Emerald Lake
Emerald Lake
4.5
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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.
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4.5
419 reviews
Excellent
288
Very good
102
Average
27
Poor
2
Terrible
0
Cindy S
Ramsey, MN599 contributions
Aug 2024 • Friends
We cruised Alaska 8 years ago and got to stop at Emerald Lake for a few minutes on our tour. I knew if I ever went again I wanted to rent a car so I could spend as much time as I wanted there. It was as emerald green as I remembered in some parts of the lake! It seemed to have a smaller percentage of green parts this visit but was still so beautiful! You just have to see it to believe it! I read it's residue that washes down the mountain into the lake that causes it to turn green. If you go in the spring they say there might not be much green yet. Our last trip was July, this time late Aug. We rented a car in Skagway with the main goal of getting to Emerald Lake. You need passports for crossing into Canada.
Written September 9, 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.
GabyVM
Jakarta, Indonesia7,787 contributions
Sept 2017 • Couples
Emerald Lake is a relatively small lake by the Klondike Highway very close to Carcross on the way to Whitehorse. Here we can stop by the road side overlook and take photos (from above) of the turquoise-green lake with dense cedar forest and rugged mountains in the background. Fall colors make the scenery even more stunning.
The lake distinctive greenish reflection comes from blending of ice-aged glacial limestone (calcium carbonate) muds deposited at the base with fresh water from surrounding alps. The best view is in the morning with good amount of sun shine.
If you drive from Carcross, on the left just before the lake there was an unpaved small road turn which can take you down to the lake side. The first right turn was only meters away from the lake. Depending on the light, you may be able to capture cool reflections of the mountains, trees and clouds on the green lake.
The lake distinctive greenish reflection comes from blending of ice-aged glacial limestone (calcium carbonate) muds deposited at the base with fresh water from surrounding alps. The best view is in the morning with good amount of sun shine.
If you drive from Carcross, on the left just before the lake there was an unpaved small road turn which can take you down to the lake side. The first right turn was only meters away from the lake. Depending on the light, you may be able to capture cool reflections of the mountains, trees and clouds on the green lake.
Written November 5, 2017
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.
Janice L
Richmond, Canada200 contributions
Aug 2016 • Friends
We saw this on a mixed sun/cloud day, and agree is best viewed on a sunny day as the colour is much clearer. In Carcross we were told by a First Nations person that the lake was named by their ancestors as Rainbow Lake, they believe that the northern lights are their departed ancestors visiting, and when they leave the sky they live in the lake, hence the name. I'm so glad I heard the
Written August 11, 2016
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.
DSpad
Canada113 contributions
Aug 2012 • Friends
What a beautiful lake, one of the nicest i've ever seen! The colour of it is incredible....it looks like a sparkling jewel. Beautiful place!
Written September 11, 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.
RJYukon
Whitehorse, Canada62 contributions
Jan 2015 • Family
Every time we take a trip to Carcross or Skagway, we always stop and admire the brilliant green and blue hues in this stunning lake. What can I say, it's gorgeous.
Written January 8, 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.
daisyphresh
Montreal, Canada13 contributions
Aug 2012 • Family
We stopped to take pictures at Emerald Lake and my fear was that the hundreds of photos I took would never do it justice. The lake is surrounded by beautiful tall healthy trees protecting several shades of breathtaking green water. One of the most magnificent places I ever visited.
Written September 4, 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.
wloo_andrew
Waterloo, Canada877 contributions
Sept 2022
If the sun is out and overhead, the water comes alive with beautiful shades of blue and green. There's a large pullout at the side of the road with some information panels that explain what makes the water such a beautiful colour.
Written September 23, 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.
KJElmer
Tacoma, WA251 contributions
Oct 2020 • Couples
Not much to do hear (that I could tell) but look and be stunned at the colors and landscape. Worth visiting the southern lakes.
Written October 15, 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.
isonicq
Seattle, WA139 contributions
Sept 2019
This is a pullout with an over look from the main highway about 10km past Carcross on the way to Whitehorse. It's a lot prettier in the day than in the evening when the sun is in your eyes and the lake's colors cannot be clearly seen. There's not much to do here other than take a few photos. A really pretty lake with all the emerald colors in the water
Written September 24, 2019
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.
CaroleD37
Vancouver, Canada167 contributions
Sept 2019
We stopped here on the drive from Whitehorse to Skagway, to take some photos. Beautiful place to stop and stretch your legs.
Written September 11, 2019
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.
jojo031954
Kissimmee, Florida
We are going May 10th. Do you think we will see the colors or will it be iced over?
Written December 18, 2023
Emily M
New Delhi, India
Is November a good time to see the northern lights and also will the lake be frozen?
Written June 27, 2017
Sorry for the delay in responding. All small lakes will be frozen November and larger lakes will start to freeze over. Northern lights can only be seen in our winter months as in the summer we have nearly 24 hours of light which would wash out any northern lights.
Written December 6, 2017
Is December an OK month to view the Northern Lights?
Written March 24, 2016
Yes, December could be a good month, it always depends if it's clear or not. The best thing is to check the activity. I live in the Yukon and I saw beautiful northern light lights, as well as in NWT and even southern parts of the country like Quebec but less common to reach the southern parts.
If you are looking for a trip to the Yukon, for the aurora borealis forecast
just type Aurora borealis forecast and then, yukon or canada if you wish.
Unfortunately, I cannot put the links here due to posting guidelines.
Take care!
Written March 24, 2016
Hello,
We will be renting a car in Skagway and driving up the South Klondike Highway to emerald lake.
We are very interested in hiking around and down to the lake. I have searched and googled and have not come across any information on hiking trails.
Are there any trails at all? If so, are the trail heads easy to find?
Thanks :)
Written August 1, 2015
If you stop at the lookout on the highway, you can pretty much see from that height, all the trails around the lake. Also just across the road is Spirit Lake , which have beautiful recreation trails as well. Don't forget to make a stop at the Carcross Desert just up the road! It's a great hike up the dunes to the back of the desert! Enjoy your trip, and beware of "Pull of the Yukon", once you come, you always want to come back!
Written August 2, 2015
What causes the bright green around the lake?
Also, is there any history be hide it of how it came to be?
Written January 2, 2015
The color derives from light reflecting off white deposits of marl, a mixture of clay and calcium carbonate, at the bottom of the shallow waters. Its that simple :)
Written January 3, 2015
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