Mountains in Yukon

Yukon is home to several major mountain ranges, which are part of the cordilleran region of western North America. The most prominent ranges include the Saint Elias Mountains, which contain Canada's highest peaks, and the Ogilvie Mountains, known for the granite peaks of Tombstone Territorial Park. Other significant ranges aggregated on this page are the Pelly Mountains, Ruby Range, and Dawson Range.

The primary human-powered outdoor activities in Yukon's mountains are hiking, mountain biking, and cycling. This page aggregates over 75 routes across these sports. Specific guides are available for Hiking in Yukon and MTB Trails in Yukon.

Yukon contains the highest mountains in Canada, located within the Saint Elias Mountains. This includes Mount Logan, the highest peak in Canada and the largest mountain by base circumference in the world. Other notable peaks in the territory include Mount Saint Elias, Mount Lucania, and the distinctive Tombstone Mountain in the Ogilvie Mountains.

Kluane National Park and Reserve, located within the Saint Elias Mountains, offers a range of hiking trails. Options exist for various skill levels, from the St. Elias Lake trail for beginners to the more demanding King's Throne trail for experienced hikers. The park features routes through varied terrain, including forests, alpine meadows, and alongside glaciers.

Tombstone Territorial Park, part of the Ogilvie Mountains, is known for its rugged hiking routes through dramatic landscapes. The Grizzly Lake Trail is a well-known multi-day backpacking route that continues to Divide Lake and Talus Lake. For day hikes, the Goldensides Trail offers expansive views of the surrounding tundra and peaks.

Yes, there are accessible day hikes available in Yukon's mountain regions. Trails like the Auriol Trail in Kluane National Park offer a moderate loop of approximately 9.3 miles (15 km) through forest and alpine environments. A dedicated collection of Easy hikes in Yukon provides further options.

The Pelly Mountains offer the most routes on this page, with over 40 options for outdoor activities. The main sports are hiking, with 18 trails, and cycling, with 8 routes. There are also opportunities for mountain biking and jogging in the area.

The main season for hiking in the Yukon mountains is during the short, warm summer months, typically from June to August. During this period, the weather is generally more stable, daylight hours are long, and the alpine wildflowers are in bloom. Trails at higher elevations may hold snow into July.

Yes, Yukon offers several multi-day backpacking routes for experienced hikers. In Kluane National Park, the Kathleen Lake to Cottonwood trail is a classic route. In Tombstone Territorial Park, the Grizzly Lake Trail is a popular but challenging trek that can be extended over several days.

This page aggregates routes and information for 5 distinct mountain areas in Yukon. These include the Pelly Mountains, Saint Elias Mountains, Ruby Range, Ogilvie Mountains, and Dawson Range. In total, there are more than 75 routes available across these ranges.

Cycling in Yukon's mountain regions includes both road cycling and mountain biking. The Pelly Mountains feature several touring bicycle routes. For off-road experiences, areas near Carcross and Whitehorse offer extensive single-track mountain bike trails.