The Forgotten Silver Trail of Yukon

The Silver That Preceded Gold

Long before the Klondike Gold Rush captured the world's imagination in 1896, the Yukon Territory was home to a lesser-known but equally fascinating mineral rush - the Silver Trail of the 1870s and 1880s.

Indigenous peoples had long known of the mineral riches in the region, but it wasn't until the 1870s that prospectors began systematically exploring the area around what is now the community of Mayo. The discovery of rich silver veins in the Keno Hill area would spark a rush that predated the famous gold discoveries by nearly two decades.

The Silver Trail became a network of routes connecting mining camps, trading posts, and First Nations settlements throughout central Yukon. Unlike the later gold rush that brought tens of thousands, the silver miners were a more modest but determined group who established the territory's first permanent non-indigenous settlements.

Chronicles of the Silver Trail

Pre-1870s

Indigenous knowledge of mineral deposits

First Nations peoples including the Northern Tutchone had long known of and occasionally mined surface mineral deposits in the region, using materials for tools and trade.

1874

First recorded silver discovery

Prospector Arthur Harper, later known as the "Father of the Yukon," makes the first recorded silver discovery along the Stewart River, though it proves uneconomical to develop at the time.

1882

Keno Hill discovery

Prospectors discover rich silver veins in what becomes known as the Keno Hill area, sparking the first significant rush of miners into the region and establishing the Silver Trail network.

1886

Mayo established

The community of Mayo is established as a supply center for silver miners, becoming the first permanent non-indigenous settlement in central Yukon outside of Dawson City.

1896-1899

Gold rush overshadows silver

The Klondike Gold Rush draws most miners away from silver prospects, though some operations continue throughout the gold rush era and beyond.

The Silver Trail Network

Stewart River Route

The main artery of the Silver Trail, following the Stewart River from its confluence with the Yukon River up to the Mayo mining district.

Keno Hill District

Heart of the silver mining activity, named for a popular gambling game miners played while waiting out winter storms.

Mayo Landing

Established as the main supply depot where goods were transferred from riverboats to overland transport to the mines.

Relics of the Silver Era

These artifacts tell the story of Yukon's first mineral rush, preserved in museums and private collections.

Keno Hill Silver Ore

A rich sample of galena ore from the early Keno Hill mines, showing the high silver content that attracted prospectors.

Yukon Beringia Interpretive Centre

1884 Miner's Journal

The personal diary of prospector William Moore, detailing daily life on the Silver Trail before the gold rush.

MacBride Museum of Yukon History

First Silver Ingot

The first commercially produced silver ingot from Yukon, cast in 1885 at a small smelter near Mayo.

Dawson City Museum

Enduring Legacy

"The Silver Trail miners were the true pioneers of Yukon. They built the first permanent structures, established the first trade networks, and proved that mineral wealth could be extracted from this harsh land long before the world heard of Klondike gold."

— Dr. Eleanor Whitmore, Yukon Historian

Though overshadowed by the spectacular Klondike Gold Rush, the Silver Trail era laid crucial foundations for Yukon's development. The routes established by silver prospectors became vital supply lines during the gold rush, and many gold rush stampeders actually followed trails first blazed by silver miners.

The Silver Trail also established Yukon's first mining laws and regulations, created the territory's first non-indigenous settlements outside trading posts, and demonstrated that year-round mining operations were possible in the harsh northern climate.

Modern Silver Trail

Today, the Silver Trail is a designated historic route connecting the communities of Stewart Crossing, Mayo, and Keno City, where visitors can explore preserved mining sites and museums dedicated to this early chapter of Yukon history.

Continued Mining

Silver mining continues in the Keno Hill district to this day, making it one of the longest continuously operating mining districts in North America.