Though not as widely advertised as Dawson City’s Dome Mountain—the most popular drivable mountain in the Yukon—there are several mountains in the Whitehorse region with good roads bulldozed switch-back after switch-back up to their scraggly, wind-blown tops. Here’s the inside scoop on our top three.
Grey Mountain
Why: Close-to-town with a pleasant two-kilometre ridge hike along the top.
Getting there: Take the Grey Mountain Road 10 km all the way to the communication towers. Road conditions can be variable.
Insider’s tip: Tasty wild blueberries grow along the trail here in late August.
Elevation: 1,495 m above sea-level; 850 m above the Yukon River.
Vehicle required: AWD with a little clearance.
Haeckel Hill
Why: A well-maintained public road within Whitehorse city limits where you can view eagles soaring over the Yukon River Valley—under the hum of two giant wind turbines.
Getting there: Drive the Alaska Highway north 3 km from where it intersects Two-Mile Hill. Turn left on Fish Lake Road and drive 3.4 km. Turn right onto a dirt road at a four-way intersection marked by a giant boulder. Drive past the fish farm and up 6.5 km to the top.
Insider’s tip: Check out Yukon Energy’s info-rich online booklet “Viewing Whitehorse From Above: A Guide to Haeckel Hill.
Elevation: 1,433 m above sea level; roughly 800 m above the Yukon River.
Vehicle required: 2WD with good tires.
Jubilee Mountain
Why: A steep, but decent road that takes you right to the top, affording panoramic views over Tagish Lake, Marsh Lake and Little Atlin Lake. Explore the rocky outcrops, smell the sub-alpine fir, check out—from a distance—the little log house, a residence for the seasonal fire-lookout patroller.
Getting there: Drive to Tagish, 100 km from Whitehorse. The unmarked turnoff is only 3 km from the Tagish bridge, then drive 10 km up its steep but solid switchbacks all the way to the microwave and fire towers at the top.
Insider’s tip: Spot the highway billboard for “Tagish Services.” The Jubilee Mountain Road is close-by on the other side.
Elevation: 1,814 m above sea level; 553 m above Tagish Lake.
Vehicle required: AWD
