Carcross Desert
Carcross Desert
4.5
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
Full view
Top ways to experience Carcross Desert and nearby attractions
The area
Address
Best nearby
Restaurants
6 within 3 miles
Attractions
10 within 6 miles
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
281 reviews
Excellent
136
Very good
99
Average
42
Poor
2
Terrible
2
Kris J
Lisbon, Portugal464 contributions
May 2021
Rolling sand dunes blown in from Bennette Lake.
Interesting battle between the vegetation and the dunes.
Great place to stop and stretch your legs. Nice views from the top and good tobogganing in winter.
Interesting battle between the vegetation and the dunes.
Great place to stop and stretch your legs. Nice views from the top and good tobogganing in winter.
Written May 11, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Arthur M
Hamilton, Canada1,621 contributions
Sep 2021 • Family
While not a true desert, the Carcross Desert definitely is a nice touch in the area. The views around the desert are magnificent and grateful to enjoy it while the busloads of Alaska cruise excusionists are still not entering into the Yukon.
Looks like it is a great place for sandboarding and ATV rides!
Looks like it is a great place for sandboarding and ATV rides!
Written September 29, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Barheat
Hamilton, Canada1,739 contributions
May 2023
The Carcross Desert is not a true desert as it receives too much precipitation. It is in fact a sand dune ecosystem that can be moved by the wind. That said, it is an unusual scene in the Yukon. Stop, take a few pictures and walk on the sand.
Written June 15, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Baba23
Hope, BC, Canada23 contributions
Sep 2021
Ok, so we were a bit surprised, NO, a lot surprised,
when people told us about Carcross Desert, close to Whitehorse,
so we took the drive and checked it out…Amazing!
If you are have time, it’s a must see, Hard to believe, North America’s smallest desert has its home in the beautiful Yukon.
If your in to walking/hiking try this place. I use a walker, so couldn’t get too far in, but managed a bit of a walk around to say that I was there! Grandkids didn’t believe me until they saw the pictures with the sand dunes and snow capped mountains in the background!
when people told us about Carcross Desert, close to Whitehorse,
so we took the drive and checked it out…Amazing!
If you are have time, it’s a must see, Hard to believe, North America’s smallest desert has its home in the beautiful Yukon.
If your in to walking/hiking try this place. I use a walker, so couldn’t get too far in, but managed a bit of a walk around to say that I was there! Grandkids didn’t believe me until they saw the pictures with the sand dunes and snow capped mountains in the background!
Written October 6, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cheryl G
Ottawa, Canada134 contributions
Feb 2022
Beautiful location. My visit to the Carcross Desert was in the winter so unfortunately I didn't get to experience the sand... but it was a really beautiful stop on my way to Carcross. Lots of activity with snowmobilers, cross country skiers and for those tobogganing. Spent a bit of time walking around the small area, wishing I had a toboggan and trying to imagine DESERT SANDS beneath all of that snow. :-) Not sure when I'll be back to the Yukon but if the chance arises to visit in the summer, will definitely want to check out this cool spot again.
Written March 2, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Film G
New England1,051 contributions
Jun 2024 • Couples
Finding a desert in the middle of a subarctic boreal forest is quite the thing. Not that big, a visit is max 30 minutes, and that assumes you climb the hill. Stop. Take a look. Move on.
Written June 10, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
garbagecollector
Saint Cloud, FL1,123 contributions
Aug 2012 • Couples
We were on a Celebrity Millenium cruise and stopped in Skagway. We had reserved an Avis car (cost can range from around $100 to $200 or so for the day, I think) in Skagway, and we walked from our ship about 10-15 minutes to get to the office in town. We have been on fantastic train rides before (Colorado), I weren't that interested in riding the train. Besides, for less money we went further and enjoyed more terrific scenery. We saw several waterfalls, the border into British Columbia and Yukon (bring your passport!), Bove island, Tutshi Lake (and magnificent scenery), Bennett Lake Beach (a real beach, and very pretty, in Carcross), and Emerald Lake (wow!). We stopped at a cute little coffee/sandwich place next to the visitors center in Carcross, and we watched dune buggiers cruise the sands at the Carcross Desert. On the way back to Skagway, we enjoyed a stop at Seven Pastures Disc Golf course (i brought a disc) and the Gold Rush Cemetery and waterfall. The drive was easy. Renting a car was well worth it! By the way, there was just 1 very touristy spot: a suspension bridge in Canada. People tend to stop there for a bathroom break, and then discover the cost is $15 to enter the gift shop. We were not that desparate to go or to see the bridge, so we did not pay to get in.
Written September 6, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Erica I
Vancouver, WA786 contributions
Aug 2019
This place honestly cracks me up. You're driving through mountain wilderness with massive trees, and all of a sudden this little sand desert pops up unexpectedly. It's the result of a sand dune, but man, is is it funny. This is a cute little area where locals come to ATV and play. For those on cruise ships, it's a nice little stopping point to glace in awe of money nature. Either way, it's a good time.
Written October 16, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DJC
Vancouver, Canada146 contributions
Sep 2020
A beautiful stop. What an amazing landscape. It is worth stopping and going for a walk through the dunes.
Written September 7, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
dig3
Toronto, Australia65 contributions
Aug 2019
Stopped here on our way from Whitehorse to Skagway. Small sand dunes everywhere in an area of generally teporate forest. Quite a contrast. Worth stopping for a brief visit
Written September 2, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
No questions have been asked about this experience
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing