Discover upcoming events, programs and seasonal offerings at Yukon parks, campgrounds and recreation sites.
Celebrate Parks Day Saturday, July 18
Come celebrate Parks Day at a Yukon park near you! To mark the occasion, we're hosting free, family friendly events at Five Mile Lake Campground, Kusawa Lake Campground, Tombstone Territorial Park and Wye Lake Park (in collaboration with the Town of Watson Lake).
Five Mile Lake Campground
Not-actually-5-miles nature walk
Time: 10 to 11:30 am
Location: Meet at the beach parking area at Five Mile Lake Campground.
As a part of Parks Day celebrations, we’re leading a nature walk around Five Mile Lake. Don’t let the name deceive you, it’s only 3 kilometers long. We’ll look at the different plants and animals that make their homes in a ‘riparian’ habitat. This event involves walking an uneven trail with little elevation change, but possible blow-down trees or detours. Closed-toed shoes and bug spray are highly recommended.
Family nature games
Time: 1 to 4 pm
Location: Meet at the beach parking area at Five Mile Lake Campground.
Join the Wildlife Viewing Program at the beach for fun nature activities for the whole family. Drop-in between 1 and 4 pm for scavenger hunts, games, or nature challenges to celebrate the wildlife of our parks.
Learn to paddle a canoe
Time: 1 pm, 2 pm and 3 pm
Location: This event takes place at Five Mile Lake in Mayo. Canoes will be launched from a sand beach, but dock access is available for people with limited mobility.
Paddling a canoe is the quintessential park experience. Learn the basics of canoeing – entering and exiting a canoe, paddle strokes, and safety. All equipment including canoes, life jackets, paddles and safety equipment will be provided.
Space is limited so register here (registration opens June 18).
Campfire singalong and s’mores
Time: 7 pm
Location: Five Mile Lake Campground, exact site TBD. Look for signs at the campground.
Finish off your Parks Day fun around singing songs and roasting marshmallows around the campfire. We’ll mix up the playlist with some summer camp favourites and classic singalongs. Songs books, marshmallows and enthusiastic but not necessarily talents musical leaders are provided. Bring an instrument to play along!
Kusawa Lake Campground
Pika Hike
Time: 10 am to 4 pm
Location: Meet at the Kusawa Ridge trailhead by the bridge. See a map of the meeting location.
Alpine hike to see and learn about pikas with a Government of Yukon biologist. Bring sturdy footwear, a lunch, clothes for the weather and binoculars if you have them. Challenging 4 to 5 hour hike up a steep trail with unstable rocks. If it's raining at meeting time, the hike will change to a fireside pika chat in the kitchen shelter at 11 am.
Kids activities
Time: 1 to 4 pm
Location: Meet in loop 1 at the Kusawa Lake Campground, near the playground. See a map of the meeting location.
Pin making, draw prizes, s’mores and a scavenger hunt.
Campfire stories
Time: 7 to 8 pm
Location: Meet in loop 1 at the Kusawa Lake Campground. See a map of the meeting location.
Learn about ancient stories and travel through the area with Champagne and Aishihik First Nation storyteller John Fingland. Bring your camp chair.
Tombstone Territorial Park
Guided alpine hike
Time: 10 am
Location: Meet at the Tombstone Interpretive Centre.
Bring a lunch, water and hiking boots. This hike will take approximately 4 or 5 hours.
Free barbeque
Time: 5 to 6 pm
Location: Meet at the Tombstone Interpretive Centre.
Join us for a free hot dog bbq to celebrate Parks Day.
Wye Lake Park
This event is presented in collaboration with the town of Watson Lake.
Invasive plant species removal and guided plant walk
Time: 10 am to 12 pm
Location: Wye Lake Park
Learn about plants and help remove invasive species with Krystal Isbister of FloraTek Consulting.
Arts in the Park
Time: 11 am to 2 pm
Location: Wye Lake Park
Stop in to enjoy live music, local vendors and a community bbq.
Bike repair clinic
Time: 11 am to 2 pm
Location: Wye Lake Park
Bring your bike by for some free bike maintenance tips, tools, parts and advice provided by the ChainWhip bike collective.
Scavenger hunt
Time: 11 am to 2 pm
Location: Wye Lake Park
Drop-in scavenger hunt around Wye Lake.
Programming starts June 8 and runs until August 31.
Artists in the park
Each summer, the park hosts an artist in residence in partnership with Friends of Dempster Country and the Yukon Arts Centre. Find details on our Facebook page or on posters at the centre and campground.
For more information and to apply for the residency, contact the Yukon Arts Centre.
Tombstone Artist in Residence: Philomene Campeau-Levesque
Sunday, July 5 to Saturday, July 11
Tuesday, July 28 to Saturday, August 1
Wednesday, July 8
2 pm - Pottery workshop at the Tombstone Interpretive Centre. Registration is required. Register in person at the Interpretive Centre or by emailing [email protected].
Thursday, July 9
11 am to 3 pm - Artist demonstration. Visit the artist's wall tent in the Tombstone Mountain Campground to see Philomene at work.
Tuesday, July 28
2 pm - Pottery workshop at the Tombstone Interpretive Centre. Registration is required. Register in person at the Interpretive Centre or by emailing [email protected].
Thursday, July 30
11 am to 3 pm - Artist demonstration. Visit the artist's wall tent in the Tombstone Mountain Campground to see Philomene at work.
Friday, July 31
7 pm - Open house and artist farewell. Come see all the artwork Philomene created during her residency.
Weekly programming
Monday
2 pm - Nature walk, 1 hour.
6:30 pm - Guided hike: Goldensides Trail, 3 to 4 hours.
Tuesday
3 pm - Bannock and tea, Tombstone Interpretive Centre.
Wednesday
2 pm - Guided hike: Hart River Winter Road, 2 hours.
7:30 pm - Campfire program, Tombstone Mountain Campground.
Thursday
2 pm - Nature walk, 1 hour
7 pm - Guided hike: Beaver Pond Trail, 2 hours
Friday
2 pm - Nature walk, 1 hour
7:30 pm - Campfire program, Tombstone Mountain Campground.
Saturday
10 am - Guided hike: Alpine adventure, 4 to 5 hours.
2 pm - Pop up program, Tombstone Interpretive Centre.
Sunday
10 am - Guided hike: North Klondike, 2 hours.
2 pm - Pop up program, Tombstone Interpretive Centre.
Some campgrounds and recreation sites are serviced through the winter. Remember the following when visiting Yukon Parks in the winter:
- Keep motorized vehicles off trails.
- Do not disturb ski tracks.
- Pick up after your pets and keep them leashed.
- Bring your own firewood if you plan to have a fire.
- Always measure the ice thickness before going out on frozen lakes or rivers. Yukon Parks does not monitor ice thickness.
- Do not use the ice unless you measure a minimum of:
- 10 centimetres/4 inches for skating, ice fishing, walking, cross country skiing; or
- 12 centimetres/5 inches for one snowmobile.
- Do not use the ice unless you measure a minimum of:
If you have questions, email [email protected] or phone 867-667-5648, toll free in the Yukon 1-800-661-0408, extension 5648.