Beaver Creek, Yukon facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Beaver Creek
Restaurant in Beaver Creek, Yukon
Beaver Creek, Yukon Location in Canada
Country	Canada
Territory	Yukon
Area
• Land	27.14 km2 (10.48 sq mi)
Elevation	650 m (2,130 ft)
Population  (2016)
• Total	93
• Density	3.4/km2 (9/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC−07:00 (MST)
Canadian Postal code	Y0B 1A0
Area code(s)	867

Beaver Creek is a small community located in Yukon, Canada. It is Canada's westernmost community, meaning it's the furthest west you can go in the country! You'll find it along the famous Alaska Highway. This community is an important stop for travelers heading to or from Alaska.

The main jobs in Beaver Creek come from the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), which handles border crossings. The White River First Nation also plays a big role, along with several places for tourists to stay.

Living in Beaver Creek

Beaver Creek is home to the White River First Nation. This First Nation includes people who speak Upper Tanana and Northern Tutchone languages. Their traditional lands stretch from the Donjek River all the way into nearby Alaska. They also include areas south of the Yukon River.

The community is connected to the outside world by the Alaska Highway. It also has its own small airport, the Beaver Creek Airport.

The Border Crossing Point

The CBSA station in Beaver Creek is quite unique. It's the Canadian customs station that is furthest from the actual border line, about 28.6 kilometers away! This means there's a bit of "no man's land" between the border and where you stop for customs. Before 1983, the customs station was right in the middle of town. This caused some confusion, as people sometimes drove past without stopping, and locals with new cars weren't always recognized.

A map showing Kluane Park and the Alaska Highway area near Beaver Creek.

Beaver Creek's Climate

Beaver Creek has a subarctic climate, which means it has very cold, long winters and short, cool summers. It's located about 650 meters (2,130 feet) above sea level.

Temperatures and Weather

In July, the warmest month, the average daily high temperature is around 20 degrees Celsius (68°F). In January, the coldest month, the average daily low temperature is about -30 degrees Celsius (-22°F). The highest temperature ever recorded was 32.8 degrees Celsius (91°F) on June 15, 1969. The lowest was a super chilly -55.0 degrees Celsius (-67°F) on January 17, 1971!

Beaver Creek gets about 117.9 centimeters (46.4 inches) of snow each year. It also receives about 298.6 millimeters (11.7 inches) of rain.

Did you know? The coldest temperature ever recorded in North America (outside of Greenland) was near Beaver Creek! It happened in Snag, Yukon, about 25 kilometers (15.5 miles) east of Beaver Creek. On February 3, 1947, the temperature dropped to an incredible -63.0 degrees Celsius (-81.4°F).

A wooden Catholic church in Beaver Creek.

Population of Beaver Creek

The number of people living in Beaver Creek changes over time. This is normal for many small communities.

Recent Population Counts

According to the 2021 Census, 78 people lived in Beaver Creek. This was a small decrease from the 93 people counted in 2016. The community has a land area of about 26.66 square kilometers (10.29 square miles). This means there are about 2.9 people living in each square kilometer.