Schwatka Lake, lake in Yukon, Canada
Schwatka Lake is a reservoir created on the Yukon River in Whitehorse when a dam was built in 1958, covering about 15 hectares with calm, open water. The shoreline is lined with forest, and the day-use area features a boat launch, floating dock, picnic tables, and walking trails that circle the water.
The lake was created in 1958 when a dam was built on the Yukon River to control rapids and generate electricity for the region. This transformation redirected the river's natural flow and marked a turning point in Whitehorse's development through hydroelectric power.
The lake is named after Frederick Schwatka, a US Army officer who explored and mapped the Yukon River. It sits on traditional lands used by Indigenous Peoples for many generations, connecting the area's past exploration history with its deeper indigenous heritage.
The lake is easily accessible from Whitehorse via Chadburn Lake Road and offers a large gravel parking area with marked access to picnic spots and boat launches. The road surface can be rough in wet conditions, so visitors should drive carefully and take extra care when roads are muddy.
A fish ladder around the dam helps Chinook salmon swim upstream to their spawning grounds after traveling over 3,000 kilometers from the sea. Additionally, floatplanes from the Whitehorse Water Aerodrome use the calm water as a landing and take-off point for passenger and supply flights.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
