Carcross Desert: The World’s Smallest “Desert” in Yukon
Updated January 2026
Often called the world’s smallest desert at ~2.6 km² (1 sq mi / 640 acres), the Carcross Desert (or Carcross Dunes) is a quirky glacial relic—actually a series of sand dunes too humid to qualify as a true desert. Surrounded by boreal forest and mountains near Carcross, Yukon, it’s a surreal stop on the Klondike Highway.
Formation & Ecology
Post-Ice Age glacial lakes dried, leaving silt beaches blown into dunes by winds from Bennett Lake. Rare plants thrive here: Baikal sedge, Yukon lupine, lodgepole pine.
How to Get There
- By Car: 1 km north of Carcross on South Klondike Hwy (from Whitehorse ~45 min; Skagway ~1 hr).
- Tours: From Skagway/Haines (cruise excursions) or Whitehorse.
- Public: Limited; best with vehicle.
Visiting Tips
- Free entry; roadside parking with info signs/outhouses.
- Walk dunes, sandboard, ATV (locals do—stay on tracks to protect flora).
- No camping; day-use only.
- Best summer (dunes active); winter for snow activities.
Quick, photogenic detour on Alaska Highway/Klondike routes—pair with Emerald Lake or Carcross village. Questions? Comment below!