Elsa, Yukon, is a former privately owned mining town nestled in the Canadian territory of Yukon. It's strategically positioned between the Stewart River valley to the south and the Mackenzie Mountains to the north. Elsa is situated at Kilometre 97 (Mile 60.3) of the Silver Trail, approximately 700 kilometres (435 mi) north of Whitehorse and 600 km (373 mi) east of the Alaskan border.
The town of Elsa was established in 1935 by the mining company Treadwell Yukon. The company built the town to support the development of a new mill for the nearby deposits of silver, lead, and zinc. In 1946, Treadwell's assets were purchased by United Keno Hill Mines (UKHM). By the 1950s, UKHM had become the second largest producer of silver in Canada and the fourth largest in the world.
At its peak in the 1960s, Elsa was home to 600 UKHM employees and their families. The town was bustling with activity and was a significant contributor to the Canadian mining industry.
However, due to economic pressure from decreases in the price of silver in the late 1970s, United Keno Hill Mines ceased operations in Elsa in 1989. UKHM attempted to sell mining rights to various companies but declared bankruptcy in 1998. Consequently, its mining assets reverted to the Government of Canada.
Today, Elsa is a ghost town and is closed to the public. Despite its deserted state, the town holds a rich history of the mining industry in Canada. Elsa, Yukon, serves as a reminder of the boom and bust cycle of mining towns and the impact of global economic trends on local communities.
