Carcross
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Carcross

Carcross

Yukon village between Bennett and Tagish Lakes, with Klondike history and the pocket-sized Carcross Desert

Carcross (originally Caribou Crossing) is a small community of about 430 people on the South Klondike Highway between Whitehorse and Skagway. It sits at the narrows between Bennett and Tagish Lakes, where large herds of caribou once crossed on their annual migration — hence the name.

During the Klondike Gold Rush, Carcross was a popular stopping point for prospectors heading to and from the gold fields of Dawson City. Today it is home to the Carcross Desert, often called the world's smallest desert — a pocket of sand dunes left behind by retreating glacial lakes. The beach on Lake Bennett is beautiful, and the White Pass & Yukon Route railway from Skagway passes through town on its scenic route.

Guide

Things to Do

Carcross is a tiny community but it has two attractions worth crossing the Yukon for: the otherworldly sand dunes of the Carcross Desert and the historic White Pass & Yukon Route railway station. The surrounding lakes and mountains offer hiking, paddling, and wildlife watching for those who want to linger.

Guide

When to Go

The Yukon is at its most accessible from late May through September. Summer days are extraordinarily long — in June, the sun barely sets — and the landscape around Carcross is covered in wildflowers. July and August are the warmest months, ideal for hiking the Montana Mountain trail above town or paddling on Bennett Lake.

September brings the first frosts and the boreal forest turns brilliant gold and amber — one of the north's most underrated spectacles, and much less crowded than the summer peak. The Carcross Desert looks particularly striking in autumn light.

Winter brings extreme cold (down to -40°C on bad nights) but also the Northern Lights, which can be spectacular over the lakes from late August through March. Carcross is a base for dog mushing and snowshoeing, and the frozen lakes are a surreal landscape. Come prepared for serious cold and limited daylight.

The White Pass & Yukon Route railway runs from late April to October, making those months the most practical if you're combining Carcross with a trip from Skagway.