Kluane National Park

Like a picture postcard of what most people think is typically Canada (snow-capped mountains and wilderness, not downtown Toronto!), Kluane National Park is a snapshot of the Canadian north at its most pristine. Kluane is not for the fragile or inexperienced wilderness traveller. It’s huge and largely uninhabited, save for grizzly bears...

It does, however, offer grand experiences in outdoor travel and recreation, extreme adventure travel and eco-tourism. Situated in the southwest sector of the Canadian region known as the Yukon Territory, the park is about 160 km (99mi) west of the capital, Whitehorse, a fascinating place in and of itself. The entire territory is the historic home of the Canadian gold rush, or “The Klondike”, and Kluane National Park is close to the Klondike National Historic Site.

The park contains 17 of Canada’s highest mountains, including it’s highest peak of all, Mount Logan. Park activities include white-water rafting on the glacier-fed Alsek River, canoeing, camping, hiking, climbing, and bird-watching (there are more than 200 bird species in the park). But be careful. The steep slopes and presence of grizzly bears demand respect and caution. This is, as the Canadian national anthem suggests, the true North strong and free.