S.S. Klondike

S.S. Klondike

S.S. Klondike
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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 waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles644 reviews
Excellent
299
Very good
251
Average
82
Poor
10
Terrible
2

PookyCake
Victoria, Canada14,895 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2024 • Couples
The SS Klondike is, without question, an icon of the Yukon Territory. Designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1967, this old sternwheeler currently serves as a beautiful museum and pays tribute to a bygone era of riverboat transportation – back when inland water systems were the only means of connection between communities in the Yukon. Once a highway was built between Whitehorse and Dawson City in 1950, however, the sternwheeler, as a primary method of transportation, slowly went the way of the dodo. The SS Klondike, dubbed the “crowning achievement of riverboat design” by Parks Canada, is but a nod to these formative years in Yukon’s development.

Interestingly, the sternwheeler you see on display is actually the SS Klondike II (built in 1937). The original SS Klondike was built in 1929 and remained in service, ferrying supplies up and down the Yukon River, until it ran aground and sank in 1936. Key parts of the SS Klondike were salvaged and used in the construction of the SS Klondike II, which entered service in 1937 and served as a freighter until 1950. From 1950 to 1955, the SS Klondike II functioned as a “cruise ship” and even carried Prince Phillip during his one-day visit to Whitehorse. The SS Klondike II has served as a museum, operated by Parks Canada, since 1981.

Unfortunately, the SS Klondike was closed during my recent visit to Whitehorse; it is currently undergoing extensive restoration and renovation work. As such, I was only able to view it from the outside, but it was still an impressive sight. Walking up close, the ship dwarfs you and makes one feel quite small! It was, after all, the largest sternwheeler in the fleet!

As I ambled about the Millennium Trail, adjacent to the frozen Yukon River, I couldn’t help but get a wee bit nostalgic. The SS Klondike, an “impossible-to-miss landmark in Whitehorse,” greeted me as I entered the city and made a turn onto Lewes Boulevard in 2006. Now, here it was again, 18 years later – an iconic symbol of the city and, indeed, the Yukon Territory – saying “welcome back.” Awesome!
Written April 25, 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.

Christine P
Vancouver, Canada314 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2022
Stopped by upon arriving in Whitehorse. The ship was supposed to have the restoration work finished by this month(according to the Parks Canada employee), but it looks like it’s far from being completed. You can walk around on a self guided tour with a brochure ($2.50). You cannot go inside or on the ship. A lot of construction work and fencing surrounds it. Interesting history, and the scenery around the river is very nice. Lots of parking, small gift shop, movie available.
Written July 24, 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.

SLSCalgary_AB_Canada
Calgary, Canada106 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2022
The SS Klondike story is a compelling one - a great inexpensive tour by Jared (Parks Canada employee) detailing the history of riverboats and their use in the gold rush. There's also a little movie you can watch.

Unfortunately, we couldn't go in as we were told that inside tours were suspended because of Covid.
Written August 5, 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.

CAR51
Waldorf, MD64 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023 • Couples
The SS Klondike was a riverboat that ran on the. Yukon river for years. There were several boats that looked just like this one. There is also one in Dawson city. This site had a short film, a interpreter and a visitors center full of books about the history of the boats and the Klondike gold rush. The boat is easily accessible as Whitehorse is pretty small. Well worth a visit
Written September 10, 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.

Cheryl G
Ottawa, Canada135 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2022
Was great to walk the Millenium Trail and be able to see this important piece of history. It was Feb in a snowstorm... but really enjoyed seeing it up close. The information / pictures about the SS Klondike that were outside the little building nearby were also very informative. Whitehorse's history is very very cool!
Written February 24, 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.

AlaskaChick
Juneau, AK162 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2012 • Friends
The history they packed in that boat was wonderful! It made it more real putting yourself in the place of the passengers and the crew
Written September 26, 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.

al119
Edmonton, Canada17 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Managed a self guided tour on the last day of the season. Unfortunately they were starting to pack up the artifacts as we were touring, would have been nice to have that done after the tours were done for the day. Boat is well looked after and in a very well maintained park. Brochure for the self guided tour was educational and well written.
Written September 7, 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.

stuckincarn
Calgary, Canada124 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2011 • Couples
Parks Canada does an amazing job. We had an excellent guide, Greg, a young man who knew everything possible about the riverboats that travelled from Whitehorse to Dawson City in the first half of the 20th century. He provided an excellent tour of an amazing feat of engineering that responded to the demands of the Klondike Gold Rush.
Written August 1, 2011
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, Canada153 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2020
We took the guided tour and it was well worth it. The perspective on the history of the place and the gold rush was fantastic.
Written September 6, 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.

gerald_woo_lao
Mississauga, Canada36 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2014 • Family
Didn't enter the boat/museum since it is in the month of December, it's closed. But you will see this as you walk along the trails along the Yukon river. There is a small shelter near this boat that we almost missed, and it has stories/history of this boat and Whitehorse.
Written January 14, 2015
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.

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S.S. KLONDIKE - All You MUST Know Before You Go (2025)

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