Tagish, Yukon : Mount White

Mount White is a recreation and sightseeing mountain destination located east of the village of Tagish in the Yukon, Territory, Canada. White Mountain is 8 kilometres south of Jakes Corner on the Alaska Highway near Little Atlin Lake.

On the Atlin Highway heading south look for a White Mountain sign and the pull out parking area. Near the sign is a trail leading up the mountain to a viewpoint. Along the trail heading up and at the viewpoint are various interpretive signs.

The Mount White trail is actually an old portion of the Atlin Highway no longer in use. Now the decommissioned road is a hiking trail leading to a viewpoint with views of Little Atlin Lake. The route is mostly a slow uphill walk with an elevation gain of 100 metres. The adventure takes about an hour to reach the viewpoint.

The rocky wagon-road-like trail follows the lower and middle slopes of the mountain for 4.5 kilometres (2.4 Mi) and then reconnects with the road. At the 1.2 kilometre marker is a limestone rock doubling as a viewpoint. From here one can see Little Atlin Lake and the Jubilee Mountain Range (1815 m).

From the viewpoint opportunities for wildlife viewing is good. White Mountain is home to mountain goats and Golden Eagles. It is one of the few areas mountain goats still roam freely in Canada in numbers. From the highway or from the viewpoint there is a possibility of viewing mountain goats perched on a ridge. Chances increase with a good set of binoculars.

Mount White is also home to rock climbers. The smooth weather rocks with jagged edges makes for good climbing. There are over 16 climbing routes spread out over three limestone climbing walls on Mount White. Some of the routes include the Skunk Line, It Ate My Finger, Dirty Filthy Crack and Left at the Lights.

How to Get to Mount White

Travel west of Teslin on the Alaska Highway in the Yukon Territory to Jake's Corner. From Jake's Corner take the exit to Tagish Road (Hwy #8). Drive 1 kilometre and take the exit to Atlin Road. Travel 7 more kilometres on Atlin Road to a road sign with White Mountain. Behind the sign is a trail.