A Guide to Yukon Seasons - Month by Month

The Yukon has slightly different timing than most other locations when it comes to changes in seasons, so let's make sure you book your trip so you can see everything you want to see while you're here! I have heard tourists in the middle of summer in Dawson City ask about viewing the northern lights and appear very disappointed when they realise it doesn't get dark at that time of year. Let's make sure that isn't you!

January:

Generally cold and dark, January is true northern winter vibes! It can get to -40 degrees (Celsius and Fahrenheit, they're the same temperature, did you know that?) at this time of year, so make sure you bring appropriate clothing!

Although it is very dark in January, the sun barely rising over the horizon during the day means the light is a beautiful golden, pink and red for the majority of the day, which is beautiful!

February:

In February, the light slowly starts to return, and the days get longer! There's the Yukon Quest dogsled race and the Sourdough Rendezvous celebrations during this month!

There is often very cold weather at this time of year and lots of snow on the ground so again, make sure to come prepared with the correct gear!

March:

March can be a bit of a mixed bag, with some years having warm enough temperatures to melt a lot of the snow, and others having cooler temperatures and spring blizzards.

March is generally a pretty "ugly" time of year, as everything gets pretty muddy and all the plants are brown.

April:

April is when it finally starts to feel like spring in the Yukon! We often still have lots of snow, but the days are longer and the sun has some heat, making it pleasant to head outside!

We will also get out first flower of the season, the crocus, in April! When you see a crocus on a south-facing hillside, you know it's officially spring in the Yukon!

May:

May is usually one of our nicest weather months! We often get hot and clear weather in the last few weeks of May that gets everyone in the mood for summer!

The beginning of May is the last time you'll see the Northern Lights until August, as the light is coming back quickly now.

You can also see lots of bears in the ditches at this time, as the grass will grow more quickly in those areas, drawing animals out towards the roads! The South Klondike Highway is a great spot to photograph bears at this time of year!

June:

June is when it feels like true summer in the Yukon! The lakes are open, the wildflowers are out (including the Arctic Lupines!), and we usually have warmer weather! The first full moon in June is also when people often plant their gardens, as it is usually when we no longer get frost at night (so if you are from somewhere more south, you may find the nights here pretty chilly!). You will also have almost 24 hours (if not 24 full hours) of sunlight, depending on where you are in the Yukon at this time of year!

There may still be snow on hikes, and many hikes are closed until mid-June due to lambing season, so make sure to do your research before hitting the trails! By June, the majority of the seasonal businesses will also be open and have their summer hours in place as the tourism starts to ramp up at this time of year!

July:

July brings long days, (often) pretty nice weather, and more hiking opportunities due to snow melt and hikes opening. We also have fireweed blooms at this time of year! July can also be a great time to pick wild raspberries and strawberries! Keep your eyes peeled for them!

Gardens will begin to flourish in July, and you can enjoy many local goods at the Fireweed Market on Thursday afternoons in Whitehorse!

August:

Summers are short in the Yukon, and you can really start to feel the shift in August. We still have beautiful warm days with wildflowers and wild blueberries to pick, but the days and nights start to get colder, and we will have frost at night.

The darkness also starts to return in southern Yukon at this time of year, and later in August, you can finally start to see the Northern Lights again!

September:

Many people associate fall colours with October or November, but in the Yukon, our fall is in September! We usually have peak fall colours over the Labour Day long weekend in Whitehorse, so if you're thinking about visiting in September, that's the time to visit!

September can be quite cold in the Yukon, and there is often snow in the mountains (and on the ground depending on where you are!) You can also pick cranberries at this time of year, which is one of my favourite fall activities!

October:

October is our "ugly" time of year. The Yukon is so beautiful, there really isn't ever a bad time to visit, but October can often be grey, gloomy, and snowy. If you're a Noah Kahan fan, October is definitely "stick season". We often don't have enough snow to actually cover the ground fully, making the snow get dirty really fast.

We can still have pleasantly warm days (for northern standards), and you can head out to see the Northern Lights without it being absolutely freezing, so that's a plus!

November:

Welcome to full-on Yukon winter. We pretty much always have snow that stays on the ground by Halloween, so by November, it is finally feeling like true winter. The lakes begin to freeze and can often have very thin ice or open areas at this time of year, so it's a little too early to be going out onto the ice in November.

We can usually get pretty cold temperatures, and the light is decreasing very quickly, leading to shorter days and looonnnngggggg nights!

December:

The final month of the year! December is cold, dark and beautiful! With the winter solstice, we get golden hour light shining throughout the few daylight hours, and we get beautiful pink morning and evening light!

If you go farther north, the daylight is even shorter, with only 4 hours of light in Dawson City and no sunrise at all in Old Crow, the Yukon's northernmost community!

We can get -40 degree weather in December, so make sure you pack accordingly! Downtown Whitehorse will have Christmas lights decorating all the trees, and there will be tons of Christmas markets you can check out as well!

So, which month are you going to visit? You really can't go wrong with any of them!