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.