Attractions in Northern Canada & Arctic
Aurora lights, gold rush history, and the midnight sun 🌌🦌❄️
Showing 59 attractions · Sorted by importance
Akshayuk Pass
📍 Pangnirtung
🥾 Hiking & Cycling97km expert 8-12 day trek through a glacial valley with iconic granite peaks and roughly 500m elevation gain. Equipment rental: Local outfitters in Pangnirtung (nunavuttourism.com).
Chilkoot Trail
📍 Skagway
🥾 Hiking & Cycling53km challenging 3-5 day historic hike through coastal mountains to the Yukon interior with 1,125m elevation gain. Equipment rental: Up North Adventures (upnorthadventures.com).
Kluane National Park and Reserve
📍 Haines Junction
🌲 NatureA UNESCO World Heritage site home to Canada's highest peak, Mount Logan, and the world's largest non-polar icefields, offering stunning glacier views.
Nahanni National Park Reserve
📍 Fort Simpson
🌲 NatureA legendary UNESCO site featuring the massive Virginia Falls, deep river canyons, and unique limestone cave systems accessible by floatplane.
Nunatta Sunakkutaangit Museum
📍 Iqaluit
🖼 Art GalleryHoused in a historic red Hudson's Bay Company building, this museum displays an exceptional collection of Inuit carvings, prints, and artifacts.
Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre
📍 Yellowknife
🖼 Art GalleryThe Northwest Territories' premier museum and art gallery features extensive collections of Indigenous art and northern heritage exhibits.
S.S. Klondike National Historic Site
📍 Whitehorse
🏘 Town / VillageOne of the largest sternwheelers that plied the Yukon River, now a restored landmark offering family-friendly tours of life on the water.
The Alaska Highway (Yukon Section)
📍 Watson Lake
🚗 Road TripApproximately 1,000km paved highway (4-6 days) through the heart of the Yukon. Key stops include the Sign Post Forest in Watson Lake and the massive glaciers and peaks of Kluane National Park and Reserve.
The Dempster Highway
📍 Dawson City
🚗 Road Trip740km well-maintained gravel road (3-4 days) crossing the Arctic Circle to Inuvik. It is Canada's only all-weather road to the Arctic. Highlights include Tombstone Territorial Park's granite peaks and vast tundra landscapes.
The Klondike Highway
📍 Whitehorse
🚗 Road Trip715km paved highway (3-5 days) tracing the 1898 Gold Rush route from Skagway, Alaska, through Whitehorse to Dawson City. Features include the Carcross Desert, Emerald Lake, and the Yukon River.
Wood Buffalo National Park
📍 Fort Smith
🌲 NatureCanada's largest national park and a UNESCO site protecting the world's largest herd of free-roaming wood bison and vast salt plains.
Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race
📍 Whitehorse
🎭 EventFebruary, 10–14 days. Widely considered the "toughest sled dog race in the world," this 1,000-mile (1,600 km) international competition traditionally runs between Whitehorse, Yukon, and Fairbanks, Alaska. It attracts mushers and global media from across the world, commemorating the historic Klondike Gold Rush mail routes. Family-friendly activities include public "meet the musher" events, dog-team viewings, and festive banquets at the start and finish lines.
Arctic Ocean Shoreline
📍 Tuktoyaktuk
⛱ BeachThe only location in Canada where the Arctic Ocean is accessible by public road, allowing visitors to experience the icy waters of the Beaufort Sea.
Eclipse Nordic Hot Springs
📍 Whitehorse
♨ Hot Spring36-42°C natural mineral pools containing high concentrations of calcium, magnesium, and iron. This modern Nordic-style facility features four outdoor pools, saunas, steam rooms, and clay treatments. The water flows from a deep primary source at 47°C and is famous for the annual Hair Freezing Contest.
Yukon Wildlife Preserve
📍 Whitehorse
🐄 FarmA vast wildlife park where families can view iconic northern species like muskox, elk, and lynx in their natural habitats.
MacBride Museum of Yukon History
📍 Whitehorse
🏘 Town / VillageYukon's oldest museum offers families a look at the territory's past, from Indigenous culture and wildlife to the gold rush and city history.
Snowking Winter Festival
📍 Yellowknife
🎭 EventMarch, 31-day winter festival. A world-renowned celebration of Northern arts and community spirit held inside a massive, intricately designed fortress built entirely from snow and ice on the frozen Great Slave Lake. The festival features an international snow carving competition, an operational ice auditorium for concerts, ice slides, and art galleries. It is recognized globally as one of the world's premier ice festivals, drawing thousands of visitors to the Arctic during peak Aurora Borealis season.
Tombstone Territorial Park
📍 Dawson City
🌲 NatureOften called the 'Patagonia of the North,' this park features striking black granite peaks and vibrant tundra accessible via the Dempster Highway.
Yukon Arts Centre
📍 Whitehorse
🖼 Art GalleryYukon's leading contemporary art gallery showcases regional and national artists in a professional, world-class exhibition space.
Yukon Beringia Interpretive Centre
📍 Whitehorse
🔬 ScienceA fascinating look at the Ice Age history of the Yukon featuring life-sized woolly mammoth replicas and ancient fossils.
Auyuittuq National Park
📍 Pangnirtung
🌲 NatureAn iconic Arctic landscape on Baffin Island known for its dramatic granite peaks, including the sheer vertical cliff of Mount Thor.
Beck's Kennels
📍 Yellowknife
🐄 FarmA world-renowned sled dog kennel where visitors can meet champion huskies and experience the traditional Arctic lifestyle through kennel tours.
Bennett Beach
📍 Carcross
⛱ BeachA stunning white-sand beach surrounded by snow-capped peaks, offering a popular summer destination for swimming and picnics in the Yukon.
Bush Pilots Monument
📍 Yellowknife
🏛 LandmarkAn iconic monument and lookout point offering the best panoramic views of Old Town and Great Slave Lake.
Canada Games Centre
📍 Whitehorse
🌊 Water ParkA massive multi-sport hub featuring a world-class aquatic centre with water slides, a lazy river, and a leisure pool for all ages.
Caribou Crossing Trading Post
📍 Carcross
🐄 FarmA popular roadside attraction featuring a husky puppy camp, a petting farm with goats and alpacas, and a northern wildlife museum.
Dawson City Museum
📍 Dawson City
🏰 CastleHoused in the majestic Neoclassical Old Territorial Administration Building, this museum explores the rich mining and social history of the Yukon.
Dredge No. 4 National Historic Site
📍 Dawson City
🏘 Town / VillageA massive wooden gold dredge that stands as a testament to the industrial scale of the Klondike Gold Rush, perfect for industrial history fans.
Grizzly Lake Trail
📍 Dawson City
🥾 Hiking & Cycling11km (one way) challenging 1-2 day hike with 797m elevation gain leading to dramatic jagged peaks. Equipment rental: Tombstone Interpretive Centre (yukon.ca).
Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk Highway
📍 Inuvik
🚗 Road Trip138km gravel road (2-3 hours) extending the Dempster Highway to the shores of the Arctic Ocean. Features unique 'pingo' ice-cored hills and the stark beauty of the Beaufort Sea coastline.
King's Throne Trail
📍 Haines Junction
🥾 Hiking & Cycling10km return challenging 4-6 hour day hike into a massive mountain cirque with 1,220m elevation gain. Equipment rental: Up North Adventures (upnorthadventures.com).
Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories
📍 Yellowknife
🏛 LandmarkA unique architectural landmark featuring a glass-domed chamber and extensive collections of Northern Indigenous art.
Long Lake Beach
📍 Yellowknife
⛱ BeachThe primary recreational beach for the Northwest Territories' capital, featuring a large sandy shore and supervised swimming areas within Fred Henne Territorial Park.
Mount Sima
📍 Whitehorse
🧗 AdventureA year-round mountain activity center offering downhill skiing and snowboarding in winter and lift-accessed mountain biking and hiking during the summer.
Old Town Yellowknife
📍 Yellowknife
🏘 Town / VillageThe historic lakeside heart of the city, featuring rustic log cabins, local artisan shops, and the famous Wildcat Cafe.
Palace Grand Theatre
📍 Dawson City
🏰 CastleA reconstructed Victorian-era theatre originally built during the Gold Rush, famous for its elegant facade and historic performances.
St. Jude's Anglican Cathedral
📍 Iqaluit
🏛 LandmarkA striking igloo-shaped cathedral that serves as the most recognizable architectural landmark in the capital of Nunavut.
The Dempster Highway Cycling Route
📍 Dawson City
🥾 Hiking & Cycling737km challenging 7-14 day gravel bike route across the Arctic Circle with over 5,000m total elevation gain. Bike rental: Icycle Sport (icyclesport.com).
The Waterfall Highway (NWT Highway 1)
📍 Enterprise
🚗 Road Trip400km paved route (1-2 days) from the Alberta border to Hay River and Fort Providence. Named for its spectacular access to Alexandra Falls, Louise Falls, and Lady Evelyn Falls.
Top of the World Highway
📍 Dawson City
🚗 Road Trip127km seasonal gravel road (3-5 hours) winding along mountain ridges high above the tree line. Offers panoramic views of the Yukon wilderness and crosses the border into Alaska at Poker Creek.
Whitehorse Cross Country Ski Club
📍 Whitehorse
⛷ Ski Resort650-750m elevation range, 0 downhill runs, 85km groomed trails, Nov-May season, 20km of lighted night trails and a world-class Nordic chalet facility.
Yellowknife Ski Club
📍 Yellowknife
⛷ Ski Resort160-200m elevation range, 0 downhill runs, 14km groomed trails, Nov-Apr season, features a large heated chalet, equipment rentals, and a biathlon range.
Alexandra Falls
📍 Hay River
🏔 Scenic ViewA spectacular 32-meter tall waterfall on the Hay River with easy access via boardwalks and viewing platforms.
Canol Heritage Trail
📍 Norman Wells
🥾 Hiking & Cycling355km expert 20-22 day trek following a WWII pipeline route through remote mountains with significant river crossings. Equipment rental: North-Wright Airways (north-wrightairways.com).
Our Lady of Victory Church
📍 Inuvik
🏰 CastleAn iconic Catholic church famously shaped like an igloo, serving as a unique architectural landmark in the Canadian Arctic.
Sign Post Forest
📍 Watson Lake
🏛 LandmarkA world-famous roadside attraction featuring over 80,000 signs left by travelers from around the globe.
Silver Trail
📍 Stewart Crossing
🚗 Road Trip110km paved and gravel road (1-2 days) exploring the historic silver mining region of the Yukon. Passes through the scenic towns of Mayo and Keno City, ending at the panoramic Keno Hill Signpost.
St. Jude's Cathedral
📍 Iqaluit
🏰 CastleA striking modern cathedral designed in the shape of a traditional igloo, representing the spiritual and cultural heart of the Inuit capital.
Apex Beach
📍 Iqaluit
⛱ BeachA scenic coastal area on Frobisher Bay known for its dramatic 12-meter tides, historic Hudson's Bay Company buildings, and Arctic shoreline views.
Arctic Circle Crossing
📍 Eagle Plains
🏔 Scenic ViewA famous landmark on the Dempster Highway where visitors can cross into the Arctic Circle and enjoy panoramic mountain views.
Arts Underground
📍 Whitehorse
🖼 Art GalleryA vibrant community art space and public gallery located in the heart of downtown, featuring rotating exhibitions of Yukon artists.
Iqaluit Aquatic Centre
📍 Iqaluit
🌊 Water ParkThe most modern aquatic facility in the Canadian Arctic, offering a lap pool and a leisure pool with spray features in a stunning contemporary building.
Mount Maichen Ski Hill
📍 Dawson City
⛷ Ski Resort320-420m elevation range, 9 groomed runs, community-run facility near Watson Lake with two T-bar lifts and panoramic views of the surrounding mountains.
Muktuk Adventures
📍 Whitehorse
🐄 FarmAn authentic northern dog-sledding ranch where visitors can interact with friendly huskies and learn about the lifestyle of Yukon mushers.
Unikkaarvik Visitor Centre
📍 Iqaluit
🏘 Town / VillageA cultural hub showcasing Inuit history, art, and life in the Arctic through interactive exhibits and traditional artifacts.
