Alaska Highway bisects the south of the Yukon from Watson Lake in the east through Whitehorse and Beaver Creek before heading across the border. For 60 km (37 miles) Kluane Lake borders the western end of the Highway - a vast 400 sq km (154 sq miles) expanse of glacier-fed water tinted sky blue by the suspended particles of glacial 'flour'. Full of fish, framed by picturesque looming snow-capped mountains and echoing with the haunting call of loons, the lake makes a persuasive attempt to divert attention away from Canada's largest mountain park, Kluane National Park. The park is a mecca for hikers and wildlife-lovers despite the fact that its most dramatic landscape; the largest non-polar ice fields in the world, which cover half the park, are pretty much inaccessible unless you're prepared to pay around CDN$90 for a helicopter tour. The vistas are truly breath taking so it's well worth it.

Back on the ground there are no roads into the park but 250km (155 miles) of old mining trails and dried-up riverbeds lead around the eastern edges of the park. At the reception center in Haines Junction you'll find all the information you need about the most popular trails - the 19km (12 mile) round-trip Auriol Trail, the Rock Glacier Trail and other shorter routes as well as information about the geographical and botanical nature of the park.