Emerald Lake : Carcross, Yukon, Canada

Emerald Lake is a sightseeing destination located north of the community of Carcross, Yukon Territory, Canada. The lookout point provides many who travel the highway with an opportunity to enjoy some great views of a turquoise-green lake and some mountain ranges.

There is a paved pull out parking area on the side of the South Klondike Highway for viewing the lake. There are interpretive signs explaining the chemistry of the minerals involved for creating the appearance of the turquoise-green lake.

Look farther than the lake and there are mountains. One mountain especially stands out - the Gray Ridge Mountain at an elevation of 6085 feet.

The green color of the lake is a rarity and attracts many to the location. The green color is the result of sunlight reflecting off of, what is called, marl. Marl is the white calcium carbonate that settles on the lake floor. It is created by mixing the limestone remains from the ice age with the calcium in the alpine water.

A short distance down the South Klondike Highway on your left hand side is another lake - Spirit Lake.

How to Get to Emerald Lake

Travel south on the South Klondike Highway towards the Southern Lakes community of Carcross, Yukon Territory, Canada. On your right, at the 117 Kilometre Marker of the South Klondike Highway, is the Emerald Lake Lookout. If you arrive in the community of Carcross you have passed the lookout.