Yukon Family Adventure > Wilderness Area
Kusawa Lake
Kusawa Lake is a prized wilderness vacation destination for Yukoners and visitors alike. This long, thin lake snakes it way south through the Coastal Mountains. With a length of 70 km, yet only an average width of 2 km (1.2miles), it has a lot of shoreline to explore. Anglers enjoy catching the lake trout, northern pike, whitefish, and arctic grayling that are bountiful in this watershed. Paddlers and boaters enjoy the spectacular views, clean sandy beaches and the serenity of being nestled among mountains. As you travel southwest down the lake, the shoreline transitions from gentle peaks and large grassy uplands to the snowcapped peaks and glacier-filled valleys of the Costal Range. Glaciation sculpted this lake-valley and laid down the terraces and ridges visible near the mouth of the out-flowing Takhini River. At the south end of the lake, a hike up the steep mountain slopes will give you a glimpse of the glaciers that still remain in the higher elevations to this day.
Kusawa is known for its wildlife diversity. The higher elevations support habitat critical for large ungulates and carnivores. It provides habitat for Dall sheep, mountain goats, raptors and grizzly bears. The unique ecology of the area features impressive sand dunes and extensive boreal grasslands. In fact, Kusawa Lake is so impressive that there is an active proposal to preserve 3113 km2 of land surrounding the lake within a territorial park. This proposal is waiting for the completion of local First Nations' land claims settlements.
The word Kusawa is Tlingit for “long narrow lake”. The Chilkat Indians name for the lake meant “windy water”. Kusawa lake and the surrounding land is in the traditional territory of the Champagne Ashika First Nation, and the Carcross/Tagish First Nation.
