Hiking in bear country

One of the most remote places on the planet, the Yukon Territory is almost utter wilderness.

Just 31,000 people live here alongside 17,000 bears, and few leave home without their bear spray or gun.

Bordering British Columbia in the south, Alaska in the west, the Northwest Territories in the east and the Beaufort Sea in the north, the mighty 3,000-kilometre Yukon River snakes its way through this vast territory.

A land of ancient boreal forest, subarctic tundra and historic mining towns, the Klondike gold rush lured hundreds of thousands of fortune seekers to the Yukon some 100 years ago.

Shocked by the inhospitable winters, the Yukon's population has since dwindled significantly and the majority of its hardy residents now live in the capital Whitehorse or the atmospheric former gold rush town of Dawson City.

Attracting nature lovers and outdoor adventure seekers, most visitors come to the Yukon during its short but warm summer (June to August) when the territory is lit up by the infamous midnight sun and awash with wildflowers.

Winter in the Yukon holds its own appeal, with dog sledding expeditions and Northern Lights viewing some of its unique attractions.

For those entering the Yukon from British Columbia, Whitehorse - the capital - is the most significant introduction to the territory. This sprawling city makes an ideal jumping off point for wilderness hiking in Kluane National Park and for heading north along the North Klondike Highway or canoeing the Yukon River to Dawson City. From here, it's another 736km north along the Dempster Highway to Inuvik in the even more remote and inhospitable Northwest Territories.