Carcross and Emerald Lake
Carcross/Tagish First Nation Traditional Territory · Carcross, Yukon
Carcross is a small village on the South Klondike Highway, roughly 70 km south of Whitehorse, where Bennett Lake narrows into Nares Lake. It was once called Caribou Crossing and was a stop for Klondike stampeders in 1898. Today the Carcross/Tagish First Nation presence is clear in Carcross Commons, a cluster of shops, carved poles and painted buildings. A few minutes north of the village lie a small patch of glacial sand dunes, often sold as the smallest desert in the world, and Emerald Lake, a shallow lake whose bright green and turquoise colour comes from pale marl on the bottom reflecting sunlight. The colour is best in sun and dull under cloud. It suits road trippers, photographers and mountain bikers, since Montana Mountain has a well-known trail network. It is small, windy and mostly summer-only: allow two to four hours, or a day with biking. The lakes are far too cold for a casual swim, and services are sparse.
Carcross Commons, South Klondike Highway, Carcross, Yukon, Y0B 1B0, Canada
The highway, the Emerald Lake viewpoint, the dunes and the lakeshore are reachable all year and cost nothing. The shops, cafes, visitor information and any tours in Carcross are mainly open in summer, commonly May to September, with daytime hours that shift by year and by owner. Outside those months expect closed doors and a very quiet village. Confirm opening dates with the Carcross Commons shops or Yukon tourism before you plan a meal or a purchase there. Winter is possible but cold, with short days, and the lakes freeze. Light is the real schedule: Emerald Lake looks brightest around midday in clear weather, and in June the evening light lasts almost until midnight.
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