A Day at the Yukon Wildlife Preserve: Up Close with Northern Wildlife

Muskox, wood bison, lynx and caribou: Guaranteed sightings 25 minutes from town.

The Yukon Wildlife Preserve is home to more than 150 animals across 350 acres, and it's open every day of the year. You can walk, bike, kicksled, or ski the loop, or take a guided bus tour as personal vehicles aren't allowed on-site. It's a good way to see northern animals up close, in large natural enclosures, any time of year.

What You'll See

The Preserve is home to wood bison, muskox, moose, woodland caribou, mountain goats, thinhorn sheep, mule deer, elk, Canada lynx, arctic foxes, red foxes, and arctic ground squirrels. Each lives in a large, naturalistic enclosure, so you're watching animals in their own space rather than looking at them through bars.

A local joke says the mule deer aren't really residents and hop the fence to come and go as they please, and that the ear marks are there to tell the regulars from the visitors. Ask your bus tour guide about it.

How to visit

Personal vehicles aren't allowed on-site, so you explore the roughly 5 km loop on foot or take the guided bus tour. The tour runs about 1.5 hours with an interpreter and regular stops. Booking ahead is recommended, and a wheelchair-accessible bus is available if you call first.

In winter you can also get around on skis, snowshoes, a fat bike, or a kicksled, and kicksleds and fat bikes can be rented on site. You can also just walk. The road is plowed all winter and plenty of people do it on foot, so you don't need special gear, only proper winter boots and warm clothing.

Hours and seasons

The Preserve is open daily, year-round, with slightly shorter hours from November 1. Bus tours run three times a day through October and twice a day from November to March. It doesn't open on days colder than -35°C, so check the Preserve's website before you go in deep winter.

Nearby Stops

Bean North Coffee is on the same road and open year-round, a good place to warm up or grab a coffee after the loop. Eclipse Nordic Hot Springs is nearby too, adults only (19+) for now, with on-site accommodation and the Hot Rock Café. Neither is a quick hop between buildings in winter, so plan to dress for the cold when you move between them. There are also cabins along Takhini Hot Springs Road and Takhini River Road if you'd like to stay in the area. If you're building a longer day, see our [24 Hours in Whitehorse](https://www.goyukonic.net/blog/24-hours-whitehorse/) itinerary.

Best times to go

Spring brings newborn animals, summer has the longest days, and winter shows off thick coats. Fall is when the elk rut, and if you're there during it, the bugling is hard to miss. Mornings and evenings tend to be the most active times for the animals.

Fall is a particular favourite among locals. The elk go into rut, and their bugling calls carry through the Takhini Valley, an eerie, memorable sound if you catch it. Mornings and evenings tend to be the most active viewing times regardless of season.

Why it matters

Beyond the viewing, the preserve does real conservation and rehabilitation work, caring for injured and orphaned animals and educating visitors about northern ecology. A visit supports that mission while giving you the knowledge to spot the same species later in the wild.

Many travellers visit early in their trip to learn what they're looking for, then head into the backcountry with a sharper eye. It's the kind of stop that pairs naturally with a longer day in Whitehorse. See our [24 Hours in Whitehorse](https://www.goyukonic.net/blog/24-hours-in-whitehorse/) itinerary, which sends readers here as an afternoon stop.

Questions, answered

How far is the preserve from Whitehorse?

About 30 minutes by car, on the Takhini Hot Springs corridor.

Can I drive through the preserve or do I have to walk?

No. Personal vehicles aren't allowed on-site. You can walk the 5 km loop or take the guided bus tour.

What animals will I see?

Species include wood bison, muskox, moose, caribou, mountain goats, Dall and thinhorn sheep, mule deer, lynx, elk, and arctic foxes, all in large natural enclosures.

Is there anywhere to eat or stay nearby?

Bean North Coffee, a short walk away, is open year-round. Eclipse Nordic Hot Springs (adults-only) is also close by and offers on-site accommodation, along with a few other cabins along Takhini Hot Springs Road and Takhini River Road.

Is it open in the winter?

Yes, it's open year-round, with shorter hours from November 1. It stays closed on days colder than -35°C.

Do I need special gear to visit in the winter?

Not for walking. The road is plowed, so you need only winter boots and warm clothing. Skis, snowshoes, fat bikes and kicksleds are welcome (or available to rent) if you want to try them.

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