Montana Mountain At 2,219m (7,280’), Montana Mountain offers spectacular views and alpine meadows with plants and animals that lived Carcross Dunes here throughout the last ice age. You may also see Hoary Marmots and Woodland Caribou wandering the mountain The Carcross Desert and Dunes are the remains tops. Old mining roads offer easy access to this hiking area. of sand and silt deposited on the bottom of ancient Lake It has also become a popular area for mountain biking. Watson at the end of the last ice age 10,000 years ago. Even from a distance you may spot white Dall Sheep grazing After the lake disappeared with the glaciers, on the south-facing slopes of Montana Mountain. the Watson River cut through the sediment to bring a The town of Carcross and surrounding area is within the constant supply of sand and silt into Bennett Lake. traditional territory of the Carcross/Tagish First Nation. This sand is continuously blown onto shore by Montana Mountain is settlement land and should be treated the prevailing winds to form the current dynamic with respect by those who visit it. Historic artifacts and dune system. heritage resources are protected by law. Please leave Even though it is affectionately known as the Carcross them in place for others to enjoy. Desert, the dunes are not dry enough to be a real desert. That said, the Carcross Dunes are home to a variety of Bennett Lake rare plants and animals unique to this habitat. Bennett Lake is a glacial lake located on the border Caribou on the road (YG – Jan Adamczewski) A network of hiking trails allows you to explore the between B.C. and Yukon. During the Klondike Gold Rush Carcross Dunes. This is a fragile ecosystem; of 1898, prospectors who had just crossed the Coastal Woodland Caribou please respect it by staying on the trails. Mountains via the Chilkoot Trail or White Pass would start The name “Carcross” comes from “Caribou Crossing”, the their journey to Dawson City by raft or boat. original name of the community. The narrow Natasaheen For a beautiful walk, follow the beach west down the lake to River, between Bennett and Nares lakes, was a natural find the Bennett Lake viewing platform. This is a wonderful crossing for herds of Woodland Caribou during their picnic area. seasonal movements. Bennett Lake is home to a variety of fish such as Arctic Since the beginning of the 20th century, caribou Grayling and Lake Trout. The clear water of the lake allows populations have declined drastically. The Carcross/Tagish you to spot fish from the footbridge. First Nation, in cooperation with the Yukon government, has voluntarily banned hunting caribou in the region since 1993. Thanks to the Southern Lakes Caribou Recovery Program, Natasaheen River caribou numbers are stable today, though not as large as Nares Lake is very shallow near the highway and the they once were. Keep your eyes open for these symbols Natasaheen River remains relatively ice-free in winter, of the north. making it very attractive for many animals. In the spring and fall, this part of the territory is host to waterbirds such as Green-winged Teal, Northern Pintail, American Wigeon, Tundra and Trumpeter swans. The gazebo is a wonderful Protect the caribou: picnic spot with views up and down this deep, narrow lake. Drive carefully Arctic Grayling (YG – Kathi Egli) Every year, an average of 10 Southern Lakes Caribou are killed by collisions with highway vehicles. During the winter, when it is slippery and dark, please slow down and drive with extra care, for caribou may be on the road.
Hiking on the beach of Bennett Lake (YG – Emily Snow)
Animals and plants WILDLIFE VIEWIN G around Carcross
The Baikal Sedge (Carex sabulosa) is the only listed endangered plant in Canada’s North. It is a relic of Beringia and needs specific habitat, such as the Carcross Dunes, to live. Naturally e v r e S re tu Na
The rare Yukon Lupine (Lupinus kuschei) is only known ARCROSS Carcross from above (Bruce Bennett) C from sites in Yukon, Alaska, and
northwestern B.C. It is found in n n Maps and Guidebooks a abundance in the Carcross Dunes. rm e tt o Available locally through retail outlets G fan or the offices listed below. Ste and Moose
Siberian Asters (Aster sibiricus) Whitehorse & Area Hikes & Bikes are browsed by a number of by Yukon Conservation Society (2005 – Harbour Publishing Co. Ltd.) different animals, particularly deer and moose. Aster is Greek The Yukon Hiking Guide and Latin for “star”. by Curtis Vos (1999 – Borealis Books) (Stefan Gottermann) Carcross Desert orienteering and recreation map (1990 – Yukon Orienteering Association) Yukon’s Wildlife Viewing Guide (FREE)
The Gnorimoschema Moth For more information about wildlife viewing can be found in the Carcross Dunes. opportunities in Carcross, visit or contact: Although winged and fully capable of ) a Environment Yukon d a flight, they often run, hop, and flutter n Carcross Desert and town of a 10 Burns Road, Whitehorse C across their sandy home. re 867-667-8291 or 1-800-661-0408 ext. 8291 (in Yukon) tu ul ic gr www.wildlifeviewing.gov.yk.ca y (A JF Landr
Carcross Visitor Information Centre On front cover: Dall Sheep Swans, Hooker’s Potentilla, Trumpeter Mountain Goats inhabit the peaks 867-821-4431 (open May – Sept.) of the Coast Mountains along the Carcross/Tagish First Nation South Klondike Highway. Both ISBN 978-1-55362-453-0 867-821-8216 males and females have slender, July 2011 www.ctfn.ca Printed on 100% post-consumer recycled paper pointed horns. All photos Yukon government unless otherwise noted.
Below: Cow Moose (Stefan Gottermann), Showy Jacob’s Ladder, Arctic Ground Squirrel (SG) and Rocky Mountain Parnassian Butterfly
Dall Sheep can be found in alpine meadows and on the sheer rock faces of the mountains around Carcross. Ewes have small horns while rams have large curved horns.
Naturally Carcross Dune trails From downtown Carcross you have access to an extensive network of Carcross CARCROSS walking trails through the Carcross Dunes. Desert Access the trails from behind the school where a sign and route map is posted.
Early birds There is plenty of room for exploration 1 0 River outlets and the narrow channels between large lakes as many smaller trails weave their way k m throughout the dunes. / are ideal habitat for waterbirds. In the early spring, thousands 6 m y i l of Trumpeter and Tundra swans migrate through the region You can use the railway tracks, oop PowerlinePowerline resting and feeding at these sites. These wetlands are powerlines, and lakeshore to get your essential for waterbirds as they are the only sources of open bearings, and the trail junctions are well water in March and April, and therefore the only place for birds marked, but be sure to leave some extra to rest on their journey north. Every year Environment Yukon time in case you get turned around. and community partners host the Celebration of Swans p
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5 a going and when you plan to return. s s Take appropriate clothing and dress p & • o lo Y in layers. i u m 8 k . o /1 Take note of trail junctions, and n • km 3 R gish Road pay attention to distance and o Ta u direction walked. t e R • Avoid damaging plants and habitat a i l w by staying on the trails. a y TrTrailheadailhead Bennett Lake (Behind School) Gazebo Nares Lake (!Whitehorse Visitor Carcross Community Trails Viewing Information Wolf Creek 0 100 200 300 Platform Centre " Meters Ü 9 Campground Alask a Marsh Lake Kookatsoon Lake "5 Recreation Site & Campground Recreation Site Lewes Marsh C "5 Habitat Protection Area "9 M a Squanga r L Mount s Lorne h H i g h ! ( L w Robinson Roadhouse a a y
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e Jakes "\ R Lewes Lake n i tso v Tagish Corner Dalayee a C e W Lake r C (! Recreation Site Woodland Caribou (Alan Baer), Dall Sheep (Stefan Gottermann) and Mule Deer & Campground (!Tagish Agay b Emerald "\ "5 "9 a Mene Lake b Little Territorial Viewing wildlife around Carcross d R d Atlin "\ oa Caribou oa Park R i R Tagish Narrows The roads around Carcross traverse spectacular landscapes v Lake ake Mountain h e s Annie L agi Habitat Protection Area with many opportunities to look for wildlife. r T A
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a Skagway will take you from the boreal forest of southern
i e s h (! Mountain N h Yukon, to high alpine meadows, and down into the lush W Carcross C a re s temperate rainforest of the Pacific coast. The diversity of Bennett Lk Snafu Lake "9 habitats provides some of the best birding and botany "\ L Jubilee Lake a Campground opportunities in the region. k Mountain Montana c e Take a leisurely three hours and drive the Tagish Loop Arm Tarfu Lake West m "9 Mountain r (Carcross, Tagish, Jake’s Corner, to South Klondike Highway, y A Campground a y w d R back to Carcross) for a chance to see Woodland Caribou, e h n o t g i a u i W H d Dall Sheep, Mule Deer, and an amazing collection of waterbirds. o Yukon R
n Watch for wildlife everywhere you go. The symbols on this o k British Columbia map show where certain species have been found before u Y a Minto and where you might see them again. & ake s L s Mtn a i h P s b t
e u t i T h Wildlife vie wing tips: Bennett W e A Use a telephoto lens, binoculars or a spotting scope (Historic Site) (! ik • d n t to get a closer look without disturbing animals. o l
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K n T Get to know the species you want to see. Find out • a Chilkoot Trail k which habitat it prefers and where it is most likely to u x Skelly Lk L National A be found. r a Historic Site Racine m "5 k Log Cabin Lake Spend time quietly observing upon arrival. If you e • B C are quiet and still, animals may come out of hiding. ri (! ti th s u You may also see plants and animals that are easily A h o Fraser (Canada Customs) l C S overlooked by the hurried observer. a o sk l a u If you find what appears to be an “orphaned” bird or m • (U b other animal, please leave it alone. Its parents are most S ia A certainly nearby, waiting for you to move away before ) coming back to retrieve their offspring. Klondike Gold Atlin Rush National (! " Historic Park 9
"9 Carcross Region Be Bear Aware (! Skagway Bears can often be seen feeding on Recreation Facilities Wildlife Habitat roots and berries by the roadside. It’s extremely important that you Campground Bears Mountain stay in your car while bear viewing "9 x a Goats and maintain a safe distance so that "5 Recreation Site c Caribou C Waterfowl the bear is not disturbed. 0 10 20 "\ Scenic Viewpoint b Dall Sheep Do not leave your vehicle as a bear Kilometres may suddenly become defensive if you approach.