RESOURCE TOWN

Faro

Faro town with the Anvil Range mountains behind

Faro was built in the 1960s to service the Cyprus Anvil lead-zinc mine, once one of the largest in the world. When the mine closed permanently in 1998 the town shrank from 2,000 people to about 350. Today it's a quiet, well-maintained community with better infrastructure than most Yukon villages its size — full grocery, a rec centre, a golf course, and a real hospital. The setting, between the Anvil Range and the Pelly Mountains, is genuinely beautiful.

Faro is off the main tourist routes (you have to want to go there — it's a side trip off the Robert Campbell Highway) but rewards visitors with Fannin sheep viewing (a rare subspecies found almost nowhere else), the Van Gorder Falls trail, and Sheep Mountain overlook. Two nights is right if you’re driving the Campbell Highway loop. Otherwise skip — it's too far to reach without a plan.

Where to stay

The Studio Hotel and a couple of B&Bs and cabin operations serve the town. Expect $120-160 year-round; prices are more stable here than in tourist areas because it's not a peak-driven market. Book ahead in summer but availability is usually manageable. Good winter option for aurora chasing — Faro has excellent dark skies and functional services. Bring groceries from Whitehorse if you’re staying more than a couple of nights.

Getting there

Drive from Whitehorse: 355 km via the Robert Campbell Highway (Highway 4). About 4.5 hours, mostly paved with gravel sections. No public transit. Alternatively, the Campbell Highway can be reached from the Klondike Highway via Carmacks — creates a long loop. Fuel in Faro (Petro-Canada), also in Ross River 60 km east and Carmacks 200 km south. In winter the Campbell Highway is plowed but expect long unmaintained sections.

Frequently asked questions

Is Faro worth visiting?

For a Campbell Highway loop, yes — you’d stay in Faro anyway. As a destination on its own from Whitehorse, only if you specifically want the sheep viewing and the quiet. Two nights maximum. Combine with Ross River and Watson Lake for a proper eastern Yukon loop.

Is Faro safe? I’ve heard the mine had environmental issues.

The town is fine to visit — the mine site itself is under long-term remediation and off-limits, but you never see it from town or the trails. Faro has one of the lowest crime rates in Yukon and full municipal services. It's arguably one of the safer places to base yourself.