-day trip on its own, or the natural first leg if you're continuing on toward Kluane Lake and Sheep Mountain for wildlife.
Haines Junction is also the launching point for the bigger adventures into Kluane, most notably icefield flightseeing with operators like Kluane Glacier Air Tours or Icefield Discovery, which fly over Mount Logan and the largest non-polar icefield in the world. For a full rundown of what's on offer in town, hainesjunction.ca keeps a current list of activities and points of interest.
Miles Canyon, the canyon trails, and Canyon City
Fifteen minutes from downtown, Miles Canyon is the easiest real outing on this list; the suspension bridge trails alone are about 90 minutes round trip. If you want more, the trail network continues to Canyon City, the site of the old tramway that stampeders used to portage boats around the rapids during the gold rush. For the fuller version of that history, see our Klondike Gold Rush route, which covers Miles Canyon and Canyon City as one stop on the larger stampeder trail.
A day paddle
If you'd rather be on the water than beside it, a handful of local outfitters, including Kanoe People and Up North Adventures, rent canoes and kayaks for multi-hour paddles, guided or unguided. The two classic routes are through Miles Canyon and Schwatka Lake just south of downtown, or north on the Yukon River from downtown out to the Takhini River confluence and beyond. Either one is a full, satisfying day without requiring any real paddling experience.
The White Pass and Yukon Route railway
The narrow-gauge railway that once carried stampeders and now carries visitors runs out of Skagway, Fraser, and Carcross, and any of the three is doable as a day trip from Whitehorse. It's the easiest way to see the White Pass without driving it yourself, and it traces the same route the gold rush actually took over the mountains.
Questions, answered
Do I need to pack a lunch?
For Skagway, Haines, and Haines Junction, yes, options are limited along the way. For Carcross and Miles Canyon, food is available.
Best time of day to leave Whitehorse?
8 to 9 am. You'll catch better morning light, more wildlife activity, and get ahead of the tour bus schedules at Emerald Lake.
Do I need a passport for any of these?
Only for Skagway and Haines, since both are in Alaska. The rest stay entirely within the Yukon and BC.
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