Leave No Trace at 60° North: How to Be a Responsible Yukon Visitor

1. Stay off fragile ground, especially in a vehicle

A single boot print on tundra isn't the real concern, it's motorized vehicles that do the lasting damage. Tracks cut by ATVs, trucks, or other off-road vehicles into tundra and alpine ground can still be visible nearly a decade later; one well-documented Arctic study found vegetation still hadn't recovered to anything close to its original state nine years after a single pass, with lower plant cover and a completely different mix of species than the untouched ground beside it. This isn't hypothetical here, either: it's been a live issue in the Yukon for decades, and in 2021 the territorial government finally restricted off-road vehicles to designated trails across two special protection areas and all alpine terrain above 1,400 metres, roughly 18% of the territory's land. Stick to established trails and roads for any motorized travel, and walk on rock or gravel where you can when you're on foot.

2. Pack it in, pack it out

Carry out everything you bring, including food scraps and biodegradable waste, which decompose extremely slowly in the cold and can attract wildlife. Leave campsites and pull-offs cleaner than you found them.

3. Give wildlife space

Watch animals from a distance with binoculars or a long lens, never feed them, and never approach for a photo. A fed or habituated animal often ends up dead, so keeping wildlife wild is an act of protection. If you witness poaching, dumping, or wildlife being fed or harassed, the Turn In Poachers and Polluters hotline, 1-800-661-0525, exists specifically for reporting it.

4. Handle fire with care

Wildfire is a serious northern risk. Use established fire rings, keep fires small, never leave them unattended, drown them completely, and obey any fire bans. When in doubt, skip the campfire. Report any wildfire you spot at 1-888-798-3473.

5. Protect the water

Keep soap, food waste, and human waste well away from lakes, rivers, and streams. Use facilities where provided, and follow proper backcountry practices for waste where they're not.

6. Respect First Nations lands and culture

Much of the Yukon is the traditional territory of First Nations. Learn whose land you're on, follow local guidance, don't disturb cultural or historic sites, and support Indigenous-owned businesses.

7. Travel light and local

Choose local operators, minimise waste and single-use plastics, conserve fuel and water, and consider the shoulder seasons to ease pressure on peak-time hotspots. Small choices add up across thousands of visitors.

The privilege of experiencing a landscape this wild comes with responsibility. Tread lightly, and you help ensure the Yukon that moved you stays just as wild and pristine for everyone who follows.