Day trips

Day trip to Tombstone Territorial Park from Yukon

5 min read

Jagged granite peaks in Tombstone Territorial Park in autumn

The reality of distance

Whitehorse to Tombstone is 8 hours of driving one way. If you want Tombstone from Whitehorse, you need 3 days minimum — one to drive to Dawson, one for Tombstone, one to return. From Dawson, the Tombstone Interpretive Centre at km 71.5 of the Dempster Highway is 2 hours 20 minutes each way on 65 km of paved and 65 km of well-graded gravel. Fill up in Dawson; the next gas is 370 km away at Eagle Plains.

What to do at Tombstone

The Interpretive Centre (free, open 9am to 7pm June to mid-September) has trail maps, ranger talks, and a working weather station. Best short walks are Beaver Pond Trail (1.5 km loop, wildflowers and moose sightings) and Grizzly Creek viewpoint (5 km return, 90 minutes, spectacular tundra panorama). The famous Grizzly Lake overnight hike is 22 km round trip and requires a backcountry permit ($12 per night, reserve at yukon.ca). Photography peak is late August to mid-September when the tundra turns red.

Practicalities

No food or fuel between Dawson and the centre — pack lunch and top up. Bring bear spray, bug spray in June and July, and a real jacket even in August. Cell service ends 30 km up the Dempster. Tombstone Mountain Campground at km 71 has 36 sites at $20 a night, first come first served. If you make Tombstone the goal of your whole trip, allow 3 nights camping and hike Divide Lake as well as Grizzly Lake.

Frequently asked questions

Can I do Tombstone as a day trip from Whitehorse?

No. It is 604 km each way. You need to base in Dawson City, which is a 6.5-hour drive from Whitehorse, and day trip from there.

Do I need a 4WD for the Dempster Highway to Tombstone?

No. The first 71 km to the Interpretive Centre is well-maintained gravel suitable for any car. Beyond that toward Eagle Plains, higher clearance is smart but not required.

When are Tombstone colours at their peak?

August 20 to September 10 in most years. The tundra dwarf birch turns red-orange. Book campsites and Dawson accommodation 3 months ahead for this window.

Is there a fee to enter Tombstone Park?

No day-use fee. Backcountry camping permits are $12 per person per night and must be reserved online in advance for the popular Grizzly, Divide, and Talus lakes zones.