Winter northern lights, summer midnight sun. Private cabin and apartment, sauna, full amenities. Yukon hospitality and welcoming snack basket. Near Whitehorse on 145 private acres. Friendly hosts respect your privacy.
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We stayed in the Cranberry Cabin for three nights in late February 2023. We booked at Sundog Retreat because of the great reviews, and because it was about 19 miles away from downtown Whitehorse, where the skies would be darker, as our main purpose for visiting this remote area was to see the Aurora Borealis. Our first night was cloudy, with a fine, powdery snowfall. The drive from the airport was easy, even in the snow, and the directions were excellent, and the roads on the property were well marked. The cabin is warm and inviting, with a fully fitted kitchen (including coffee maker, kettle, toaster, dishes and silverware, and cookware), a nice-sized bathroom with a stacked washer/dryer, a comfortable living area with a gas fireplace and TV, and a really cozy king-sized bed where we slept like babies, when we weren’t watching the skies. (There’s also a futon in this room, and the other bedroom has two double beds). We looked forward to coming home each evening to our little nest and cooking meals and just relaxing. And on our second night, we saw the Aurora lights low on the horizon in the Northern skies! This delighted us, but we were in for an even bigger treat the third night, when the skies overhead lit up for hours! It was such a magnificent sight, a true blessing to behold! And the best part (because it was tough to stay outside for very long in -14F temps!) was that the finest seats in the house were right at the kitchen table, with the fire going, sitting in the dark and staring out of the large windows and marveling at the grandeur while drinking hot chocolate! We had a lovely time, and we want to thank Heather for all of her help with questions before we arrived, and for her quick responses while we were there. And a big thank you to Dimitri, who plowed the road to our cabin and even shoveled the deck and ramp for us! I only wish we’d had proper cameras (photos were taken with an iPhone XR) and a tripod to really capture the majesty of the Northern lights! They are a fine example of God’s awesome creativity!!
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Date of stay: February 2023
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Trip type: Travelled as a couple
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.
Response from Heather Finton, Owner at Sundog Retreat
Responded Apr 12, 2023
Thanks so much for taking the time to write such a detailed and enthusiastic review. It was great to host you and we expect that you will continue to have great travels wherever you go next... enjoy!
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We had a lovely in the Ravens Nest above the hottub. We got to enjoy watching Northern lights and got to see a huge meteorite right from the hottub. 🌟 I did not get any photos of the northern lights as we were purely living in the moment. We had a big comfy king size bed with the best pillows ever. They also have their own delicious blend of coffee in each cabin. Best Retreat in the Yukon 🌟❤
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Date of stay: February 2021Trip type: Travelled as a couple
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.
Response from Heather Finton, Owner at Sundog Retreat
Responded Feb 24, 2021
So glad you were living in the moment! Thanks for taking time to share your experience.
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the cabin was verry clean, nice and warm , the view was superb and seeing deer right out of your window is great. The owners are friendly and helpfull. Lots of trails all around for nice walks . Big hot tub to relax in at the end of the day.
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Date of stay: January 2021
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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.
Response from Heather Finton, Owner at Sundog Retreat
Responded Jan 16, 2021
Thanks for taking time to share your experience, we appreciate your visit.
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Spent New Year's in the Cranberry. Super cozy cabin and hot tub. Very comfortable, and beautiful scenery. Couldn't see any northern lights due too the clouds. Didn't make a difference, would recommend to anyone. Thank you Heather and Andrew.
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Date of stay: January 2022Trip type: Travelled as a couple
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.
Wish I had pictures. Seen an awesome meteorite soar through the sky,and the northern lights were dancing like crazy!! Great place to stay!! Recommended for anyone local or not local. Great place to relax for a night or two or three.
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Date of stay: February 2021Trip type: Travelled as a couple
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.
Response from Heather Finton, Owner at Sundog Retreat
Responded Feb 22, 2021
Thanks for noticing the dazzling sky! We appreciate your visit and your review.
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We stayed here for 4 nights in the Wolf Den cabin over the New Year period. We are a family of 4 adults and there was a QS bed downstairs and a QS and single bed upstairs. The cabin is well equipped with a stove, microwave, fridge, outside BBQ (too cold/windy) and plenty of crockery, pots and pans. There is no dishwasher or washing machine but this didn't bother us at all. All the cabins are set well apart and it is a 10 minute walk (from our cabin) to the Aurora viewing cabins. However the big advantage staying here is that you can walk around and see the Northern Lights from anywhere. Our sons walked down to the Yukon river one night (a 40 minute walk in the dark!) and on another night we got great views/pictures from our cabin verandah. We were picked up at the airport by Andrew and had various activities organised through Sundog during our 4 night stay. Either Andrew or one of the other staff drove us to Skyhigh Wilderness Ranch where our activities were based - icefishing, dogsledding and snowmobiling. We were lucky to see the Northern Lights on 3 of our 4 night stay but to get wonderful memories ensure someone in your group knows how to take night time (you need a tripod - Sundog can lend you one) and time lapse photos. If you are an iPhone photographer only, you won't catch the lights on your camera and since the colours are much brighter through the camera lens it would be a pity to miss them. We did our own cooking but Sundog can provide meals too. We also took the Winter clothing package which being Australians was needed as we don't have such warm clothing at home. Standing outside for a few hours around midnight admiring the Aurora and the magnificent stars in the sky you want to be warm. For a once in a lifetime experience we highly recommend staying here.
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Date of stay: January 2019
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Trip type: Travelled with family
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.
Response from Welcoming_Host, Owner at Sundog Retreat
Responded Jan 31, 2019
It was great to be able to spend time with you, and we're so glad you got to experience the northern lights right from your cabin. Thanks for bringing your family!
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I stayed at the Sundog Retreat with a small group of people on one of Neil Zeller's aurora photography tours. Four of us women shared a cabin - Cranberry - and found it comfortable and homey. Andrew, our host, couldn't do enough to ensure our comfort. He picked us all up at the airport, helped us settle in, and drove us around Whitehorse the next morning to help us get our bearings..
We found a midnight snack waiting for us when we arrived, and breakfast burritos we could warm up the next day. There were coffee, tea, hot chocolate, snacks, and fruit in a basket for us to use as needed. Totally comfy.
The heated viewing cabins have huge north-facing windows and come equipped to make hot chocolate, coffee or tea. They also have biscotti and maple cream cookies for snack time, and there's a fire pit if you want to watch from outside.
We weren't blessed with lovely clear weather there, but we drove a short distance west on the Alaska Highway to see the aurora show of our lives in the one clear patch in western North America. Totally enjoyable.
There's no wifi in the cabins, although there is cell phone coverage. There's a meeting room-style facility within walking distance of the cabins that has wifi, a sauna, and an outdoor hot tub.
This, as far as I'm concerned, is the only place to stay near Whitehorse.
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Date of stay: November 2015
Rooms
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled with friends
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.
This is a wonderfully relaxing cabin property 30 minutes north of Whitehorse. We stayed in the Raven's Nest, a second level 2 room above the board-room (sauna), staff quarters, and conference room/hall. The hot tub is outside, right near the entry to the building. Raven's Nest has a large king in the bedroom, a futon in living room, small kitchen tables and chairs, fridge-stove-coffee maker-microwave. There is a basket of apples-hot chocolate-coffee for 1 pot-popcorn for snacking. We found the room quiet, but if there are people talking downstairs you will likely hear them, but we did not have issue, guests and staff appear conscious of the 10 pm quiet time.The bedroom and some washroom walls are also not all the way to ceiling, so not sound proof. There are bikes you can borrow, we took them on a ride to the river bank one morning, past neighbouring grain farm, worth the effort and approximately 30 minutes. The wifi is located in the board room, but as Raven's Nest is right above we enjoyed the fast internet our entire visit from our room, while other guests drove to the common area/board room below us to check email and web, definitely another reason to chose this Raven's room. We used the hot tub daily, another great perk of Raven's Nest as you can quickly run from room to tub while others would need to drive, also a second shower is located in board room to wash off. I enjoyed the sauna, which also had a steam option, very nice. The property is also very close (10 mins) to the Hot Pools and Wild Life Preserve, two other good stops. We did not experience northern lights, but also did not actively stay up at night for that purpose (some said viewing between 1 am and 3 am, too late for us). Heather and Andrew were very friendly and quick to please, obviously caring to provide the best experience possible. While I have not stayed at other accommodations in Whitehorse I did drive by them or had meetings in them, and can speculate that in my opinion Sundog is by far the best option for those who can commute and want peace. If back in Whitehorse I would only stay at Sundog, and would easily recommend the Raven's Nest room to friends and family.
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Date of stay: September 2015
Location
Cleanliness
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Trip type: Travelled on business
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.
Sundog Retreat is not easy to find. It's actually 10 miles outside of Whitehorse city center. Be sure to bring your own food. The hosts will prepare a frozen meal for you at the rice of $45, which is a little ridiculous. I stayed in the "Raven's Nest". It was pretty noisy - guests were playing ping pong below my room. Walls are thin and noise travels. I will say the place was exceptionally clean. The pillows need to be replaced, but the bed was decent. I don't think I'd make this place my top pick for lodging if I ever returned to Whitehorse.
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Date of stay: December 2014
Cleanliness
Service
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Trip type: Travelled solo
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.
My sister and I have watching the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) on our bucket list, so when she came to visit me back in December 2013, I planned a 3-day trip in January 2014 to Whitehorse, Yukon.
This trip was almost 5 months ago, but we were SO impressed by our experience that even now I felt the need to write a review for them:
* We were picked up and dropped off at the airport on time and hassle-free, part of the package we already paid for.
* We were brought to a grocery store from the airport to get a chance to buy what we may need for food and essentials, and were asked on all three days if we needed a trip to the grocery store.
* We were dropped off at our cabin which was beautiful and rustic! It was very clean, the kitchen had everything - stove, fridge, water heater, pans, pots, toaster, plates, mugs, complimentary drinks and treats, they even had a rice cooker! The bathroom was equally stocked with soap, shampoo, toilet paper etc. The beds were well made, and clean as well. They had a TV and some books, boardgames and play cards, trying to provide different kinds of entertainment. Wherever I go I usually end up asking for something, but not in the case of our stay there. Our cabin had everything we wanted.
* The view from our cabin would have been perfect for an aurora sighting. Keep in mind we were there in January where the temperature dipped to -35degC. The fact that we didn't have to leave the comfort of our cabin while waiting for the aurora was absolutely SUPERB.
* The property itself was massive, with only about 10(?) cabins scattered around the area. So you have a great amount of privacy if you so wished, but not that far that you can't walk to the main office. They are easily reachable by phone in case you needed any assistance. They recently built Aurora Sighting cabins - heated cabin with sofas, and complimentary hot drinks and treats, even had a telescope for star-gazing! - a great option in case the cabin you're staying in does not have a good view of the north. The property has unobstructed view of the mountains and very, very few artificial light so its a perfect location for Aurora sighting, and a great alternative to the 'tours' where the tours pick you up from your hotel and you have to sit outside for hours, sometimes waiting for nothing. They have the recreational cabin that had a lounging area, WI-FI connectivity, a sauna, shower area and bathroom, and a jacuzzi right outside. I highly recommend the jacuzzi, even in freezing temperatures - great for bragging rights!
* We were toured around the tiny downtown of Whitehorse, to see whatever few touristy things they do have for you to see like sights and even shopping. There isn't a whole lot to see there honestly. You're better off doing other extra-curricular activities the city has to offer like snow-shoeing, dog sledding, ice fishing etc.
* We rented winter gear and that saved our lives. The gear was complete, brought to us at our cabin neatly and in good shape. It was a great option for us who did not wish to have to buy them only for a 3-day trip. I live in Vancouver, we really don't need heavy-duty winter gear unless you're a skiing buff.
* Andrew. He was the best. He was our go-to guy during our entire trip, from the pick-up to the drop-off at the airport. He was beyond accommodating and entertaining, with making sure we were comfortable in our cabin, getting to everywhere we needed to go, and sharing the many stories about wood carving and history of the city and their property. He even arranged to have us rent a camera stand (which we didn't have) from his son, so that we could take the best pictures. We ended up not using it, and they didn't charge us for it eventually.
If there are any suggestions I would make, it would be: * WI-FI connectivity: We're social media buffs. Not having internet access from our cabin was difficult for us to handle. But we were told they were already working on it, so they already have that feature in the cabins. * Curtains: There are no curtains in any of the windows. There was never really any fear of someone looking in as it was a remote place, but would still have loved the choice to do so or not. * More satellite channels (we wanted to watch the Canucks game!) or maybe a DVD player would have been nice. * If you do not have a vehicle of your own, this is NOT the place to stay because it is quite remote. We did not have a car, but Andrew made sure we could get to wherever we wanted to go, which was a HUGE relief.
We ended up not doing extra activities as we were both feeling under the weather, but our cabin and the property provided a safe haven and enough entertainment to last us the 3 days. We also didn't get to see the Aurora, but we would definitely come back to Whitehorse one day, and that would only be because of Sundog Retreat. I can bet you this place would be gorgeous in the summer!
If you stay there and feel you have an issue/complaint/need, just ASK! They will do whatever they can to accommodate your needs.
To Andrew & crew - THANK YOU! My sister and I had a great trip. Wish you and the crew much success with Sundog Retreat.
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Date of stay: January 2014
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled with family
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.
We have a few suggestions for transportation! If you want a driver, we recommend the fine folks at Who What Where Tours ...
You can contact them directly online at or phone number 867-333-0475
We do not have a local bus service near Sundog Retreat. Taxis will be about $75 CAD each way to town and back.
The drive is easy, just three right hand turns from the airport. For car rentals we recommend either Budget or Driving Force as both have kiosks at Whitehorse airport. Car rentals should be booked in advance as some dates are sold out.
We look forward to hosting you!
Katikati, New Zealand11 contributions3 helpful votes
No it's too early. October around new moon time and then Mid February to early April. Always plan for new moon as this is when the sky is darkest and the lights are at their best. November, December and January bad weather makes veiwing difficult and patchy.
San Jose, California21 contributions5 helpful votes
I believe for December there's only about 5 hours of daylight so keep that in mind. At Sundog since you can be in the comfort of your cabin while you wait and look for the Northern Lights it's great. I was told to look for stars first then if the sky is clear there's a good chance to see it. There's also a rating for each night if you can see it. I went in March near end of the season but lucky enough to see it all 3 nights I was there. You need to be patient, you never know what time it will be visible. It can be 15 minutes or an hour or more. Hope you're able to experience it!
There are more places to choose from in the Whitehorse area.
PRICE RANGE
C$236 - C$236 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
CanadaYukonWhitehorse
NUMBER OF ROOMS
2
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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