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town in Yukon Territory, Canada
North America > Canada > Northern Canada > Yukon > Dawson City

Dawson City is a historical town of 2,270 people (2021) in Yukon. It invites visitors to celebrate its heritage as a late 19th-century gold rush town, with frontier buildings and boardwalks, saloons, and a vintage sternwheeler.

Understand

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The Yukon River and Dawson City

History

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Dawson City
Dawson City Daily News
St. Mary's Catholic Church in Dawson City
Third Avenue, Dawson City
Yukon River Sightseeing Cruise in Dawson City
Mining Statue, in Dawson City

In prehistoric times the area was used for agriculture by the Hän-speaking people of the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in and their forebears. The heart of their homeland was Tr'ochëk, a fishing camp at the confluence of the Klondike River and Yukon River, now a National Historic Site of Canada, just across the Klondike River from modern Dawson City. This site was also an important summer gathering spot and a base for moose-hunting on the Klondike Valley.

The current settlement was founded by Joseph Ladue and named in January 1897 after noted Canadian geologist George M. Dawson, who had explored and mapped the region in 1887. It served as Yukon's capital from the territory's founding in 1898 until 1952, when the seat was moved to Whitehorse.

Dawson City and port of entry Skagway in Alaska were the centre of the Klondike Gold Rush. It began in 1896 and changed the First Nations camp into a thriving city of 40,000 by 1898. By 1899, the gold rush had ended and the town's population plummeted as all but 8,000 people left. When Dawson was incorporated as a city in 1902, the population was under 5,000. St. Paul's Anglican Church was built that year, and is a national historic site.

The population dropped after World War II when the Alaska Highway bypassed it 480 km to the south. The economic damage to Dawson City was such that Whitehorse, the highway's hub, replaced it as territorial capital in 1953. Dawson City's population languished around the 600–900 mark through the 1960s and 1970s, but has risen and held stable since then. The high price of gold has made modern placer mining operations profitable, and the growth of the tourism industry has encouraged development of facilities. In the early 1950s, Dawson was linked by road to Alaska, and in fall 1955, with Whitehorse along a road that now forms part of the Klondike Highway.

The City of Dawson and the nearby ghost town of Forty Mile (together with Skagway) are featured prominently in the novels and short stories of American author Jack London, including The Call of the Wild. London lived in the Dawson area from October 1897 to June 1898. Other writers who lived in and wrote of Dawson City include Pierre Berton and the poet Robert Service.

Climate

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Dawson City
Climate chart (explanation)
JFMAMJJASOND
 
 
 
19
 
 
−22
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13
 
 
−16
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Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation+Snow totals in mm
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Imperial conversion
JFMAMJJASOND
 
 
 
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Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
Precipitation+Snow totals in inches

Dawson City has a subarctic climate. The average temperature in July is 15.7 °C (60.3 °F) and in January is −26.0 °C (−14.8 °F). It experiences a wide range of temperatures surpassing 30 °C (86 °F) in most summers and dropping below −40 °C (−40 °F) in winter.

Visitor information

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Get in

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View from Top of the World Highway in Yukon

By car

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Dawson City is accessible by Highway 9 (Top of the World Highway), if you are travelling east out of Alaska.

Dawson City can also be reached on Highway 2 (Klondike Highway), if you are travelling north from Whitehorse. The journey is via Highway 1 (5.5 km), Highway 2 (Klondike Highway) for 519 km, heading north to Stewart Crossing, then northwest to Dawson City. About 40 km east Dawson City on Highway 2 it intersects with the south terminus of Highway 5. Highway 5, named Highway 8 in Northwest Territories, connects with Inuvik, and make up the Dempster Highway.

By plane

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Dawson City has a small airport for scheduled and chartered flights.

  • 1 Dawson City Airport (YDA  IATA). Dawson City Airport (Q1708897) on Wikidata Dawson City Airport on Wikipedia 


  • Air North, toll-free: +1-800-661-0407. A regional airline operating flights within the Yukon and flights in Canada travelling to the Yukon. (updated Apr 2022) Scheduled flights to Dawson City from Old Crow, Inuvik (1 hr 25 min), and Whitehorse (1 hr 10 min).

By bus

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Get around

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In 2023 the site Tr’ondëk-Klondike was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. It's composed of eight sites, one of which is in the Tombstone Territorial Park and the other seven in and near Dawson City: Dawson City as well as the Native American settlement of Tr’ochëk slightly to the south, Jëjik Dhä Dënezhu Kek’it (Moosehide Village) and Fort Reliance a bit downstream on the right bank of Yukon River, and much further downstream (maybe 70 km as the crow flies), close to each other, the forts Cudahy and Constantine and the Native American sites of Ch’ëdähdëk (Forty Mile) and Ch’ëdähdëk Tth’än K’et (Dënezhu Graveyard).

  • 1 Paddle Boat Graveyard. Old paddle boats that plied the Yukon are drydocked, after a fashion, down the Yukon River opposite the town. To reach this you must take the free ferry across the river and walk through the government camping area along the river. Where the camping area ends, get out onto the river's shore and walk maybe 200 m further. These are dilapidated tetanus traps but it's fascinating to crawl around in and on them. (updated Sep 2024)
  • 2 Historic Klondike Gold Rush Town. Preserved frontier buildings and boardwalks, saloons, and a vintage sternwheeler recall the 1898 Klondike Gold Rush days. You can visit the goldfields, the Commissioner’s residence, and a famous poet’s historic log cabin. 
Old-fashioned buildings
  • 3 Dänojà Zho Cultural Centre, 1131 Front Street, ☏ +1 867 993-7100 x500. Mid-June to end of August: W-F and Sa in Jul-Aug. Discover the history and culture of the first people of the Klondike, the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in. Adult or senior $10, youth (13-18) $3.15, child 12 and under free. Dänojà Zho Cultural Centre (Q123273159) on Wikidata (updated Sep 2024)
  • 4 ODD Gallery, 902 Second Ave. Tu-F 10AM-5PM, Sa noon-4PM. Contemporary visual arts. (updated Jun 2022)
  • 5 Diamond Tooth Gertie Theater, 1001 Fourth Ave, ☏ +1 867 993-5575. "Theater" reconstructing the shady establishments of the gold rush. Various teams of professional artists present "Cancan Shows" on stage with dancing, music and singing. (updated Sep 2024)
  • 6 Jimmy's Place Video & Convenience, Front St. Art gallery. (updated Sep 2024)
  • 7 Dawson City Fire Fighters Museum, 1336 Front St, ☏ +1 867 993-7407, . M-Sa 11AM-5PM in summer. Historical fire trucks and firefighting equipment from the Gold Rush era to present. Admission by donation. (updated Jun 2022)
  • 8 Dawson City Museum, 595 Firth St, ☏ +1 867 993-5291. Heritage museum with several exhibition rooms, including the "Klondike Mines Railway Locomotive Shelter". (updated Sep 2024)
  • 9 Jack London Museum and Cabin, 600 Firth St (8th Ave and Firth St). May-Sep: M-Sa 1PM-4PM; Interpretive talk starts at 2PM daily. The celebrated novelist joined the Klondike Gold Rush. His time in Dawson City inspired him to write novels on adventures in the wilderness. Admission by donation. (updated Jun 2022)
  • 10 Midnight Dome Viewpoint (via Dome Road). Midnight Dome viewpoint, whose summit (879 m) is 2.0 km (as the crow flies) north-east of downtown Dawson City, overlooking the Klondyke River Valley, the Yukon River Valley and the city. A trail and Dome Road allow you to explore this mountain. The site is recommended for viewing the Northern Lights. (updated Sep 2024)
  • Mount Bronson Lookout. Lookout on Mount Bronson, whose summit (1123 m) is located 10 km south of downtown Dawson City, overlooking the Klondyke River Valley, the Yukon River Valley and the city. A trail allows you to explore this mountain. (updated Sep 2024)
  • 11 A Tribute to the Miner, Front St. Statue of a miner. (updated Sep 2024)
  • 12 Mammoth Sculpture, 602 Front St. Statue of a mammoth. (updated Sep 2024)
  • Bonanza Creek. Drive south for 18 km to Bonanza Creek. This is where prospectors struck the first gold material that kicked off the Klondike Gold Rush. Along the way, you’ll also pass Dredge No. 4, a National Historic Site. There are some self-guided trails in the area and a viewpoint at Cripple Hill. (updated Sep 2024)
    • 13 Dredge No. 4 (along Bonanza Creek Road 13 km (8.1 mi) south of the Klondike Highway). A wooden-hulled bucketline sluice dredge that mined placer gold on the Yukon River from 1913 until 1959. It is preserved as one of the National Historic Sites of Canada. It is the largest wooden-hulled dredge in North America. Dredge No. 4 (Q22975473) on Wikidata Dredge No. 4 on Wikipedia (updated Mar 2022)
  • Leaning houses. Leaning houses built on permafrost. (updated Sep 2024)

Places of worship

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  • 14 St Paul's Anglican Church, Church St, ☏ +1 867 993-6530. Anglican Church. (updated Sep 2024)
  • 15 St Andrew's Presbyterian Church, 402 Church St. (updated Sep 2024)
  • 16 St. Mary's Catholic Church, King St, ☏ +1 867 993-5361. Catholic church. (updated Sep 2024)
  • Pioneer Cemetery. In this cemetery, trees have grown for a hundred years through the burial sites. (updated Sep 2024)
  • Other cemeteries. The towns has a great variety of cemeteries, including Jewish, Masonic, RCMP, and others. They are a reminder of the town's colourful past. They are just a short drive up Crocus Bluff and halfway up the shoulder of the Midnight Dome mountain that looms over the town. (updated Sep 2024)

Events

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  • Discovery Day Celebrations. Annually, the 3rd weekend of August. This weekend festival in Dawson City typically includes these activities: a parade (route: Front St., Church St., Fifth Avenue, King St.) of floats with an after parade at the Front St. Gazebo, a baseball tournament, a golf tournament, a horticultural show (in a large tent on Front Street), a bike rodeo, and live music and art... (updated Sep 2024)
  • Moosehide Gathering. 3-day celebrations every two years. The Moosehide Gathering is an inclusive event to share and celebrate Hän traditions and culture. This festival brings together people from Canada, Alaska and international visitors. The festival is held at the Moosehide Village Heritage Site, 3 kilometres downstream from Dawson City (on the north side). All participants enjoy live entertainment, dancing, drumming and singing... In addition, there are guest presenters, arts and crafts displays/booths, community meals... Participants are invited to camp for free at Moosehide Village. Regular boat transportation is available free of charge from Dawson. The first Moosehide Gathering was held in 1993. (updated Sep 2024)
  • 1 Golf Tournaments, Golf Course Rd (in a wooded environment on the west bank of the Yukon River (8.8 km south of the ferry dock)), ☏ +1 867 993-2500. Annually, Midnight Sun Tournament (3rd week of June) and Discovery Days Tournament (Aug 15-17). Dawson City Golf Course organizes some summer golf tournaments. (updated Sep 2024)
  • 2 Diamond Tooth Gertie's Gambling Hall, 1001 Fourth Ave, ☏ +1 867 993-5575. A touristy relic of the old Gold Rush days but it is still a blast, frequented by locals and visitors. It is the only casino in northern Canada. $15 gets you in the door any day of the week, and in the summer at least there are three can-can shows a night in addition to gambling of all sorts, food, and of course local beers and drinks. Must be 19+. Diamond Tooth Gertie's Gambling Hall (Q22907776) on Wikidata Diamond Tooth Gerties Gambling Hall on Wikipedia (updated May 2020)
  • 3 Tombstone Territorial Park, Dempster Highway. The park protects over 2,100 km2 (810 sq mi) of rugged peaks, permafrost landforms and wildlife, including sections of the Blackstone Uplands and the Ogilvie Mountains. An interpretive centre, open in summer, provides visitors with necessary resources for accessing the backcountry and interpretive programs for understanding it, and several car camping sites. There are three designated backcountry campgrounds. Tombstone Territorial Park (Q844692) on Wikidata Tombstone Territorial Park on Wikipedia 
  • 4 Parks Canada Walking Tours, Visitor Information Centre: 1102 Front St #1102, ☏ +1 867 993-5566. From late May to the beginning of September, Parks Canada offers 1 to 1½-hour guided walking tours of the historic town, Dredge No.4, the S.S. Keno, and the Palace Grand Theatre. These tours provide access to buildings that are not open to the public such as the past office and the Red Feather Saloon. There is also an escape room experience ($76.75). Tickets are available at the Visitor Information Centre (corner of Front and King Streets) $6.75 per person, $15 for Sledge No. 4. (updated Jun 2022)
  • 5 Gold Bottom Mine Tours, 966 Front St (Front St. beside the Trading Post), ☏ +1 867 993-5023. 9:15AM, 1:30PM. An experiential tour of an operating placer gold mine in Dawson City Yukon. See placer mining up close and personal, learn some Klondike 98 mining history and do some creek gold panning, with the opportunity to take home anything you find. $40. (updated Jun 2022)
  • Try your luck panning for gold. Experience the Klondike Gold Rush in modern time by heading to Claim 33 at km 13 on Bonanza Creek Road to learn how to pan. Then bring your own tools to Free Claim No. 6 down the Bonanza Creek to pan for free at their claim.
  • 6 Klondike Spirit (Paddlewheeler cruise), Second Ave, ☏ +1 867 993-6584, . Cruise ship on the Yukon River. Purchase your tickets at the Birch Cabin located just north of the S.S. Keno at the entrance to the city docks. (updated Sep 2024)
  • 7 Dawson City Golf Course, Golf Course Rd (in a wooded environment on the west bank of the Yukon River (8.8 km to the South from the ferry dock)), ☏ +1 867 993-2500. May to September annually. A nine holes wilderness course. Clubhouse. (updated Sep 2024)

Dawson City is a commercial city where you can stock up on general needs in grocery stores, general stores, souvenir gift shops, regional craft stores, pharmacies, clothing stores, hardware stores, gold dealers, wellness centre, second-hand store and counters, etc.

  • 1 Dawson Trading Post (The Trading Post), 966 Front Street, ☏ +1 867 993-5316. Amazing examples of Tr'ondek Hwech'in products. Beaded vests, fur mittens and the like. The shop also has all the things you might need to make a journey out onto the land with more amenities. 
  • 2 Dawson City General Store, 1000 Front St, ☏ +1 867 993-5475. Grocery store. 
  • 3 The Raven's Nook, 1007 Second Ave, ☏ +1 867 993-5530. General store. 
  • 4 Bonanza Market, 926 Second Ave, ☏ +1 867 993-6567. Supermarket. 
  • 5 Anglican Church Thrift Shop, 718 Third Ave. Second-hand stores and counters. The resale of items that are still useful is popular. 

Bakeshops

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Souvenir gift shops

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Specialty or foreign style restaurants

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Drink

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  • 1 Sourdough Saloon, , 1026 Second Ave, ☏ +1 867 993-5076. A good bar, home of the "Sourtoe Cocktail Club": to join, down a shot of Yukon Jack whiskey garnished with a mummified human toe. Don't swallow the toe, though, or you'll be fined $2,500. Eat in. Take out. Downtown Hotel (Q18112038) on Wikidata Downtown Hotel on Wikipedia 
  • 2 The Pit, Westminster Hotel 929 Third Avenue, ☏ +1 867 993-6029. 9AM-11PM. For some local colour try the beer parlour at the Westminster Hotel or "the pit" (the dodgy-looking pink building on 3rd Ave) where gold mining fortunes and welfare cheques are cheerfully exchanged for $2 sleeves of draught beer almost any time of any day. Good local live music in the lounge next door at the pit on some nights. 
  • 3 The Sluice Box Lounge - No Minors, 902 Third Ave (in Eldorado, a Coast Hotel), ☏ +1 867 993-5451. Bar. Meals on site. 
  • 4 The Drunken Goat Taverna, 950 Second Ave. Greek restaurant. Eat in. Take out. 

Sleep

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Motels

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  • 13 Bonanza Gold Motel, Klondike Hwy, YT-2, . Motel and RV park. (updated Sep 2024)
  • 14 Dawson City River Hostel (on the west bank of the Yukon River; take the ferry to reach the west bank of the river), ☏ +1 867 993-6823, . Seasonal monthly tenting available. Bike and canoe rentals and van tours by demand. Owner is author of the "Yukon Travel Adventure Guide" and "The Saga of the Sourtoe". Dorms from $20 (members), $22 (non-members), private rooms $48. Tenting fees are: $14 one person one tent and $10 per person if more than one per tent. (updated Jun 2022)

Chalet rental agency

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  • 17 Whitehouse Cabins, 1626 Front St (near the ferry dock). (updated Sep 2024)

Campgrounds

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  • 18 Bonanza Gold Motel, Klondike Hwy, YT-2, . Motel and RV park. Full hookups (15/30/50 amps) with cable TV, Wi-Fi. (updated Sep 2024)
  • 19 Gold Rush Campground, 1207 Fifth Ave., ☏ +1 867 993-5247. Campground. (updated Sep 2024)
  • 20 Dawson City RV Park & Campground, 716 Klondike Hwy (on the south shore, near the bridge spanning the Klondike River), ☏ +1 867 993-5142. Check-out: 11AM. Campground and RV parking. (updated Sep 2024)
  • 21 Miners Rest RV, 141 Rabbit Creek Rd, ☏ +1 867 993-2933. Check-out: 11AM. Campground. (updated Sep 2024)
  • 22 Yukon River Campground, Route 9 (on the west bank of the Yukon River off the "Top of the World Highway", near the ferry and near the Sternwheeler Graveyard). Campground operated by Yukon Parks. It offers 102 campsites. It offers several cook shelters. (updated Sep 2024)

Connect

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Cope

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Go next

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Routes through Dawson City
END ←  N Klondike Highway S  → Jct Robert Campbell Highway E → Whitehorse
Chicken (via ) ← Jct N ← ←  W Top of the World Highway E  → END


  • 1 Tombstone Territorial Park — Located in the centre of the Yukon, this park is home to some of the most beautiful mountains in the territory. This wild territory has been inhabited for over 8,000 years by indigenous people.
  • 2 Skagway — A city in southern Alaska that serves as the terminus of the Alaska Marine Highway. Like Dawson City, Yukon, it was a boomtown during the gold rush of 1896–1899. Today, tourism is its main economic vocation, thanks to the natural beauty of its mountainous setting, its recreational and tourist infrastructure, and its great history as a passageway between the landing wharf and White Pass on the way to Dawson City.
  • 3 Carmacks, Yukon — Carmacks is a village located 180 km north of Whitehorse, on the Yukon River, at the junction of the Klondike Highway and the Robert Campbell Highway. A bridge spans the Yukon River. The "Northern Tutchone" Aboriginal community lives there. Main attractions: boating, hunting, fishing, snowmobiling, quad biking, dog sled racing (in February) between Whitehorse and Fairbanks.
This city travel guide to Dawson City is a usable article. It has information on how to get there and on restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page.
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