Fall is upon us. When I leave the house in the mornings now, the sun has yet to awaken. It feels too early in the season to see my breath, but here we are. Winter whispering at us does come with some pretty wicked benefits, though: the air is crisp, giving us unreal clarity; the mountains are snow-capped again, seemingly overnight; and the trees are blushing in full force. What better time to get outside and explore?
As soon as the turn began, I packed my camera bag and headed to Kluane. The drive there alone is saturated with a beautiful display of fall creeping in, in the best way.
If you want to do something a little more relaxed or take the kids on a nature walk, I highly recommend the Dezadeash River walk. It’s only about 5.5 kilometres round-trip (if you stick to the main trail), and flat. It’s less adventurous than I generally opt for, but if you happen to be in the area, make the stop. You can find the trailhead by following signs on the right-hand side (if you’re coming from Whitehorse direction) of the highway just as you pass through the south end of Haines Junction, a little ways after the Alaska Highway turnoff.
The trail is well-marked and alternates between a wide dirt path and a boardwalk scattered with information boards. Despite the name, there aren’t views of the river the whole way; it’s more of a forest walk with some incredible viewing points, to scope out wildlife and the colours of the season. Despite it’s easy accessibility, it’s not overrun; I went on a Sunday and only saw about four other people. Keep in mind that bear sightings in the area are common, so please keep pets on leashes and children within view—and make a bit of noise around corners.
Enjoy the brilliance of fall, and finish up with an “obligatory” Village Bakery treat—even if you didn’t work that hard for it (I won’t tell if you don’t).
