Territorial Parks

The Yukon dedicated its first park - Herschel Island (Qikiqtaruk) Territorial Park - in 1987, as a result of the Final Agreement with the Inuvialuit of the Arctic coast. In 1990, a second park was established at Coal River Springs in the southeast Yukon as an Ecological Reserve to protect a rare and fragile ecosystem.

The Yukon now has four major territorial parks.

Coal River Springs

Fishing Branch

Herschel Island

Tombstone

Through the 1990s, the Parks and Outdoor Recreation Policy and related plans guided the development of a system of campgrounds along the territory's highways, and recreation sites throughout the territory.

In 1997 and 1998, the Yukon Protected Areas Strategy was developed to guide the establishment of a system of territorial parks for the protection of the Yukon's diverse life and landscapes. Mandated by the Parks and Land Certainty Act, territorial parks are established for the protection and management of representative areas of territorial significance and other special places; to provide recreational opportunities; to encourage public understanding, appreciation and enjoyment of the natural environment as a legacy for future generations; and to implement obligations under settlement agreements.

The Act defines four types of park, distinguished by the reasons for their establishment:

Ecological Reserves protect an area of unique natural significance, unique ecological characteristics or importance for a population of rare or endangered plant or animal and is intended to remain in its natural state.

Natural Environment Parks protect representative or unique landscapes that display ecological characteristics or features of one or more of the Yukon's ecoregions.

Wilderness Preserves protect an ecological unit such as a mountain range, wildlife range, mountain valley or watershed in its natural state.

Recreation Parks provide outdoor recreation or environmental education opportunities and include Yukon government campgrounds.

A park may encompass a number of areas established for different purposes. For example, Fishing Branch Park includes a Wilderness Preserve, Ecological Reserve, and a Habitat Protection Area, all managed as a unit.