Orchid walk at Paddy’s Pond

Tuesday, July 2 

Take a walk on the Hillcrest trails and look for these elegant flowers with Denise Gordon, orchid enthusiast and Department of Environment project technician. If the timing is right, we’ll see one or more species of these beautiful flowers in bloom.  

Time: 7 to 8:30 pm 

Cost: free 

Location: Meet at the gas station on Hillcrest Drive and Burns Road and we’ll walk up to the pond together.  

See a map of the meeting location. 

Small mammals on the move

Thursday, July 4 

You’ve heard the territorial chattering of a Red Squirrel, but most small mammals don’t advertise their presence as obviously. In this demonstration of live trapping, Tom Jung, senior wildlife biologist, will explain the role these boreal forest critters play in the ecosystem and the importance of monitoring them. You might even get to see some small mammals up close.  

This event involves walking a couple of kilometres on trails. 

Time: 7 to 8:30 

Cost: free 

Location: Meet at the parking lot at Hidden Lakes, off the Chadburn Lake Road.  

See a map of the meeting location. 

Knee-high nature: Horns and antlers

Friday, July 5  

Spend time outdoors exploring the natural world with your toddlers* (ages four and under). Knee-High Nature programs are specifically designed to introduce little ones to plants, animals and their habitats. Each week, we’ll focus on a different theme, with hands-on activities and lots of movement. You and your young’uns are sure to enjoy this time together.   

*This is not child-minding. We require at least one adult for every four children. This program is for children four and under.  

Distance and terrain: easy exploring of the surrounding forest and trails.   

Time: 10:30 to 11:30 am  

Cost: free 

Location: Meet at the pumphouse at Middle McIntyre (behind Yukon University) in Whitehorse. Take College Drive and turn down the unmarked road on the left.

See a map of the meeting location.

Pika palace

Sunday, July 7

The mining roads of Keno Hill give us access to the alpine and prime pika habitat. We’ll drive to the top then have a gentle hike around looking for Collared Pika, Hoary Marmots, alpine flowers and rare arctic butterflies. You'll need hiking boots or rubber boots, a wind/rain jacket, toque and warm layers and snacks for the walk.

Distance and terrain: hiking approximately 2 kilometres over uneven terrain.

Time: 11 am to 1 pm

Cost: free

Location: Meet at the Alpine Interpretive Centre in Keno City (approximately 5.5 hours from Whitehorse and 3.5 hours from Dawson City). We'll carpool/caravan 10 km up to Keno Hill (high clearance vehicle recommended). 

See a map of the meeting location.

Knee-high nature: Beautiful birds

Tuesday, July 9  

Spend time outdoors exploring the natural world with your toddlers* (ages four and under). Knee-High Nature programs are specifically designed to introduce little ones to plants, animals and their habitats. Each week, we’ll focus on a different theme, with hands-on activities and lots of movement. You and your young’uns are sure to enjoy this time together.   

*This is not child-minding. We require at least one adult for every four children. This program is for children four and under.  

Distance and terrain: easy exploring of the surrounding forest and trails.   

Time: 10:30 to 11:30 am  

Cost: free 

Location: Meet in the greenspace at Black Street and Wheeler Street in downtown Whitehorse. 

See a map of the meeting location. 

Neighbourhood nature: Porcupine Ridge

Tuesday, July 9 

Explore local trails in the Wilderness City in our series of weekly neighbourhood nature walks. This week, we’ll explore Porcupine Ridge, a popular trail across the valley behind Copper Ridge.

This event involves walking up to 6 km on trails.  

Time: 7 to 8:30 pm  

Cost: free 

Location: Meet at the greenbelt across from North Star Drive and Iron Horse Drive in Copper Ridge. 

See a map of the meeting location. 

Herbal plant walk and talk

Wednesday, July 10  

Join herbalist and aromatherapist Beverley Gray on an interactive wild plant walk and talk.  This workshop covers plant identification, usage and health benefits of local boreal wild plants and respectful gathering practices. 

Beverley is the owner of Aroma Borealis in Whitehorse and author of The Boreal Herbal: Wild Food and Medicine Plants of the North.  

Time: 7 to 9 pm 

Cost: free 

Location: Meet at the parking lot at Hidden Lakes, off the Chadburn Lake Road.  

See a map of the meeting location. 

Haines Road Yukon Bioblitz  

Friday, July 12 to Sunday, July 14 

Be a citizen scientist! All are welcome to join the Haines Road Yukon 2024 Bioblitz; no experience is necessary. A bioblitz is a communal effort to record as many species as possible within a designated location and time. This year we'll explore sites along the Haines Road from the BC border to km 208. The bioblitz will operate out of Million Dollar Falls campground, so come for a campout, work with experts, and contribute to data collection in the Yukon. 

Please register for this event so we can provide additional details. 

Friday, July 12 at 7 pm

Guided interpretive walk from the campground to practice observation techniques, learn how to photograph and document with iNaturalist and get to know local flora and fauna. 

Saturday, July 13

10 am: Meet at Million Dollars Falls campground for introductions, safety briefings and schedule for the day. Participants can either explore the bioblitz zone on their own or join a guided group that will be assigned a specific location to blitz.  

7 pm: Enjoy a piece of Bioblitz celebration cake and share highlights from the day and chat with scientists from across North America who are experts in their field. 

Sunday, July 14 at 10 am

Join us on a vigorous hike up a mountain trail looking for Star-flowered Draba (a rare Yukon plant) and anything else we can spot! This is a physically challenging four-hour return hike with significant elevation gain. Participants must be prepared with proper hiking boots, trekking poles, food, water and warm clothing.  

Cost: All activities are free. Participants must be self-sufficient with camping equipment, food and water. 

Location: Million Dollar Falls Campground, Haines Road km 159.

See a map of the meeting location.

Balade découverte de plantes sauvages 

lundi 15 juillet

Cette balade est en français!

Découvrez les plantes boréales au gré d’une balade et discussion avec Sylvie Binette, biologiste et fervente adepte d’ethnobotanique. Cet atelier permet de découvrir, d’identifier et d’apprendre à utiliser les plantes locales de façon responsable.

Sylvie Binette est la propriétaire de Heavenly Wild, une petite entreprise de transformation de produits de cueillette que l’on retrouve aux marchés locaux de Whitehorse.

Heure : 19 h à 20 h 30

Coût : gratuit

Point de rencontre : Stationnement de Miles Canyon

Voir le point de rencontre sur la carte

Neighbourhood nature: Crestview 

Tuesday, July 16 

This week on our neighbourhood nature walk we’ll be discovering the trails around Crestview and searching for the beautiful Monkeyflower and Twayblade.  

This event involves walking up to 4 km on trails.  

Time: 7 to 8:30 pm  

Cost: free 

Location: Meet at corner of Klukshu and Crag Road. 

See a map of the meeting location. 

Knee-high nature: Flowers and colours

Thursday, July 18  

Spend time outdoors exploring the natural world with your toddlers* (ages four and under). Knee-High Nature programs are specifically designed to introduce little ones to plants, animals and their habitats. Each week, we’ll focus on a different theme, with hands-on activities and lots of movement. You and your young’uns are sure to enjoy this time together.   

*This is not child-minding. We require at least one adult for every four children. This program is for children four and under.  

Distance and terrain: easy exploring of the surrounding forest and trails.   

Time: 10:30 to 11:30 am  

Cost: free 

Location: Meet at the pumphouse at Middle McIntyre (behind Yukon University) in Whitehorse. Take College Drive and turn down the unmarked road on the left.

See a map of the meeting location.

Wildlife on the water

Monday, July 22

Join us as we try wildlife viewing from a different perspective: the water! As part of National Drowning Prevention Week, the City of Whitehorse will be at the Chadburn Lake boat launch to talk about boating safety and proper flotation. Enjoy a mocktail and then head out on the water with us to look for loons, beaver, fish, and even critters we can see on shore. If it’s too windy, we’ll practice water safety by changing this wildlife viewing experience to a nice walk in the woods at Chadburn Lake.

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.

Time: 7 to 8:30 pm

Cost: free

Location: Chadburn Lake boat launch

See a map of the meeting location.

Neighbourhood nature: Hospital Ridge trail 

Tuesday, July 23 

This week on our neighbourhood nature walk we’ll head up Hospital Ridge for great views of the Yukon River and explore an easily accessible trail in Riverdale.  

This event involves walking up to 4 km on trails.  

Time: 7 to 8:30 pm  

Cost: free 

Location: Meet at the pullout on Wickstrom Road, behind the Thomson Centre.  

See a map of the meeting location. 

Knee-high nature: Tracks and scats

Thursday, July 25  

Spend time outdoors exploring the natural world with your toddlers* (ages four and under). Knee-High Nature programs are specifically designed to introduce little ones to plants, animals and their habitats. Each week, we’ll focus on a different theme, with hands-on activities and lots of movement. You and your young’uns are sure to enjoy this time together.   

*This is not child-minding. We require at least one adult for every four children. This program is for children four and under.  

Distance and terrain: easy exploring of the surrounding forest and trails.   

Time: 10:30 to 11:30 am  

Cost: free 

Location: Jim Light Park at Third Avenue and Rogers Street in downtown Whitehorse. 

See a map of the meeting location.

Mt. Anderson wildflower hike 

Saturday, July 27  

On this Mt. Anderson hike in the Wheaton valley, we’ll climb into the alpine looking for flowers, caribou, marmots, raptors and butterflies along the way. This full-day hike follows an ATV track and involves significant elevation gain (867 m). You’ll need sturdy hiking boots, warm clothing layers, trekking poles, lunch, water and snacks.   

Distance and terrain: hiking 14 km with 867 m of elevation gain.  

Time: 9:30 am to 5 pm  

Cost: free 

Location: Meet at the parking lot at the start of the Annie Lake Road on the South Klondike Highway, about 17 km from the Alaska Highway turnoff. From there, we'll carpool /caravan 34 km on a gravel road to the trailhead.    

See a map of the meeting location. 

Neighbourhood nature 

Tuesday, July 30 

Join us for our weekly nature walk. We’ll add the location of this walk soon.  

Time: 7 to 8:30 pm  

Cost: free 

Location: TBD. Check back for an update.  

Knee-high nature: Buzzing bugs

Thursday, August 1 

Spend time outdoors exploring the natural world with your toddlers* (ages four and under). Knee-High Nature programs are specifically designed to introduce little ones to plants, animals and their habitats. Each week, we’ll focus on a different theme, with hands-on activities and lots of movement. You and your young’uns are sure to enjoy this time together.   

*This is not child-minding. We require at least one adult for every four children. This program is for children four and under.  

Distance and terrain: easy exploring of the surrounding forest and trails.   

Time: 10:30 to 11:30 am  

Cost: free 

Location: Meet in the greenspace at Black Street and Wheeler Street in downtown Whitehorse. 

See a map of the meeting location. 

Neighbourhood nature: Airport trail 

Tuesday, August 6 

Explore local trails in the Wilderness City in our series of weekly neighbourhood nature walks. This week, we’ll climb the Black Street stairs and explore the Airport Trail to look for plants and Arctic Ground Squirrels.  

This event involves walking up to 5 km on trails.  

Time: 7 to 8:30 pm  

Cost: free 

Location: Meet at Black Street and Wheeler Street in downtown Whitehorse.  

See a map of the meeting location. 

Knee-high nature: Amazing amphibians

Thursday, August 8 

Spend time outdoors exploring the natural world with your toddlers* (ages four and under). Knee-High Nature programs are specifically designed to introduce little ones to plants, animals and their habitats. Each week, we’ll focus on a different theme, with hands-on activities and lots of movement. You and your young’uns are sure to enjoy this time together.   

*This is not child-minding. We require at least one adult for every four children. This program is for children four and under.  

Distance and terrain: easy exploring of the surrounding forest and trails.   

Time: 10:30 to 11:30 am  

Cost: free 

Location: Meet at the pumphouse at Middle McIntyre (behind Yukon University) in Whitehorse. Take College Drive and turn down the unmarked road on the left.

See a map of the meeting location.

Going batty in Whitehorse 

Friday, August 9  

This is the perfect event for the night owls among us! We’ll meet at the Chadburn Lake gazebo around sunset and walk about 15 minutes on a level but rooty trail to the Chadburn Lake cabins. Once the bats come out, we'll see biologists briefly capturing and tagging them as part of the Department of Environment's monitoring program.

Bring warm layers, bug spray, sturdy walking shoes and a headlamp for the walk back.  

Distance and terrain: walking about 2.5 km on a flat but uneven trail.  

Time: 9:30 pm to midnight (bats are nocturnal) 

Cost: free  

Meeting location: Chadburn Lake Recreation Site, at the end of the Chadburn Lake Road in Whitehorse.   

See a map of the meeting location. 

Takhini salt flats walk   

Wednesday, August 14  

Discover what wildlife thrives in a salty environment. Join plant expert Bruce Bennett for a scenic stroll through a mosaic of meadow, open forest and ponds, and enjoy views of the surrounding mountains.  

Rubber boots are recommended as are warm layers. This event involves a 90-km (return) drive from Whitehorse.  

Distance and terrain: walking up to three kilometres over uneven terrain and gentle hills and potentially wet ground. 

Time: 5:30 to 9 pm 

Cost: free  

Location: Meet at the Yukon Department of Environment at 10 Burns Road, Whitehorse. We will carpool/caravan 45 km (one way) to the site and back.   

Mushroom power up 1 

Thursday, August 15 

Join local mushroom enthusiast Sam Skinner for a primer on fungi and a short walk to see how many we can identify. You’ll learn about the importance of fungi in our ecosystems and why a mushroom is like the tip of an iceberg in the ocean.  

Distance and terrain: walking 1 km over uneven terrain with one steep, short hill.  

Time: 7 to 8:30 pm   

Cost: free 

Registration is required for this popular event. 

Register for this event (registration opens Thursday Aug 8 at 12 pm). Cancel your registration if you can’t make it so someone else can join.      

Meeting location: Whitehorse; exact location will be provided to registered participants.    

Mushrooms 101  

Tuesday, Aug 20 

It’s mushroom season! Join local fungi enthusiast Sam Skinner for a lecture about the biology of Yukon mushrooms.  If you can't make one of the mushroom walks (or they are full), this is a great altenative. We’ll share resources you might need to go mushroom hunting yourself and provide examples of what to look for when identifying the fungus among us. 

Time: 7 to 8 pm 

Cost: free 

Location: Grey Mountain Room, Mt. McIntyre Recreation Centre, Whitehorse. 

Mushroom power up 2 

Thursday, Aug. 22 

Join local mushroom enthusiast Sam Skinner for a primer on fungi and a short walk to see how many we can identify. You’ll learn about the importance of fungi in our ecosystems and why a mushroom is like the tip of an iceberg in the ocean.  

Distance and terrain: walking 1 km over uneven terrain with one steep, short hill.  

Time: 7 to 8:30 pm   

Cost: free

Registration is required for this popular event. If you signed up for Mushroom power up 1, please do not register for this event.    

Register for this event (opens Thursday, Aug 15 at 12 pm). Cancel your registration if you can’t make it so someone else can join.   

Meeting location: Whitehorse; exact location will be provided to registered participants.    

The fast and furious Red Squirrel 

Thursday, August 29 

At this time of year, Red Squirrels are working feverishly to collect enough cones to feed them through winter. The chatter of these animated rodents will take on new meaning after this evening walk in the woods with biologist Meghan Larivee.  

Time: 7 to 8:30 pm

Cost: free

Location: Robert Service Campground in Whitehorse (after entering the campground, turn right and park in the farthest lot).  

See a map of the meeting location. 

Red fish blue fish 

Wednesday, September 4 

Kokanee Salmon are the land-locked version of Sockeye Salmon and can be found at Scout Lake. Fisheries biologists will lead an evening walk to view the salmon in their spawning colours and talk about their life cycle and history. Bring polarized sunglasses if you have them, they make it easier to see into the water.  

Distance and terrain: hiking about 3 kilometres over uneven terrain with one steep, short hill.  

Time: 6 to 9 pm 

Cost: free  

Location: Meet at the Yukon Department of Environment at 10 Burns Road, Whitehorse. We'll carpool/caravan 45 km to the site and back. This event involves a 60-km (return) drive; a high-clearance vehicle is required.   

Stony Creek hike 

Saturday, Sept 14 

The Takhini Valley is glowing gold with fall colours at this time of year and the climb up Stony Creek provides prime viewing. We’ll follow the ATV trail, looking for wildlife and taking in the views. At the treeline, there’s a great place to have lunch before the final push to the summit. If there's time, we’ll walk further on the ridge and look for Collared Pika and Hoary Marmots. 

This is a long day but oh-so-worth it. Wear good hiking boots and bring warm layers (particularly for the top) and plenty of food and water. If you don't want to hike all the way to the top, you’re welcome to join us at the start and turn around whenever you would like. Below the alpine, the trail is straightforward and easy to follow.  

This event involves a 124 km (return) drive. 

Distance and terrain: a moderately difficult 17-km hike with 890 m elevation gain.   

Time: 9 am to 6 pm   

Cost: free

Location: Meet at the Yukon Department of Environment at 10 Burns Road, Whitehorse. We will carpool/caravan 62 km to the site and back.  

Boogie-woogie Elk bugling 

Friday Sept 27 

The Elk are in the rut and their eerie calls (bugling) can be heard in the woods of the Takhini Valley. It has become an annual tradition to finish our summer Wild Discoveries season with Elk bugling. We’ll drive out to the Takhini Valley and call for these large members of the deer family to see if they respond. We’ll also talk about the history of these ungulates in the Yukon and how they survive here.  

Remember to dress warmly as summer is over and we’ll be out until dark. This event involves a 90-km (return) drive.  

Distance and terrain: walking approximately 3 km along uneven terrain on a trail or in the woods.  

Time: 6 to 9 pm  

Cost: free

Location: Meet at the Yukon Department of Environment at 10 Burns Road, Whitehorse. We will carpool/caravan 45 km to the site and back.   

More events to come. Check back soon!