Wild Discoveries
2025 events calendar
Wild Discoveries is a program that provides opportunities for Yukoners and visitors to learn about and engage with the natural world. We offer interpretive walks and hikes, talks and public presentations that focus on a specific wildlife topic.
Scroll down to view events. Check back regularly as we add events throughout the year.
All events are free unless otherwise noted. Events with capacity restrictions require registration. If applicable, a registration link will be included in the event description. Cancel your registration if you cannot attend so we can offer the spot to someone on the waitlist.
Some of our events take place in hard to find locations. For those events, we use a service called what3words to show the exact meeting location. Simply click on the link provided, if applicable.
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Events
Wild Discoveries 2025
Frog walk
Wednesday, May 21*
*Note date change.
Join us on a short walk on the trails of Hillcrest to Paddy’s Pond to look and listen for Wood Frogs croaking. We'll learn about these unique amphibians and how they survive our cold northern winters, then sit down and quietly wait for them to start croaking.
Rubber boots for walking on muddy trails are recommended. A light camp chair or sit-upon is nice if you want to relax and enjoy the view and sounds.
Time: 7 to 8 pm
Cost: free
Location: The Hillcrest neighbourhood in Whitehorse (exact location provided upon registration)
Registration is required for this event. Check your email the day of in case we postpone due to the lack of frogs. The timing of frog activity can be tricky.
Paddle the Lewes
Sunday, June 1
If you have your own boat and know how to paddle it, join us for a 14-km paddle down the Lewes River and Lewes Marsh. Along the way, we’ll look for shorebirds, ducks, muskrats and other wildlife.
While this section of the river is slow moving, it can be challenging in high winds. Participants must have prior experience paddling sections of the Yukon River or similar stretches of moving class 1 water.
This is a BYOB (bring your own boat) event. You must provide your own non-motorized vessel (canoe, kayak, stand-up paddle board) and all the necessary safety equipment.
Please register for this event so we can provide important event information and updates.
Time: 9 am to 3 pm
Cost: free
Location: Meet at M’Clintock River Bridge boat launch (Alaska Highway KM-1381.3) – the put in – at 9 am. This is about 30 minutes south of Whitehorse. As a group, we’ll shuttle vehicles about 10 km to the take out at the Yukon River Bridge rest stop/boat launch (Alaska Highway KM-1392.8).
Register for this event (opens at noon two weeks before).
Kids on the cliffs (Mountain Goat viewing)
Friday, June 6
There are few better ways to spend a Friday night than looking for ungulates on the side of a mountain in the evening light. The story of Mountain Goats is quite the cliffhanger, and we’ll tell you why on an excursion at Mount White. After a short walk along the base of the mountain, we’ll set up viewing scopes for a better look at billies, nannies and kids (baby goats) in the bluffs above.
This event involves driving two hours (180 km) roundtrip from Whitehorse and walking approximately 1 km return on an uneven gravel path. The elevation gain is about 30 m.
Time: 6 to 10 pm
Cost: free
Location: meet at 10 Burns Road in Whitehorse to carpool/caravan approximately one hour to White Mountain.
Orchid acres – West Dawson
Monday, June 16
Spotted Lady’s Slipper Orchids are beautiful to behold. Take a wander along the Orchid Trail in West Dawson with local nature enthusiast Sebastian Jones and learn about orchids (and the profusion of other interesting local plants). Remember to take only photos and leave the flowers for all to enjoy.
This event involves hiking approximately 2 km over gently sloping terrain.
Time: 7 pm
Cost: free
Location: Meet at the Yukon River Campground entrance. From there, we’ll carpool/caravan 5 km to the trailhead.