Park
Pick
Discovery Claim
National Historic Site
A century ago, thousands of hope-
ful goldseekers rushed to the
Klondike in search of for-
tune. It was a brief time
of colourful characters,
riches, dreams and sor-
rows. The likes of the
Klondike Stampede had
never been seen before,
and most likely never will be
again. A National Historic Sites'
cairn marks the original mining
claim on Bonanza Creek, where
prospectors found gold in 1896,
opening the door to the Gold
Rush. Soon, men were tearing up
every creek bed and hillside in the
Klondike. A recently completed,
self-guided trail recounts the story
of the discovery and illustrates
early mining methods. (www.pc.
gc.ca/eng/lhn-nhs/yt/klondike/
natcul/natcul-discovery.aspx).
More info on national parks and
historic sites: www.pc.gc.ca;
1-888-773-8888
19,551 feet (5,959 m). Go heli-hiking or
heli-skiing, fly over a glacier, kayak, canoe
or raft part of the 1,979-mile (3,185-km)
Yukon River, Canada's second-longest.
The Yukon—home to some of the
most renowned rivers in Canada—is a
paddler's dreamscape. In addition to the
Yukon and Klondike rivers, the territory
has four Canadian Heritage Rivers—the
Alsek, Thirty Mile, Tatshenshini and Bonnet
Plume. These ribbons of water offer chal-
lenging whitewater to quiet floats with
outstanding opportunities to spy wildlife.
Winter adventures include driving a
sled dog team and sleeping under the
dancing northern lights, cheering on
mushers in the 1,000 mile (1,609 km)
Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race
(www.yukonquest.com), snowshoeing
through quiet wilderness, cross-country
skiing, snowboarding, or snowmobiling
along a frozen river.
Yukon Wild, a group of around two
dozen adventure travel companies, offers
year-round trips with experienced local
guides and equipment. Activities range
from fishing, hiking, canoeing, horseback
riding or rafting to dogsledding, snow-
shoeing, skiing and snowmobiling (www.
yukonwild.com).
FUN FOR FAMILIES
The Whitehorse Rapids Fishladder, the
longest fishladder in the world, is a short
walk from downtown. Kids can peer
through the glass windows in the obser-
vation area and watch Chinook salmon,
Arctic grayling and lake trout travel up the
ladder, on their way up the Yukon River to
their spawning grounds.
MOOSE HIDE VILLAGE • YK TOURISM
DOG TEAM • YK TOURISM
2012 TRAVEL GUIDE TO CANADA 167
