A Photographers Guide to Tombstone Territorial Park in the Yukon

We write these types of posts to highlight once-in-a-lifetime trips so you get a feel for what you will experience when you join us. Most of these locations are exotic destinations like Africa, Galapagos, or Antarctica, but there is one such location right in my backyard here in Canada – Tombstone Territorial Park.

Tombstone Territorial Park is a unique wilderness of rugged peaks, permafrost landforms, and abundant wildlife, all reflected in a rich First Nations culture. The area's Hän name Ddhäl Ch'èl Cha Nän means "ragged mountain land." Which is an appropriate description because of the awesome jagged black mountain ranges that seemed to pierce through the flora and fauna that coats the tundra landscape.

The Dempster Highway bisects the park and provides an opportunity to view stunning arctic tundra landscapes and wildlife for the casual tourist. But for adventurous groups like ours, the true beauty is only seen in the backcountry areas. Areas only accessible by difficult half-day alpine hikes through mountain valleys, or helicopter drops into very limited areas at Territorial Park-operated campsites.

The elements that need to come together to witness one of the most magical autumn landscape experiences fall just short of winning the lottery. But when it happens, you’ll hold your breath like I did the first time I experienced fall colors the autumn landscapes, and the aurora, as it danced above the mountains that lined the valley where I was camping.

Why is it so hard to time everything just right to witness one of nature's most magical areas in the peak season of fall colors?

One reason is that the campsites are limited in the backcountry. With only 10 pads at each of the three campsites, the number of people that can be there at the best time is extremely limited.

The second reason it is difficult to witness peak fall colors is that there are only two ways to get there, the difficulty of the hike, and the high cost of hiring a helicopter to fly you in and out.

The third reason is knowing when to time your vacation. There is less than a week to see the peak colors. I have been there for two weeks in the past. I witnessed the ground cover go from pale green to the most dramatic fall colors I have ever seen, and then die. All within the two-week span.

Then there are the chances of witnessing the northern lights on a backcountry trip. It’s never a guarantee, but if it happens, it's spectacular. Watching the sky come alive with swirling aurora is breathtaking. In addition to feeling so small in this large dramatic landscape, the aurora makes you feel insignificant because it is larger than life. From the smallest veins of aurora to a huge storm that begins bursting into multiple colors that seem to reach down and touch you is something I will never forget.

You’ll never experience this once-in-a-lifetime location if you don’t take the chance and go with us to Tombstone Territorial Park. We have been visiting the Yukon since 2013, and we have partnered with some of the most experienced backcountry guides in the Yukon to give you the best chance to witness nature at its best.