A Celebration of Swans festival takes place April 1 to 30 every year. Visit the Swan Haven Interpretive Centre in April 2026 to welcome spring and witness the mass migration of thousands of swans, ducks and geese.
The Swan Haven Interpretive Centre is open daily from April 1 to 30. Entry is free.
The centre overlooks M’Clintock Bay in Marsh Lake. In spring, waterbirds rely on the bay's early open water to feed, rest and stay safe. Visit the centre to learn about bird migration through hands-on indoor and outdoor exhibits and knowledgeable staff. Then, walk along the shoreline trail to see and hear thousands of migrating swans, ducks and other waterbirds.
Location and parking
Swan Haven is located at 58 Swan Haven Drive, Marsh Lake, in the North M'Clintock Bay subdivision. There is limited angle parking in front of the building as well as parallel parking along Swan Haven Drive. Please drive slowly; this is a residential area and there are often loose dogs.
2026 hours of operation
Open daily April 1 to 30.
Monday to Friday: 5 pm to 8 pm.
Weekends and holidays (Easter Friday and Monday): 12 to 7 pm.
You are welcome to visit outside of these hours to view the outdoor exhibits and access the shoreline walking trail. The "Journey to Swan Haven" audio guide is also available any time during the month.
Facilities
Bring your own drinking water; there is no running water on site.
Amenities:
• Heated two-story building. The first floor is accessible via a boardwalk and ramp
• Accessible outhouse
• Viewing decks
• Shoreline walking trail (approximately 1 kilometre return); accessed via a set of stairs
• Indoor and outdoor interpretive exhibits
What to bring
• Warm clothing and layers (Swan Haven is next to a huge frozen lake)
• Boots for walking on snow, ice and/or mud
• Sunglasses, sunscreen and a hat (the glare off the ice is strong)
• Drinking water and snacks
Accessibility
A wheelchair ramp provides access to the first-floor of the building. There is accessible parking out front.
All month (April 1 to 30)
Bike to Swan Haven challenge
It’s road biking season! Add bird-viewing to your training schedule for a chance to win one of two $100 gift certificates to local bike shops.
To enter simply show up at Swan Haven anytime between April 1 to 30 on your bike and ask a staff member to enter you into the prize draw.
Details:
- You can bike one way or both ways.
- Swan Haven is approximately 45 km from Whitehorse, but you can also bike from shorter distances.
- You are responsible for your safety and ability to ride.
- If you show up outside our hours of operation, email a selfie with your bike at Swan Haven to [email protected] to be entered into the draw.
Wednesday, April 29 - CANCELLED
M’Clintock West Ridge (Brownie Mountain) hike
This event is cancelled due to trail conditions. Stay tuned for possible rescheduling.
Saturday, May 9
Dagay swan walk in Kluane
Bring your lunch to Kluane and enjoy a guided walk with Lenita Alatini, a citizen of the Kluane First Nation. Learn about the dagay (swans) of Jèdàlį (head of the river) and enjoy a cup of hot tea and bannock at the end of the day. Warm layers and rubber boots are strongly recommended. Registration is required so we can share pertinent information about this event. If travelling from Whitehorse this is a long day but worth the trip to say goodbye to the swans for another season.
This event involves walking about 3 km down an old dirt road and along the mudflats, with minimal elevation change.
Registration is required so we can share event-specific information.
Time: 12 to 4 pm
Location: Meet at the Kluane Museum of History in Burwash Landing. From there, we’ll carpool to an area nearby. (Burwash Landing is approximately three hours from Whitehorse/one hour from Haines Junction.)
Cost: Free
Registration opens at noon one week prior. Register here.
Sunday, May 10
Shorebird walk
At a certain point in the spring, we say goodbye to the swans and hello to the shorebirds, including sandpipers, snipes, yellowlegs and godwits. Birding expert Jukka Jantunen will sort it all out during a short walk and talk. Rubber boots are recommended.
Registration is required so we can share event-specific information.
Time: 10 to 11:30 am
Location: Meet at the Swan Haven Interpretive Centre. We may carpool a short distance to a nearby location.
Cost: Free
Registration opens at noon one week prior. Register here.
Heading to Swan Haven? Journey to Swan Haven is the perfect companion for your drive. Listen to this 13-minute audio segment and discover why thousands of Trumpeter Swans stop at Swan Haven every spring.
Available April 1 to 30.
Listen here or on the Yukon Sites and Sights app (starting April 1).
Every year, Wildlife Viewing hosts an art contest to select a design for the A Celebration of Swans collectible poster.
Yukon Wildlife Viewing and Yukon Arts Centre are pleased to welcome Kim Roberts as the 2026 artist-in-residence at Swan Haven.
Kim Roberts is a stained-glass artist who resides in the Southern Lakes region on the Traditional Territories of the Carcross/Tagish First Nation, Ta’an Kwäch’än Council and Kwanlin Dün First Nation. Kim’s family is from Treaty 8 Territory in Northern Alberta; she is Cree/Metis. Kim was first introduced to stained glass more than a decade ago through a hands-on workshop that sparked an immediate passion. What began as curiosity quickly evolved into a dedicated artistic practice. Her art is rooted in a deep appreciation for light transformation. Kim has taught stained-glass workshops throughout the Yukon and Northern BC.
Kim will be at Swan Haven from April 14 to 27. Stay tuned for events hosted by Kim at Swan Haven!
The Swan Haven artist residency is offered in partnership with the Yukon Arts Centre.
School programs
School programs have always been an important part of spring activities at Swan Haven. Hundreds of school children visit with their classes to participate in hands-on activities and games, in a spectacular outdoor classroom.
These popular programs are available throughout April for Grades 2, 3, 5 and 9. Programming is provided in partnership with the Yukon Wildlife Preserve. Teachers and administrators, please visit the wildlife preserve’s program page to book a visit and for K-9 teaching resources.
Student art contest
Yukon students in grades 2 to 6 are invited to submit their wildlife-themed art for display at the Swan Haven Interpretive Centre for the month of April. Visitors to the interpretive centre vote for their favourite entries and the winners receive a prize.
Entry deadline: Friday, March 27, 2026
Open to: Yukon students grade 2 to 6
Drop off or mail to: Wildlife Viewing/Department of Environment, 10 Burns Road, Box 2703 (V5R), Whitehorse, YT, Y1A 2C6
For questions about A Celebration of Swans and wildlife viewing events, email [email protected] or phone 867-667-8291 or toll free in the Yukon 1-800-661-0408, extension 8291.