Looking for a quintessentially wild Canadian winter experience? In the depths of winter there are few travel options before the local snow sport season fires up. Whitehorse is the Yukon Province's capital city only two hours flight north of Vancouver. This is one of my most memorable long weekend getaways from my time in BC. I will never forget looking into the eyes of a beautiful grey wolf we stumbled upon only a few hundred metres away.
Most flights depart after work and it is best to rent a car (they all come with winter tyres) to give yourself flexibility to explore the surrounds. Bring the warmest clothes you've got as the temperature often gets down to minus twenty degrees Celsius. Daylight is scarce at this time of year so bring after-hours activities like playing cards. There aren't many other visitors so you will have most attractions largely to yourself.
Four days are recommended and highlights include:
Yukon wildlife preserve: explore on foot observing incredible arctic animals via a three kilometre walking loop. The long horn goats, white arctic foxes and moose are too cute!
Takhini hot springs: only a short drive, you can bathe in these naturally heated hot springs and make icicles in your hair. There are two main pools with different temperatures.
Aurora Borealis is best viewed this time of the year, it can be difficult to experience with fickle cloud coverage.
Carcross Desert: yellow sandy landscape in the middle of the snow and ice. The town nearby was having a festive market too the days we were there.
Hidden Valley: we stayed at a beautiful AirBnb with a hot tub, it was novel being in the bubbling warm water in minus twenty degree weather. There are a range of local hikes with views over the Takhini River valley. Be sure to bring crampons as the trails are impossibly slippery without.
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