Snowshoeing in Whitehorse: Half-Day Yukon Backcountry

Walk the Yukon wilderness on your own terms, with gear and a guide.

A half-day snowshoeing tour in the Whitehorse backcountry where you strap on lightweight modern snowshoes and trek through the terrain that gold miners and trappers once crossed. The tour includes hotel pickup and drop-off, a live guide in English, Spanish or Japanese, warm beverages and snacks. Children are welcome from age 7, and the experience runs in all weather.

The experience

What does a half-day in the Yukon backcountry actually feel like? You start at your hotel, where the guide picks you up and drives you to a scenic location in the Whitehorse area. Once there, you strap on a pair of lightweight modern snowshoes (no heavy gear, no technical skill needed), and walk into the quiet of the wilderness. The guide leads you through terrain where spruce grouse, foxes, coyotes and snowshoe hares occasionally appear at a distance. The whole outing runs about three and a half hours, which gives you real time in the backcountry without eating your whole day.

Snowshoeing is one of the best ways to move through deep snow without sinking, and it opens up places you couldn't reach on foot alone. The landscape itself is the draw here. The Yukon in winter is stark and vast, and you're moving through it at a pace that lets you notice things. A warm beverage and a snack are built into the tour, so you're not managing hunger or cold on your own. The guide handles the route and the pacing, which means you can focus on where you are instead of where you're going.

The tour operates in all weather, so dress in layers and bring gear that handles cold and wind. The operator suggests you're suited for this if you can walk for a few hours at a steady pace, but fitness levels vary and the tour is designed to be accessible. A live guide speaks English, Spanish or Japanese depending on the group, and children from age 7 can join.

What’s included

• Lightweight modern snowshoes.
• hotel pickup and drop-off.
• live guide.
• warm beverage and snack.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 13:30

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (18 to 95 years) · Youth (7 to 17 years) · Under 7: can't be booked

GroupUp to 12 · max 8 per booking

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and Japanese

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 14 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearby

Operated by Arctic Range Adventure

Is this one for you?The tour picks you up at your hotel and brings you back, which settles the transport question if you're without a car or staying in central Whitehorse. The half-day length means you can fit it around other plans without committing your whole day to the backcountry.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and Japanese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (7 to 17 years). Children under 7 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What wildlife might I see on the snowshoeing tour near Whitehorse?

Spruce grouse, foxes, coyotes and snowshoe hares are occasionally spotted at a distance during the backcountry trek, though sightings are not guaranteed.

Does the tour include transportation from my hotel?

Yes, hotel pickup and drop-off are included with the tour, so you don't need to arrange your own way to the trailhead.

What's included in the half-day tour besides the snowshoes and guide?

Warm beverages and snacks are provided during the outing, along with all the snowshoeing equipment you need.