Page 15 - RV Yukon
P. 15
Surrounded by aquamarine glacial
lakes and impressive mountain peaks,
the small town of Atlin is truly unique.
Atlin is located in northern British
Columbia, however, the only way
to access the community by road is
through the Yukon.
Atlin lies within the traditional territory
of the Taku River Tlingit First Nation,
but as elsewhere, the town grew as
a result of the Klondike Gold Rush.
Thousands of settlers flocked to the
region in 1898 and helped establish a
busy mining community. At it’s peak,
the population of Atlin was 10,000.
Many buildings from that era still
remain.
The area remained popular as a
tourist destination well into the
1920s when it was known as the
“Switzerland of the North.” Visitors
and residents would come to Atlin
by traveling north through the Inside
Passage and the Alaskan Panhandle
by boat, then catch a train to one
of the two lake steamers that would
cross Atlin Lake and bring them to
town. One steamer, the Tarahne,
still sits on the shores of Atlin today.
The Great Depression of the 1930s
caused the decline of both tourism
and mining, and Atlin was abandoned.
Residents were isolated until 1950,
when the Atlin Road was completed.
Today, Atlin is home to about 450
residents. The main economy is
mining and tourism, but the town is
also a draw for a number of artists,
authors and artisans. The Atlin Arts
and Music Festival brings the town
alive each year in July.
You can reach Atlin by turning south
off of the Alaska Highway near Jake’s
Corner onto the Atlin Road.
Atlin Lake
At over 780 square kilometres,
glacier-fed Atlin Lake is British
Columbia’s biggest lake. It is six
and a half kilometres wide and
137 kilometres long, although the
northern tip is in the Yukon. The
name “Atlin” comes from the Tlingit
name Áa Tlein meaning “big lake.” The
lake is popular for fishing, boating and
other water activities.
Atlin, British Columbia
Tagish is a small community of about
400 people located in the heart of the
Yukon’s Southern Lakes region. It can
be reached either by turning west at
Jake’s corner off the Alaska Highway,
or by turning east at Carcross from
the South Klondike Highway. The
road that connects Tagish to both
the Alaska Highway and the South
Klondike Highway is called the Tagish
Road. It’s a much recommended
itinerary add-on to anyone visiting
the Yukon. Stay at the government
campground or for those looking for
the extra amenities you can stay at
the Six Mile River Resort. Stroll along
the sandy beach along Tagish Lake or
try your luck at some angling.
The Tagish Road winds through the
heart of the Yukon’s Southern Lakes
region. Jake’s corner is about 1 km
away from the Atlin Road turn off.
Tagish can be found about 30 km east
of Carcross along the Tagish Road.
The Tagish Road was part of the
original route of the Alaska Highway.
It was also the area where the
RCMP set up during the gold rush to
monitor the activities of gold-seekers
and trappers. It offers excellent
opportunities to view wildlife and
access the Southern Lakes.
Scenic views along
the Tagish Road
Located on the Klondike Highway
south of Whitehorse, the village of
Carcross was originally called Caribou
Crossing by prospectors who had
reached this junction point of the
Tagish and Bennett lakes en route to
the Klondike gold fields at Dawson.
Twice a year large herds of caribou
migrated across the easily forded
Nares Lake shallows east of the
townsite, which was first developed
to serve prospectors and soon
became an important stopping point
for the White Pass & Yukon Railway in
September, 1898. The Caribou Hotel
opened in the same year and the
building, a historic site, is currently
open for drinks and food. Make sure
to take a stroll along Bennett beach
and enjoy the mountain scenery.
Other points of interest include the
Carcross Desert, world’s smallest
desert and Carcross Commons, a
retail village featuring a carving shed,
the Carcross Visitor Information
Centre, a bakery/coffee shop, a
restaurant and an art gallery.
SOUTHERN LAKES REGION
Tagish
Carcross
Looking north up Atlin Lake towards
Mount Minto and the Yukon border.
Photo © Northern BC Tourism/Andrew Strain
www.destinationcarcross.ca
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