Government of Yukon Socio-Economic Web Portal

There was a time when the placer gold and hardrock silver mines around Mayo drove the Yukon economy. Today the economic balance has shifted to other parts of the Territory, but placer mining and exploration continues. The community of Mayo still serves as distribution and service centre for the surrounding area. Mayo is located at the confluence of the Mayo and Stewart rivers in the heart of the Yukon, about 400 km northwest of Whitehorse. It lies within the traditional territory of the First Nation of Nacho Nyak Dun (FNNND).

Mayo was originally established as a river settlement, and became the service centre for significant mining activity in the area. Silver, zinc and lead ores were loaded on sternwheelers at Mayo to be shipped to Whitehorse. An all-weather road linking Mayo with Whitehorse was completed in 1950. The Silver Trail, a scenic highway that begins at Stewart Crossing on the Klondike Highway, travels through Mayo and leads to the mining camp at Elsa and the Hamlet of Keno.

Beautiful scenery and extensive history make Mayo a significant tourist destination. The community is a convenient base for wilderness tourism, canoeing, hiking, big-game hunting and fly-in fishing.

Source: Yukon Community Profiles