Home of the Little Salmon/Carmacks First Nation, Carmacks is located at a historic intersection of trails, waterways and roads, making it a vital hub for travelers. Sitting two hours north of Whitehorse on a sweeping bend of the Yukon River, Carmacks is a popular stopover for road and river travelers. Great drives on the surrounding roads, exploration of the river and sightings of local wildlife make this an overlooked gem.
Planning a visit? Stay at the Carmacks Hotel and RV Park.
Carmacks was a roadhouse on the freight road between Whitehorse and Dawson City and also a supply stop for sternwheelers on the Yukon. After the North Yukon Highway was built through town in the 1950s it became a supply center for the copper, coal and gold fields still producing in the central Yukon. Now Carmacks supplies hikers, hunters, fishermen, berry-pickers and kayakers challenging the Five Finger Rapids in the warm months.
In town, the Carmacks Hotel dates to the building of the highway, although the original log exterior has been retrofitted. The Tage Cho Hudan Interpretive Centre illuminates the culture of the Northern Tutchone-speaking people. Walking trails along the Nordenskiold ridge between the Yukon and Nordenskiold rivers lead to First Nations spirit houses.
