A Charming Mountain Town Along Canada's Yukon River Offers Stunning Northern Lights Views

Deep in the Yukon wilderness of northern Canada, a remote frontier town offers front-row seats to one of the greatest shows on Earth. But this is no sleepy backwater. Dawson City is a former gold rush town, where the good times still roll all year long. It's a place where swinging saloon doors sit side-by-side with a taco joint, and the views from town are of forested mountains that plunge right down to the Yukon River. But most of all, it's a spectacular spot to witness the Northern Lights. 

Dawson City, in the Trʼondëk Hwëchʼin territory, was home to around 30,000 people during the gold rush, making it a major population center in North America. Those boomtown days are long past, and the population has shrunk to around 2,000 (a good thing for those hoping to see the Aurora Borealis!). 

Getting to Dawson City is an adventure in itself. Most visitors arrive via Whitehorse, a cute Canadian town and the capital of the Yukon. Many hop on a short flight, while others take the scenic, 330-mile drive up the North Klondike Highway. In the summer, it's also possible to arrive from Alaska via the stunning Top of the World Highway. Before you embark on your odyssey, check out our guide for Americans roadtripping through Canada.

The lights dance above Dawson City from August to April, though they don't come out every night. For the best chance of seeing them, visit during the dark winter months, from December to March. You'll also have a greater chance of seeing the lights if you stay up late; 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. is the ideal window to spot the Aurora, with the midnight hour being prime time! Pro tip: If you book an evening flight on your way in or out, you may even be able to see the Northern Lights from the sky.

As Dawson is a small population center, light pollution is low even in the city, and the Aurora can be spotted from town. But for even more impressive views, head to the Midnight Dome, a hillside around 2,600 feet above sea level, offering sweeping views over the city and the Yukon River. If you don't want to go it alone, companies like The Klondike Experience offer Aurora Borealis viewing tours, taking you out of town to enjoy the spectacle in peaceful natural surroundings.

In late December, you will only have around four hours of daylight, but there's a lot to do in Dawson while you wait for the light show. Embrace the winter season with a snowmobile tour or a visit to the Klondike Kennels for skijoring  or dog sledding with their Qimmiq (Canadian Inuit dogs). Whatever you do, dress warmly if visiting in the winter! The average January temperature is -15 degrees Fahrenheit, with the mercury going as low as -40 degrees most winters. Layer up and wear winter boots, hats, and mittens.

The flip side of Dawson City's long, dark winters is the Midnight Sun. The land is bathed in 24 hours of daylight from mid-May to mid-July, giving visitors a chance to hike, kayak, and even play golf until well after midnight. If your visit coincides with National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21, join in the celebrations by visiting the Dänojà Zho Cultural Centre. The Centre also runs river walk tours in the summer and sells unique souvenirs, like hand-made clothing, beaded footwear, and jewellery.

Other popular warm-weather activities include gold panning, guided tours of an active gold mine, and Parks Canada-run guided walking tours that explore Dawson's Gold Rush heyday. Another summer highlight is getting out on the Yukon River, either on the paddlewheeler "Klondike Spirit" or joining a guided raft or canoe tour.

Fall comes early this far north. By late August, you can experience the vibrant colors of the changing season at Tombstone Territorial Park, just a 1.5-hour drive north of Dawson City. The park is a staggeringly beautiful wilderness area with tundra that turns red and gold in the fall. Grizzly Lake Trail takes you past rugged mountains and crystal-clear lakes, but it's a long trek at almost 14 miles. If you'd like to stay in the park, Tombstone Mountain Campground is open all year. Why not sleep under the stars and try to catch an early show of the Northern Lights in August?