Whitehorse
Whitehorse is the base for trips to Kluane National Park and the road north to Dawson City, and its riverfront holds the S.S. Klondike.
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Whitehorse is the capital of Yukon, a territory in northwestern Canada, and it sits on the Yukon River and the Alaska Highway. The city takes its name from the White Horse Rapids on that river. Downtown, the S.S. Klondike, a restored sternwheeler that once carried freight and passengers on the river, is now a national historic site. To the west lies Kluane National Park and Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with glaciers and Canada's highest peaks.
Most travelers arrive by air or drive in on the Alaska Highway, and many use the town as a base for Kluane or the road to Dawson City. Summer brings long daylight and is the main season for driving and hiking. Winter is colder and shorter, and it suits people who want to see the northern lights. Two nights in town is a minimum if you plan to add Kluane or a trip north.
Whitehorse in five
- Choose between flying in and the Alaska HighwayParks Canada says Whitehorse is easily reached by air from Vancouver, Kelowna, Edmonton, Calgary and Ottawa, and that many visitors take the Alaska Highway from B.C., Alberta or Alaska.Parks Canada directions
- Check the SS Klondike before planning around itParks Canada said the boat and buildings at SS Klondike National Historic Site are closed for the 2026 season, with the grounds open. Check the site for 2027 before you list it as a stop.SS Klondike
- Add Kluane for the big mountainsParks Canada says Kluane National Park and Reserve holds 17 of Canada's 20 highest peaks. It is a road trip from the capital, so give it its own day or an overnight.Parks Canada Kluane
- Read official advice before remote drivingThe Yukon tourism site lists travel advisories, an EV charger network and offline maps for the territory. Check them before long drives between communities, where services are limited.Travel Yukon
- Link the north on one tripWhitehorse pairs with Yellowknife and Nunavut by air for a northern Canada route, since the territories are far apart and not connected by road.Yellowknife
Things to do in Whitehorse
See all attractions in Whitehorse
Need to know
- Airport
- Erik Nielsen Whitehorse International (YXY)
- Getting there
- Flights from Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary and Ottawa; Alaska Highway
- Getting around
- Car for Kluane and Dawson City; Whitehorse Transit in town
- Best base
- Downtown Whitehorse by the river
- Time needed
- 2 days in town; 5 or more with Kluane and Dawson
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Snowy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryCloudy8 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh-12°Low-17°Deep coldJanuaryCloudy
Poor
- High
- -12°
- Low
- -17°
- Precipitation
- 29 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 2
- Days with storms
- 0
Deep cold
- FebruaryPartly cloudy7 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh-10°Low-17°Cold, clearFebruaryPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- -10°
- Low
- -17°
- Precipitation
- 25 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 2
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, clear
- MarchCloudy7 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh-3°Low-12°Late winterMarchCloudy
Poor
- High
- -3°
- Low
- -12°
- Precipitation
- 21 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Late winter
- AprilPartly cloudy6 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh4°Low-5°Spring thawAprilPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 4°
- Low
- -5°
- Precipitation
- 19 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring thaw
- MayPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh12°Low2°Long daysMayPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 12°
- Low
- 2°
- Precipitation
- 29 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Long days
- JunePartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh18°Low7°Midnight sunJunePartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 46 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Midnight sun
- JulyPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh20°Low9°Warm, long daysJulyPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 57 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, long days
- AugustPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh18°Low8°Warm, bugs fadeAugustPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 59 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, bugs fade
- SeptemberPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh12°Low3°Fall colourSeptemberPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 12°
- Low
- 3°
- Precipitation
- 43 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Fall colour
- OctoberPartly cloudy11 rainy days3 snowy daysHigh3°Low-3°Cool, quietOctoberPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 3°
- Low
- -3°
- Precipitation
- 49 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 3
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, quiet
- NovemberCloudy9 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh-7°Low-12°Snow arrivesNovemberCloudy
Poor
- High
- -7°
- Low
- -12°
- Precipitation
- 30 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 2
- Days with storms
- 0
Snow arrives
- DecemberCloudy10 rainy days4 snowy daysHigh-12°Low-18°Deep coldDecemberCloudy
Poor
- High
- -12°
- Low
- -18°
- Precipitation
- 35 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 4
- Days with storms
- 0
Deep cold
Average daily high and low in Whitehorse, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Whitehorse
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
0
- Feels like
- -4°
- Humidity
- 82%
- Wind
- 10 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 83%
Whitehorse
02:14 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today2°-4°83%Monday: Snow. High 2°, Low -4°. Chance of rain 83%.
- Tue1°-4°27%Tuesday: Snow. High 1°, Low -4°. Chance of rain 27%.
- Wed2°-2°45%Wednesday: Snow. High 2°, Low -2°. Chance of rain 45%.
- Thu3°-2°37%Thursday: Drizzle. High 3°, Low -2°. Chance of rain 37%.
- Fri3°-1°33%Friday: Drizzle. High 3°, Low -1°. Chance of rain 33%.
- Sat1°-5°54%Saturday: Cloudy. High 1°, Low -5°. Chance of rain 54%.
- Sun-1°-5°41%Sunday: Snow. High -1°, Low -5°. Chance of rain 41%.
Updated 01:23 PM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 1.397 CAD
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Kluane National Parka long road trip westParks Canada lists vast icefields and 17 of Canada's 20 highest peaks.
- SS Klondike groundson the edge of downtownThe grounds are open and the Yukon River pathway leads to them; the boat and buildings were closed in 2026.
- Yellowknifea flight, not a driveThe other northern capital sits in the Northwest Territories; fly or plan a long overland route.Read the guide
Before you go to Whitehorse
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Rules for Whitehorse, checked
- Parks Canada: the SS Klondike boat and buildings were closed for the 2026 season; the grounds are open to visitors.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
Plan around Whitehorse
The other northern capital, reached by air
Read the guideNunavutArctic territory with no roads between towns
Read the guideBritish Columbia and the RockiesThe Alaska Highway starts on the B.C. side
Read the guideGetting around CanadaCar hire and long distances
Read the guideTravel insuranceCover for remote and delayed trips
Read the guideAll of CanadaeTA, regions, cities and money basics
Read the guideWhitehorse FAQ
How do you get to Whitehorse?
Parks Canada says Whitehorse is easily reached by air from Vancouver, Kelowna, Edmonton, Calgary and Ottawa, and that many visitors drive the Alaska Highway from B.C., Alberta or Alaska.
How many days do you need in Whitehorse?
Two days cover the town, the river and a nearby walk. Five or more days let you add Kluane or a longer Alaska Highway leg, since the territory's attractions are far apart.
Is the SS Klondike open?
Parks Canada said the boat and buildings were closed for the 2026 season, while the grounds stay open. Check the Parks Canada page for the 2027 season before you plan around a tour.
Do you need a car in Whitehorse?
Not for the town itself, where Parks Canada notes a pedestrian river trail and Whitehorse Transit reach the SS Klondike. You need a car or a tour for Kluane and the road north to Dawson City.
Do you need an eTA to fly to Whitehorse?
Only if you fly into Canada from abroad on a visa-exempt passport, since flights within the country need your usual ID. Whitehorse is served from Vancouver, Kelowna, Edmonton, Calgary and Ottawa, so the check happens at your first Canadian airport. The eTA guide has the details.