I would best describe the community of Tagish as a cottage community on Tagish Lake. Located approximately 30 kilometres east of Carcross Yukon, this area is often referred to as the Southern Lakes Region. It is a pristine wilderness area that has incredible scenery year round. In the summer, the lake area is active with boating, fishing and hiking and in the winter it’s a popular spot for snowmobiling, ice fishing and snowshoeing.
It was the pandemic that led us here for a winter getaway. In February my wife and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary, and over the last few years we had talked about going away to celebrate, but it just wasn’t possible with the current travel restrictions, so we decided to look closer to home.
After doing a little on-line research we found the Southern Lakes Resort, and it seemed like the perfect place to relax for a few nights. The resort has the option of booking a meal plan with your stay, which was worth the cost, and I highly recommend it. We were treated to a wonderful breakfast each morning, and a three course dinner in the evening. With the plan you still had a choice between a few options at each meal, and the food was absolutely delicious.
The resort itself has a main lodge that houses the office and restaurant, while the guest suites are a number of private cabins that overlook the lake. We quickly learned we were the only guests on the grounds, likely because we were staying mid-week, which was perfect; after a quick check in, we made our way to our cabin and settled in.
During dinner my wife and I were reminiscing about the short weekend getaways we used to do when we first started dating, often to small bed & breakfasts in and around the Gulf Islands. Usually those places didn’t have televisions or other distractions and it was long before WiFi came along. Being in this quaint log cabin, without electronic distractions, and stunning views from the picture window looking out over Tagish Lake was just serene.
We also managed to go for a few hikes while we were there. The first morning we got up and headed out snowshoeing across the lake after breakfast. Our goal was to make it out to a small island, but we figured we wouldn’t press our luck when we ran into water overflow on the lake ice about three quarters of the way there. After lunch we headed out again, and this time took a trail through the woods that led us through a clearing and back around to the lake.
One of my favourite things about the Yukon are the moments when you’re away from the sounds of the city, the wind has died down, and there is not a sound. Especially in winter there is a crisp silence that can hang in the air, and during our snow shoe trek across the lake those conditions were ideal, and the silence was deafening. Peaceful, still and awe inspiring!
If you are travelling through the Yukon, Tagish is a great little place to spend a few days to enjoy the lake, some outdoor activities and above all, the stunning scenery. The tranquility is nothing short of rejuvenating. Here’s looking forward to another wonderful 25 years!
Spectacular