Welcome to Dawson City, Yukon – a town so rich in gold rush history and quirky charm that it feels like you’ve stepped onto an old movie set, but with better coffee. The town is nestled between the Klondike and Yukon Rivers and is legendary for the rush of fortune seekers that swelled the population in the 19th century.
Between 1896 and 1899, about $29 million in gold was extracted from the ground near Dawson City. The town became so rich with overnight millionaires that gold dust lined the floorboards of popular saloons, gambling halls, and theatres. It was called the “Paris of the North,” and its boom-and-bust story is as old as time.
Nowadays, Dawson City draws outdoor enthusiasts, history buffs, and anyone looking to experience the spirit of adventure that prospectors longed for well over 100 years ago. Most of the town is preserved or refurbished into that Klondike-era style, complete with wood facades, boardwalks, and legitimate swinging saloon doors. It’s eccentric and genuinely unforgettable and best experienced in the summer months under a midnight sun.
Dawson City is located in the heart of the traditional territory of the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in, who have lived and continue to live along the Yukon River since time immemorial.
Here are five weird and wonderful attractions in Dawson City, Yukon.
1. Diamond Tooth Gerties
Step on into Canada’s first casino, and you’ll step into the past for a ‘whooping good time.” Sure, you’ll find some modern-day familiars like craft beer on tap and brightly flashing slot machines, but this entertainment hot-spot vibes the Klondike era. It has everything you might expect in a casino: blackjack dealers, poker tables, and roulette wheels. But it has that old-timey flavour of yesteryear, complete saloon piano tunes and an authentic can-can show.
In the peak season, the can-can show runs three times a night, featuring the remarkably high kicks of the Gold Rush Girls. In the summer, visitors will get a visit from the locally famous Diamond Tooth Gertie, who entertains with powerhouse vocals and cheeky commentary. FYI: the later it gets, the more risqué the show becomes. So, sit back, order a cleverly named cocktail like a Tombstone Tea or Gerties Garter, and enjoy your night out in Dawson City.
2. Sourtoe Cocktail Club
The tradition of the Sourtoe Cocktail Club is possibly the weirdest thing in Dawson City, perhaps in all of Canada. Want to be a member of this bizarre club? You’d be one of over 100,000 from around the world. Here’s what you need to do:
- Visit the Sourdough Saloon at the Downtown Hotel
- Purchase a shot. Most get a Yukon Jack.
- Recite the Sourtoe Oath
- Watch as the bartender puts a REAL HUMAN DEHYDRATED TOE in your drink!
- Drink that bad boy, ensuring the rotten old toe hits your lips.
Remember the number one rule of Sourtoe Cocktail Club: You can drink it fast, you can drink it slow, but your lips have gotta touch the toe.
Then you get a nice certificate and a memory that will make you gag for a lifetime! How did this tradition begin? Read about the history of the Sourtoe Cocktail Club.
3. Paddlewheel Graveyard
A trip to the paddlewheel graveyard is a fun adventure for curious minds and those who can tread lightly. During the gold rush era, sternwheelers, also called paddlewheelers, were the primary mode of transportation to and from Dawson City. More than 250 of these paddle-powered boats run up and down the murky waters of the Yukon River, transporting hopeful prospectors, supplies and other freight.
As the gold rush slowed in the early 1900s, Dawson City’s population dwindled, and the demand for paddlewheelers lessened. Finally, several of these iconic river runners were dry-docked in a shipyard just up the river from town. They were never moved, and now their skeletal remains are known as the Paddlewheel Graveyard.
Exploring these broken boats is intriguing. If you look carefully, you can still find parts of massive paddle wheels, broken-down engine parts, rusted boilers, piles of broken planks and other boat parts, recognizable and otherwise. Nature infringes on this human-made mess, making walking through the wreckage feel like a post-apocalyptic dream.
How to find the Paddlewheel Graveyard: The best way to visit the graveyard is on foot. Cross the Yukon River on the free George Black Ferry to West Dawson. Head up the road to the Yukon River Campground, head to the beach, turn left and walk along the shore until you see it.
Safety first: Visitors must be aware that it is an unmaintained site with several safety hazards. These wrecks are unstable and contain piles of wood and metal shards, rusty nails and other sharp and dangerous objects. Do not climb on the wreckage, and bringing children is not recommended. Explore at your own risk!
4. Guided Historic Downtown Walking Tour
What’s a visit to one of Canada’s most fascinating national historic sites without era-costumed interpreters? Parks Canada preserves over 17 buildings in Dawson City that help tell the story of the Klondike Gold Rush. The sites include the Palace Grand Theatre, The Old Post Office, the Commissioners Residence, the Red Feather Saloon, the Bank of British North America and many others.
You can take a self-guided tour of the complex with a print or audio guide, but we highly recommend purchasing a ticket for the guided Historic Downtown Walking Tour. Your tour guide, clad in old-timey garb for full historical impact, will take you through all these buildings that seem frozen in time. You’ll discover other costumed interpreters in the Palace Theatre, Commissioners Residence, Robert Service Cabin and the S.S. Keno. They’ll bring the town to life with engaging stories about Dawson City’s favourite historical characters and the rise and fall of the “Paris of the North.”
Tickets are available spring through fall at the Visitor Information Centre on Front Street.
5. Visit the Midnight Dome – at Midnight
The Midnight Dome offers exceptional views of the Yukon River and Klondike Valleys, Dawson City and the distant Ogilvie Mountains. Located high above and behind the town, this lookout has drawn visitors since the late 1800s. People gather here in the summer to watch the midnight sun and the vibrantly changing colours of the night sky as it lowers toward the horizon. If you visit in June, the setting sun brings colourful twilight but never sets into darkness. Pack a midnight snack and settle in for the show.
Hiking: You can access the unmarked trailhead off the Ninth Avenue Trail and King Street. It is considered a challenging trail and takes about 3.5 hours to complete, depending on your chosen route. That excludes the time you spend at the top. The area has several trails that intertwine, so take a snapshot of the Midnight Dome Trail Network before heading out.
Driving: Just outside Dawson City, turn onto the Dome Road and follow it for 10 to 15 minutes. It will bring you right to the top and viewpoint.
