Carcross Desert is an impressive sand dune field located in the Carcross Tagish region of the Yukon. The Carcross Desert measures approximately 2.6 km2 (1.0 sq mi), or 259 ha (640 acres). Despite its name, the area is too humid to be considered a true desert. The sand dunes contain a variety of plants, along with some species found rarely in other places around the world, like Baikal sedge and Yukon lupine. Carcross Desert is a popular recreational spot, used for sandboarding, beach volleyball, hiking, skydiving, ATV tours, cross-country skiing, and more! For those who wish to explore, orienteering competitions are organised in the area. All in all, Carcross Desert is an interesting and exciting place to visit!
Eryn's Tips:
The desert is affectionately known as "the smallest desert in the world" by locals and is a fun place to take a photo and show friends and family!
I would recommend stopping by the desert after Emerald Lake on your way to Carcross, Yukon! It is a fun place to stretch your legs and walk around! You really can't miss it as it is right off the side of the highway, and there is usually plenty of room to park! In the winter, the desert will be covered with snow, but you can often see sand as the wind can be very strong and blow the snow away in some places!
In the winter, the desert is one of the best places to go tobogganing as the hills are huge and open, so there's less chance of hitting a tree on your way down!
