Gone Fishing
Whitehorse has been named to the list of best fishing cities in the country and it’s no wonder with its pristine wilderness and endless lakes.
Yukon River Trail Marathon Returns
The Yukon River Trail Marathon is celebrating its 27th year and racers are encouraged to sign up early for 2026…
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Yukon Youth Conservation Corps
It’s hot and they’re eager to get on the road. This isn’t a summer vacation. It’s a day at “the office.” for the Youth Conservation Corps
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The Scoop on Poop
Catching a glimpse of an animal when out on the land can be a thrilling experience. In the vast Yukon landscape…
Get Ready to Hit the Road
The Kluane Chilkat International Bike Relay (KCIBR) registration for the 2026 race is now officially open.
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Not Your Early Birds
Though there may still be snow on the ground and a chill in the air, spring is in full swing at Swan Haven.
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Tales on Trails — Trappers’ Troubles
Yukon trapper Steve Paconi, with his wife Carol, trapped this area with their dog team (and a cat!). That was during a time when trapping…
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Tales on Trails — Feathers
We were putt-putting along the trail, with Paul riding the snow machine while I was standing in the back of the toboggan.
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Breaking The Ice At Valerie Lake
Experience the beauty of Valerie Lake in winter, a quaint alpine lake ideal for unforgettable ice-skating adventures.
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A Modern Day Klondike Kate: Fishing In Pink
In her latest A Modern Day Klondike Kate column, Rita recounts a humourous situation while fishing and explains why she hates Barbie-pink
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Gearing Up For November 1
As summer ends and the upcoming trapping season looms, Sonja explains the anticipation, excitement and preparations with getting ready to go
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Taagish Méné (Tagish Lake)
In her final 50 Lakes column for the season, Wendy takes us through the spectacular fall colours and views of Taagish Méné (Tagish Lake)
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True Colours Shining Through
Hillsides of evergreen trees will be dotted with patches of yellow as these trees shut down their energy centres and brace for winter
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Łʼèx Hîni Shâk Âyi (Rose Lake)
There is a small gravel parking area, but otherwise no other services—nothing but the lake’s own loveliness
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Ground For Discovery
We acquired forested land on the shore Lake Laberge. To get more familiar with the property, I organized a weekend campout.
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Little Brown Bats Make Great Neighbours
The Yukon is home to little brown bats, one of the most widespread species of bats in Canada and they only come out at night
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YWIM Hosts Cook Shack Sessions
Yukon Women in Music’s Cook Shack Sessions are family-friendly, with acoustic concerts by YWIM artists, singers, songwriters and musicians
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Give Squirrels A Chance
Red squirrels are solitary and territorial animals. By now, their young have struck out for their own territories
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Chu Cho (‘Big Water’) — Little Salmon Lake
Within the Traditional Territory of the Little Salmon Carmacks First Nation and the Kaska Dena Council lies Little Salmon Lake
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Paddle On For Yvonne
The Yvonne Harris Memorial Race will start at 6 p.m. Aug. 13 at Rotary Park. Stories and tributes will be shared at the Takhini River Bridge
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Dòon Chúu — Fisheye Lake
Lying within the Traditional Territory of the Kaska Dena, Fisheye Lake is a local watering hole that packs in a lot of fabulousness
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Red Baneberry
Berry-picking season is upon us, and harvesting the bounty of the boreal forest has been important in the Yukon for thousands of years
A Lake With A Big Sky Vibe
Simpson Lake is a medium-sized body of water known for its beautiful ombre colours, shallow shorelines and wide-open sky
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Äshèyi Mǟn
Äshèyi Mǟn (Aishihik Lake) lies within the traditional territory of the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations (CAFN).
Campers Love To Eat — Adventures With Food On A Stick
Is it the fresh air? Is it all of the hiking, swimming and camping activities? Everything tastes better when we are outdoors
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Following The Scent
Ben talks with Kelly Pollard and her dog Arrow about the fast growing sport of Barn Hunt and it’s introduction to the Yukon
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Yukon River Quest Celebrates 25th Anniversary
The 2025 edition of the Yukon River Quest runs June 25 – 28, starting in Whitehorse and ends 715 kilometres up the Yukon River in Dawson City
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A Happy Camper Switching Gears
A few times a year we switch gears. We camp with our grown children, our grandchildren and extended family.
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Where Songs Live
The Midnight Sun Moppets Children’s Festival happens at the Yukon Arts Centre on June 8 with free activities for kids and parents alike.
Snacking While Hiking
Back when, as a tourist, all I saw when driving the Alaska Highway was forest. That bush, I knew, had trees; but which ones?
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The Kindness of Yukoners – Part 4
After my initiation into foraging for firewood I had caught the bug and we stepped up our firewood harvesting It’s not lost on me at
The Kindness of Yukoners – Part 4 Read More »
The Day I Gave Up My Fishing Spot
A tale of bruins vs Rita’s ruins After a short trip, we parked on the inside of a swooping riverbend and announced that the last
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Return Of The Swans
The Swan Haven Interpretive Centre presents A Celebration of Swans, from April 1 to 30, ushering in spring with the mass migration of thousands of
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Was It marley’s Ghost … Or Something Else?
My husband and I lived in Whitehorse in the late 1970s. We took every opportunity to go camping on weekends and on holidays During the
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Building The Perfect Snowman
A Guide to Creating Your Own Winter Wonderland Here is a step-by-step guide to help you craft a snowman that would make Frosty proud! As
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Keeping Caribou On The Land
Wading through a mountain’s worth of videos, scientists are discovering more about the life of barren-ground caribou – and how it could change The Porcupine
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Hardwater Racing
This year’s annual hardwater snowmobile races take place over the weekend of March 15-16 on Pine Like in Haines Junction The now-annual event simply came
Ultimate Cross-Country Event Hits Yukon Trails
Get ready for the Yukon Ski Marathon! Enjoy skiing, longer days, and sunshine at the ultimate cross-country race event.
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50 Lakes: Autumn’s magic in every valley
There are few things I enjoy more than autumn paddling. The feel of the crisp air and fall vistas from the deck of my stand-up paddle board
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A Modern Klondike Kate: Red Ridge Rodeo
Rita Smith recounts her adventure through the Wheaton River Valley. She navigates the Red Ridge Trail in pursuit of a prized shifter lever.
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A Lake Called Home
There are countless reasons I love it so much here: mountains, people, forest, quiet … but it’s the lakes that I feel connected to most.
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Saying Goodbye to Summer
No matter how much I love autumn, with its stunning colours, brisk mornings and golden afternoons, there’s a sadness…
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Backpacking With a baby
It was a warm Saturday morning as I prepared my gear for hiking with my son Maverick. I had been spending my weekends hiking…
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Distinguished Sasquatch Enthusiasts: Part Three
In the last article I introduced Sasquatch researchers and writers Peter Byrne, Dr. Grover Krantz, Dr. John Bindernagel and Dr. Robert Alley.
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Where Art and Science Meet
How might you draw the sound of aspen leaves in the breeze of a late June day? Or paint the smell of a prickly rose?
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Great Things Can Come in Small Packages
Let’s be honest, as adults, there are not enough of them. That little moment and a squeal of delight! The natural high…
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10 Reasons To Love The Rain
It’s easy to love the warm and sunny days of summer. After all, what’s not to like about ice cream in cones, short sleeves and
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Cliff Diving With A Horse
Hello all, here is a brief introduction of my new column and who I am, as well as a beautiful visual story of “hitting the dirt,” which…
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Things Are Really “#$@!” Up!
I’ll admit, I have long passed over Tarfu Lake. It didn’t seem like a primary destination for Yukoners. Often, I’d heard of it as…
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Larger Than Life
The Yukon has been known for many sports over the years. Disc golf may not be the first one that comes to mind for a lot of people…
Learning To Slow Down
For this installment of Material ReCulturing, I thought I would write about some of the contradictions of camping…
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A Slow Start
Stand-up paddleboarding 50 Yukon lakes in a single season will take some good planning and a lot of luck. For me, the season was…
His Best Remote Life
Today I decided to interview someone we could describe as a “digital nomad.” Victor works remotely, as a programmer, while travelling…
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The Thrill Of The Seasonal (Gear) Swap
I love the thrill of diving into the storage closet and pulling out the new season’s gear. I tuck winter boots and parkas…
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A Race Against The Clock
On a Saturday in late August 2018, with just a half-hour left in their helicopter budget for the season, the Yukon government…
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4-H Fun At The Yukon Agricultural Banquet
Twenty-twenty four was the first year that the Yukon Agriculture Association (YAA) hosted the North of 60° Reception…
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In Celebration Of Freshwater
March has always been my favourite month of the year. I enjoy the longer days and blue skies. We Yukoners can spend…
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Chasing Aurora With Sandra Peña
When Sandra Peña saw northern lights for the first time, it was a quiet moment of reflection for her about the creation of life.
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A Mid-winter Night’s Dream
Slow as the drip of cold birch syrup, long as our January tilt away from the sun—winter in the Yukon can drag on.
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The Mountains Are Calling …
December 11 was designated International Mountain Day by the United Nations General Assembly, in 2003, and has been observed…
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Another Trapping Season Is Here
Snow came late this year. It was October 5 by the time we saw white on the ground outside the cabin. We received 17 centimetres of snow…
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Another Successful Season Of Summer Music Outdoors
A summer’s worth of free noon-hour concerts at the Front Street Gazebo has come to an end for the third year in a row.
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Gratitude For This Yukon Life
Sometimes we take the most precious things in our lives for granted: our health, our families, the air we breathe.
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Stewardship Of The Land
This summer, during the height of the Alberta spring wildfires, I landed at the Edmonton airport in a thick haze of smoke.
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There Is A River
“I remember when we canoed the Pelly River in our handmade birchbark canoe, back in 2001,” Natasha reminisced as she looked across…
Paddle Like a Rockstar!
“Learn to paddle like a rockstar – conquer waves, gain confidence, and feel the rush. Dive into kayaking adventure on What’s Up Yukon.”
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Summer Days
Summertime in the Yukon is an absolute joy. It is filled with barbecues, beach days, campfires and the never-ending supply of sunlight…
Fabulous At 40
It’s one of the most-epic logistical and athletic feats to be pulled off in the Yukon and Alaska. Over 300 volunteers are recruited.
How To Leave Your Lover
After 16 glorious years of romance with the Yukon, I can’t help but think it might be time to experience something different.
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10 Things That Gardening in the Yukon Can Teach You
Sometimes it feels so hard to imagine that spring will come, that things will grow again and that there’ll be enough time…
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Firelighting Is A Survival Skill
A BIC lighter is pretty small, isn’t very expensive, and even two or three of them won’t break the bank but could be the difference…
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The Real Heroes Of The Environment
A recent audit by the Federal Environment Commissioner, Jerry DeMarco, showed that Canada is falling short of its commitment…
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The Pregnant Sasquatch
A gentleman of the Gitsegukla First Nation, from B.C., shared his sighting experience with me. At the time, he was a self-employed…
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Breaking Trail: Atlin to Dawson
When we are not roasting coffee at Atlin Mountain Coffee Roasters, you’ll find us in the backcountry on some kind of adventure.
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Waking Up From Winter
I like to imagine that hibernating animals wake up from their long winter sleep much like we humans wake up from our own nightly slumber.
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Catch Of The Day
Yukon photographer Cathie Archbould headed to the Southern Lakes region recently with a group of friends to spend a day…
Nine Simple Ideas For Earth Day
Annual events are a wonderful way to bring awareness to certain issues but, unfortunately, long-lasting change doesn’t come…
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Gifts From Mother Nature
Earth Day is approaching. The annual event is held every year on April 22 and is celebrated by over one billion people…
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It’s The End Of The Trail
Spring has arrived in the Yukon, and with that comes the last days of snowmobiling season. And what a good season it was!
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The Pasqueflower & The Promise of Spring
Winter feels like it moves so slow sometimes. We wait and wait for the days to get longer again and for the sun’s rays to gain strength.
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Full Ski Ahead!
Over the past few years, cross-country ski trails in the Kluane National Park and Reserve have been getting some added attention…
Poops Gone Wild
We all know that wilderness in the Yukon is plentiful, and many Yukoners enjoy disappearing off the grid for a weekend or more…
Species And Their Feces
Size, shape, texture, colour, smell—scat (or poo, poop, doo-doo … whatever you prefer)—comes in as many variations…
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Yukon’s Own ‘Game of Thrones’
Yukoners have been using the outhouses for a long-time. Sometimes they even race them. But whether they are made of old wood…
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Lichens
Endless forests stand as the majestic backdrop to much of the Yukon, but by looking down, you can see a much more…
How To Bike Tour
People have been travelling long distances on bicycles since the invention of the two-wheeled vehicle. A British man named John Foster…
Firearm Care And Maintenance
It used to be that firearm maintenance was more tedious and certainly more frequently needed than it is currently.
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Safe Riders
Snowmobiling is a fun and safe activity for the whole family, and riders like you can help us keep it that way.
Yukoners At Canada Winter Games
The 2023 Canada Winter Games, officially called XXVII Canada Games, are taking place Feb. 18 to March 5 and will be hosted in P.E.I.
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Dog Culture: Milo
Milo, always young at heart, loved walking the Whitehorse trails at any temperature. She always led the way…
How’s your etiquette?
Yes, as much as you don’t want to, you really should mind your table manners. However, there’s more to life than just the dinner table…
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The Beauty Of Yukon’s Winter
Early winter in the Yukon is a special time of year, and yet it can also be a very bleak time of year. The shorter days feel dreary…
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Reindeer Nation
Canada is home to many species such as the beaver, the common loon, the Canada lynx, moose, wolverines—and the list goes on.
Basic Winter Safety
Where we live, winter uses up a lot of our time each year. The duration varies a bit, but it’s still a lengthy period…
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Furry Wildlife and Little-Known Facts
Beavers are found in most provinces and territories. They used to be eight-feet long and weigh about 200 pounds.
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A Northern Wilderness Escape
Imagine your own cabin, far in the wilderness, steps away from a beautiful lake and spectacular mountain vistas.
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So, You Need A Snowmobile
Two- or four-stroke? Long- or short-track? Utility or crossover? Snowmobile shopping can be overwhelming for a beginner…
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Off To The Races: Mount Sima FIS Event
Having a ski race, as part of Mount Sima’s pre-season training, were already happening two years ago, according to general manager.
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A Hunter’s First Ram
For many hunters that live outside of the Yukon, having the opportunity to hunt and harvest a mature Dall sheep is merely a pipe dream.
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Snowmobiling Is A Year-Round Activity
It may sound crazy, but long-time snowmobile enthusiasts will agree with us when we say snowmobiling really can be a year-round activity.
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