Hotels in Whitehorse

Whitehorse: Yukon's Capital on the Banks of the Yukon River

Whitehorse sits at kilometre 1,477 of the Alaska Highway in Canada's Yukon Territory, where the Yukon River narrows through a canyon carved by glacial meltwater. Founded during the 1898 Klondike Gold Rush, the city grew as a supply hub and became the territorial capital in 1953. Today roughly 28,000 people live here — about 75% of Yukon's entire population — making it one of Canada's least densely settled capitals. The SS Klondike National Historic Site, a restored 1930s sternwheeler on the riverbank, anchors the downtown heritage corridor alongside the Old Log Church Museum on Elliott Street.

Where to Stay in Whitehorse

Most hotels cluster in the downtown core along 4th Avenue and Two Mile Hill, within walking distance of the Yukon Arts Centre and the waterfront trail. The Porter Creek and Riverdale neighbourhoods offer quieter lodging options a short drive north or east of the river. Aurora-viewing properties on the city's outskirts book up fast between late August and April, when the Northern Lights are visible on clear nights.

Practical Tips

• Getting there: Whitehorse Erik Nielsen International Airport (YXY) receives direct flights from Vancouver, Calgary, and Edmonton year-round.
• Seasons: Summers bring 19+ hours of daylight; January lows average −18 °C.
• Road access: The Alaska Highway connects south to Watson Lake (440 km) and north toward Dawson City (530 km).
• Pack layers regardless of season — temperature swings of 15 °C in a single day are common.