How long is the drive from Whitehorse to Carcross?

About 74 km, roughly an hour without stops. Add time for Emerald Lake and the Carcross Desert.

Is there cell service the whole way?

Very little between Whitehorse and Carcross. Download offline maps before you leave.

Can I take the White Pass & Yukon Route train to/from Carcross?

In summer, yes. The train runs between Skagway, Alaska and Carcross, Yukon and stops at Fraser, BC and Bennett City. A passport is required.

Are the shops and restaurants open in the winter?

Many are seasonal and closed in winter. It's good to check hours before heading out.

Day trip to Carcross from Whitehorse

Starting in Whitehorse

Carcross is about 74 km south of Whitehorse, roughly an hour's drive on a paved highway. The route passes Emerald Lake and the Carcross Desert before you reach the village on Bennett Lake. It works as an easy day trip, with time for walks, a meal and a look around Carcross Commons.

Head south out of Whitehorse to the Carcross Cut-off, where the Alaska Highway meets the South Klondike Highway. Locals use that name, and the junction is about 15 minutes south of downtown. Turn onto the South Klondike Highway and follow it to Carcross. There's very little cell service between Whitehorse and Carcross, so download offline maps before you leave. Fill your tank in Whitehorse.

Emerald Lake

Emerald Lake is a short drive north of Carcross and has a large pullout for visitors. The water is a mineral-blue colour that changes with the light, and it's one of the most popular photo stops in the Yukon.

The Carcross Desert

The Carcross Desert, at the edge of the village, covers 2.6 square kilometres of sand dunes left by a glacial lake. It's often called the smallest desert in the world. Wind off Bennett Lake still moves sand across the dunes today. People walk the dunes, and sandboard, sled, snowmobile, and ride dirt bikes and quads there. From the top, you can see Bennett Lake.

Carcross Commons

Carcross Commons is a group of shops, a gallery, and a café set around totem poles inspired by local Tlingit designs. The Carcross/Tagish First Nation Carving Centre is there too, where visitors can watch carvers at work. Many Commons businesses are seasonal, so check ahead.

The Matthew Watson General Store is the oldest operating store in the Yukon and is open from May to September. The Visitor Information Centre is open from May 1 to September 30. The S.S. Tutshi memorial site, the White Pass and Yukon Route train station and Bennett Beach are all within walking distance. When water is low in early summer, the beach has plenty of sand to walk on.

Montana Mountain has about 40 km of hiking and biking trails maintained by Carcross/Tagish First Nation youth. Bike rentals and shuttles change from year to year, so check what's operating, or arrange a rental in Whitehorse beforehand.

Where to eat

Caribou Crossing Café, in the Commons, serves coffee and espresso drinks and a wide variety of small eats with gluten-free and vegan options. The café's isn't purely seasonal, its hours extend to weekends through the shoulder seasons and then it closes for the deepest part of winter.

The Bistro on Bennett, also in the Carcross Commons serves local food, Yukon Brewing draft beers, baked goods, espresso and ice cream. The Bistro is seasonal, so check hours before you go.