Canoe expeditions on the Yukon River

DAY 1

Arrival Whitehorse
Individual arrivals in Whitehorse, and transfer to your downtown hotel. This afternoon we’ve planned a group meeting to meet your fellow group members and get to know your guide a little. We’ll review your gear and you’ll have a chance to pick-up any missing items. Evening free for optional sightseeing, shopping and touring. Overnight in Whitehorse.

DAY 2-7

Yukon River Canoe Tour
Our canoe trip starts with a transfer to the legendary Yukon River. The river’s name means “great river” and thus it is very well named. It travels more than 3000km from its source lakes south of Whitehorse, to the Bering Sea. During the next seven wonderful days, we’ll paddle over 300km on this great river to roam the Yukon wilderness. Our first day of paddling brings us to Lake Laberge, which requires some shoreline paddling. The reward is some wonderful paddling along the 30 Mile section of the river, a narrow, winding stretch that provides some great scenery, good fishing, and brings us to some interesting historical sites including the old trading post of Hootalinqua and RNWMP outpost. As we continue along, we’ll reach the confluence of the Teslin and Big Salmon Rivers; wildlife, including black bears and moose, is often spotted along the shorelines.

DAY 8

Arrive Carmacks
After a week on the river, with very few signs of civilization, we arrive at the small native village of Carmacks, which was founded by Klondike Goldrush co-discoverer, George Carmack. You’ll have time to grab the first meal not-prepared by yourself in more than a week, before saying goodbye to your canoe adventure on the river. We’ll return to Whitehorse by road, a journey of just under 3 hours. Transfer to your post-tour hotel, the airport, or your next tour. End of tour services.

DAY 1

Arrival Whitehorse
Individual arrival at Whitehorse Airport. You will be met by your driver and depart immediately to Carmacks via the Klondike Highway. Your guide will review the route for the next 13 days and outline your camp responsibilities over a hearty dinner beside the campfire this evening.

DAY 2-9

Yukon River Canoe Tour
Our campground is located right beside the Yukon River so it is a quick trip to the put in. We’ll break camp and get an early start. Not far from Carmacks, we encounter the famous Five Finger Rapids. One of only 2 real rapids on the entire Yukon River system, Five Finger is in reality 4 large boulders in the river, creating some standing waves. A good test, on your first day, but the guide will review the important info prior to going through the rapids and your fellow travelers, who paddled the river from Whitehorse, will have some good paddling techniques by now. As we pass through the rapids the valley widens and the river begins to flatten out. We’ll pass by several large bluffs as the river meanders its way in a north-westerly direction. Black bears, particularly in the early part of summer, are easy to spot as they dig for roots and forage for new growth on exposed south-facing slopes.

Further on, we’ll pass by the confluence of the Pelly River before we arrive at historic Fort Selkirk. The oldest European “settlement” in the Yukon, Fort Selkirk was established as a fur trading post by Robert Campbell of the Hudson Bay Company in 1848. The original fort was actually razed by coastal Tlingit traders who historically held a trading monopoly with inland native bands. The post was re-established in the late 1800s as gold rush traffic increased and quickly became known for its riverside hospitality, roughly halfway between Whitehorse and Dawson City. Today, Fort Selkirk is a Yukon Territorial Historic Site and is home to a few residents from the local Selkirk First Nation.

DAY 10-11

Dawson City
Today we’ll reach Dawson City, home of the 1898 Klondike Gold Rush. When gold was discovered in 1896, more than 50,000 people arrived at Dawson City making it the largest city west of Winnipeg and north of Seattle. We’ll pull out of the right on Front Street, directly across from the Klondike River, which gave the region its name. This evening, we’ll “hit the town” just like the Klondike Gold Rushers of more than a century ago. First up, we’ll visit the historic Diamond Tooth Gerties Casino. This lively casino offers all the usual games, including Texas Hold-em Poker, and a raucous Can-Can floor show.

The next day, we’ll tour the town and visit all the important historic sites, including the SS Keno, Palace Grand Theatre, the Commissioners Residence, and the cabins of Jack London and Robert Service. We’ll then travel out to the Bonanza Creek goldfields to the site of the original discovery, and the famous Dredge #4 National Historic Site. Perhaps surprisingly, we’ll pass by several working gold mines, put back into circulation as the price of gold has risen dramatically the past few years. We’ll have a go at gold panning ourselves before returning back to town. Our last stop of the day will be at the Midnight Dome overlook, which provides a great view of Dawson City and both the Klondike and Yukon River valleys, and gives you a sense as to the vastness of the territory you paddled through the past few days. (Two night’s accommodation in Dawson City.)

DAY 12

Dawson City - Whitehorse
Depart to Whitehorse on the Klondike Highway. We’ll stop in at pleasant Moose Creek Lodge for a coffee break this morning, and shortly after crossing the Stewart River, the highway generally follows the Yukon River Valley. As we near Carmacks, we begin to see the mighty river. Just outside Carmacks, we get a great view of Five Finger Rapids, and our guides will often plan a picnic lunch at the overlook in good weather. On arrival in Whitehorse, we’ll check into our hotel and enjoy one last group dinner together with new friends.

DAY 13

Departure Whitehorse
Transfer to the airport or join another scheduled tour program. End of services.

DAY 1

Arrive Whitehorse. Transfer to your downtown hotel. This afternoon, you’ll meet your guide and your fellow travelers, and have a chance to pick-up any last minute supplies. Evening free for optional sightseeing and touring. Overnight accommodation in Whitehorse.

DAY 2-17

Your canoe trip starts on the legendary Yukon River. During the next two weeks, we’ll paddle along this wonderful wilderness river passing old trading posts, modern off the grid cabins, and relics of the Gold Rush. The put-in is located at the confluence of the Takhini River and the Yukon River. After just a few minutes on the river, we’ll leave our busy life and civilization behind us. We’ll soon reach Lake Laberge, made famous by Gold Rush poet, Robert Service, in his epic poem, the Cremation of Sam McGee. Service famously changed the name of the lake to “LaBarge” to rhyme with the line “on the marge”. We’ll follow that shoreline of the lake before we reach a stretch of the Yukon River known as the 30 Mile near Hootalinqua, a former trading post, and RNWMP station. The 30 Mile current moves fairly quickly and is a prime location for fishing for Arctic grayling or northern pike. On day 08, we’ll arrive in the First Nations (native) community of Carmacks. 

Shortly after Carmacks we’ll reach the famous Five Finger Rapids, 1 of only 2 rapids on the entire route (together with the Rink Rapids) and the only real hazard to riverboats traveling to Dawson during the Gold Rush. 4 large boulders in the river create a series of ‘standing’ waves, but by now, with your paddling techniques honed, you’ll tackle the obstacle without problems. Following the rapids, the river valley widens and high bluffs border the river for long distances. We’ll pass the confluence of several creeks, streams, and rivers including the Pelly, White and Stewart Rivers, and encounter several gravel bars and larger islands, which make perfect campsites, as they are flat, open and generally free of bears. One such island is the former Hudson Bay trading post, Fort Selkirk. A territorial park, Fort Selkirk is one of the best-preserved examples of old-time Yukon. Several of the original buildings have been restored, and a few are being used by people from the Selkirk First Nation.

On Day 17 we’ll reach Dawson City! Located at the confluence of the Yukon and Klondike Rivers, Dawson City is a welcome sight after more than 10 days on the river without seeing a town or village. The afternoon is at leisure and tonight we’ll kick our heels “Klondike” style, just like the gold rushes of 1898! (Day 17 overnight accommodation in Dawson City.)

DAY 18

Dawson City

Today, we’ll tour the city including the cabins of Jack London and Robert Service and the Dawson City Museum. Then we’ll travel out to Bonanza Creek where gold was first discovered in 1896, to visit the Discovery Claim and see the impressive Dredge #4 National Historic Site. You will even have a chance to pan for gold yourself and keep all you can find! On the way back to town, we’ll stop in at the Midnight Dome, to enjoy a magnificent view over the city and the Yukon and Klondike River valleys. In the evening we’ll visit Diamond Tooth Gertie’s casino for an evening of Can-Can dancing, gambling and lots of good fun! Overnight accommodation in Dawson City.

DAY 19

Dawson City - Whitehorse
Today we’ll return to Whitehorse by tour van via the Klondike Highway. The driving time is considerably quicker than the trip by the river. We’ll stop at a few scenic locations along the highway, including the incredible Five Finger Rapids overlook. Overnight accommodation in Whitehorse.

DAY 20

Departure Whitehorse
Transfer to the airport. End of tour services or join your next tour program.