Emerald Lake is located at mile 73 (kilometer 117.5) on the South Klondike Highway in Yukon. It is the perfect destination (and turnaround point) for people who want to excursion to the Yukon from Skagway, Alaska.

A trip to the lake is a well-liked excursion for cruise ship visitors. It offers the opportunity to cross the picturesque White Pass and explore the historic town of Carcross.

You can take in the rugged mountains of the Yukon on the way to the stunning Emerald Lake.

Visit Emerald Lake on a clear day to take in the lake’s most beautiful colors. The sun shines in your eyes rather than on the lake in the evening; thus, midday usually offers the finest lighting at the lake.

If you want to view the colors, schedule your vacation for late spring or summer because the lake is usually covered in ice until mid-May.

Take emerald lake tours, gaze at beautiful northern light lights, marvel at the sunlight reflecting on the emerald lake, and much more.

The lake also provides you with an opportunity for a hiking trail and a light-reflecting frozen lake in winter. Here, we list eight things you can do near Emerald Lake in Yukon.

List of Things to Do near Emerald Lake in Yukon

1. Check Out S.S. Klondike National Historic Site

While visiting Emerald Lake in Yukon, walk along the Klondike Highway and reach the National Historic Site.

The S.S. Klondike National Historic Site is open to the public for free, although guided tours are fee-feasible. A free video highlighting the S.S. Klondike’s history is broadcast all day. Wheelchair accessibility is limited to the S.S. Klondike’s first floor.

Just outside of downtown Whitehorse, on the banks of the Yukon River, is where you’ll find the S.S. Klondike National Historic Site. The majority of the attractions in the downtown area are accessible by foot from the location, which is next to Rotary Park.

Take the Whitehouse Transit bus from downtown or the walking path that follows the Yukon River to get there. There is lots of parking available at the location.

2. The Carcross

Don’t miss the chance to stop at Carcross when traveling to Emerald Lake.

The First Nation heritage, gold rush history, and outdoor adventure options are all present and accounted for in the historic town. On Bennett Lake’s shoreline, you can unwind, take in the totem poles, and browse the gift shops.

Test your skills on the town’s top-notch mountain bike trails. Try sandboarding in the Carcross Desert or kiteboarding on the lake for an adrenaline boost.

3. Walk among the Yukon Wildlife

One of the best sites to see North American wildlife is Canada’s Yukon Territory, which is vast, untamed, and hardly touched by human hands.

You can take a bus tour of the Yukon Wildlife Preserve or walk the three-mile (five-kilometer) figure-of-eight loop that passes the expansive enclosures.

The preserve is frequently visited as part of day trips from Whitehorse. Some of these trips include visiting the nearby Takhini Hot Springs afterward. Emerald Lake is home to diverse wildlife.

Wheelchair accessibility includes the tour bus and most observation platforms (except the Musk ox viewpoint). But because the approach to the main reception and learning center is slightly elevated, help could be needed.

While visitors are prohibited from driving their cars into the preserve, bikes, cross-country skis, and other non-motorized modes of personal transportation are welcome. Spend at least 1.5 to 2.5 hours exploring the preserve thoroughly.

During the summer (May through October), soda and water are available from vending machines; otherwise, you must bring your water.

4. Take a Dip in a Hot Spring

One of the most popular tourist spots near Emerald Lake is the Takhini Hot Pools. Visitors can camp or stay in a hostel on-site and use the network of nearby trails for hiking, biking, snowshoeing, or skiing.

The soak is sometimes combined with excursions to neighboring sights like a wildlife refuge or dog sledding. For a tour that involves watching the northern lights and canoeing on the Takhini River, go in the fall.

A 30-minute journey on paved roads all year round will get you to the pools 18 miles from Whitehorse. The primary hub in the Yukon Territory and home to an international airport in Whitehorse. The simplest method to get to the springs if you don’t have a car is on a tour.

Remember to bring your swimsuit, towel, and flip-flops to wear in the showers and changing facilities. Families can use the pools, but children cannot swim after dark.

After leaving Whitehorse, amenities become scarce, so bring food and beverages. At the springs, alcohol is not permitted. Takhini Hot Springs has spotty cell service and no Wi-Fi.

If you sightsee Emerald Lake, don’t miss the chance to dip in those hot pools.

5. Learn from the Yukon Beringia Interpretive Centre

You can always turn a leisure trip to the Yukon into an educational trip with the Yukon Beringia Interpretive Centre.

In addition to special programs and events for adults and children, the Yukon Beringia Interpretive Centre offers self-guided and guided museum tours.

The center’s highlights include a cast of the biggest woolly mammoth ever unearthed in North America and a reproduction of the oldest Canadian archaeological site, Bluefish Caves, which provided evidence that humans had been present there for more than 24,000 years.

About 4 miles (6.5 kilometers) from the center of Whitehorse, the Yukon Beringia Interpretive Centre is situated just south of the Erik Nielsen Whitehorse International Airport.

The center is close to the airport and is easily accessible by automobile or public transportation along the Alaska Highway. In Whitehorse, taxis are also available.

6. Sightsee the Great Yukon Divide, Miles Canyon

The majority of Emerald Lake sightseeing excursions include a stop at Miles Canyon—and other well-known locations like the Kwanlin Dun Cultural Center and the S.S. Klondike Historic Site.

Adventuresome visitors can choose between a half-or full-day guided hike in Miles Canyon or, in the winter, a snowshoeing excursion. Additionally, boat cruises are provided in the canyon.

Along the Yukon River, the Miles Canyon parking lot is located approximately 5.6 miles (9 kilometers) south of the center of Whitehorse. Take Miles Canyon Road south from the Klondike Highway on Robert Service Way to get there.

Since there isn’t much public transportation near Emerald Lake, taking a guided tour is a practical method to explore the local sights if you don’t have a car.

Miles Canyon is spanned by a suspension bridge, which provides breathtaking canyon views. Miles Canyon is covered in a comprehensive hiking and mountain bike route system. The suspension bridge over Miles Canyon is constrained and not wheelchair accessible.

7. The Yukon River

The Yukon River passes via numerous mountain ranges, valleys, isolated settlements, and native villages. Most Yukon River excursions depart from Fairbanks, Alaska, or Whitehorse.

You can choose from half-day river cruises, canoe outings, or multi-day adventure programs featuring scenic flights, animal viewing, and other activities.

One hundred nine miles (175 kilometers) north of Skagway, Alaska, in the Yukon, Canada’s most northwesterly territory, is Whitehorse.

From Vancouver, Calgary, and other major Canadian cities, there are flights to Whitehorse. Driving from its connection outside Fairbanks, Alaska, to Dawson Creek in Canada’s British Columbia, the Alaska-Canada Highway passes through Whitehorse.

The Yukon River has few rapids and is a rather calm river. Don’t forget to carry extra clothes, rain clothing, and insect repellant for river tours. Wheelchair access is not available on canoe journeys down the Yukon River.

8. Gaze at Yukon’s Green Nights

Yukon is the perfect location to see the beautiful northern lights phenomena because of its location. The Yukon is renowned across the world for its spectacular Aurora Borealis displays.

The northern lights, which are caused by geomagnetical activity, are unpredictable. Fortunately, trustworthy forecasts are available, like the Aurora Borealis forecast created by the University of Alaska Fairbanks or other organizations.

The longest and darkest evenings, November through March, are the greatest times to view the northern lights.

But if you’re lucky, you might see Aurora in Yukon as early as the middle of August when it’s still warm outside or as late as the middle of April when the snow melts. The two hours before and two hours following midnight are when the lights are most noticeable.

Conclusion

There are so many lakes and beautiful recreation trails in Yukon for one to experience Emerald Lake and its shallow waters. If you want to stargaze at green colors, just type Aurora Borealis forecast in your Google search bar and book a visit.

There are mountains and glaciers in winter, which will certainly remind you of the ice age, hiking trails if you find just a great spot for yourself, and tour buses while on South Klondike Highway. Be it a sunny day trip or a rainy day, the bright green colors of Yukon are worth visiting.

Just look up Emerald Lake reviews; you won’t be disappointed. The audience insights and balancing reviews will give you an appropriate version of the place. The sunlight reflecting from the emerald lake will surely kick your sunny day!

Last Updated on March 2, 2024 by Sanjana