Canoeing and hiking expedition on the Wind River

Arrival Whitehorse
Arrival in Whitehorse. Transfer to your downtown hotel. This afternoon you’ll have the chance to meet your fellow travelers and your group leader will review the itinerary and your gear. Later this afternoon you’ll have time to pick up any last minute items identified and tour the Yukon’s capital. Quant and compact, you’ll enjoy the cafes, galleries, museums, and shops of Whitehorse’s Main Street and downtown core. Accommodation: Whitehorse hotel

Whitehorse - Mayo - Wind River
Tour departure. We’ll travel by comfortable maxi-van northbound along the pleasant Klondike Highway. Shortly after departing we’ll stop for a coffee at Braeburn Lodge, famous for its massive cinnamon buns, then continue onto Carmacks, which was first established as a roadhouse by George Carmack, one of the co-discovers of the gold near Dawson City, that sparked a rush of more than 50,000 on 1898. Further along, we’ll stop at the Five Finger Rapids overlook, one of the most scenic viewpoints along the Yukon River valley. 4 giant boulders mid- stream, create five distinct channels or “fingers”. The rapids are one of the only real navigational hazards along the Yukon River between Whitehorse and Dawson. After passing through both Pelly and Stewart Crossing, we’ll turn west on the Silver Trail – named for the massive silver deposits in the area, and the world’s largest silver mines - for the short journey into Mayo. There, we’ll transfer our equipment to a floatplane for the short transfer over the stunning mountain ranges forming the Peel River Watershed to McClusky Lake, the headwaters of the Wind River. Accommodation: tent camp.

Canoeing the Wind River Valley
A comfortable paddle with little white water, the Wind River is a journey through a truly wild land. Heavily wooded shorelines give way to alpine mountains shrouding granite peaks of up to 5000-6000 feet (1850m – 2000m). Wildlife sighting is common, including frequent sightings of moose, as well as caribou, black and grizzly bears, and possibly even wolves. Our first campsite will be in the vicinity of Bond Creek, which offers several excellent hikes to sub-alpine valleys offering dramatic views of the valley.

Your time on the river will settle into a familiar daily routine. Daytimes will be spent enjoying classic swift water canoeing as the river meanders through spectacular mountain scenery. Each evening, we’ll make camp in a pleasant sheltered location along the shore or on a gravel bar in the river. Following a hearty dinner, your guide will often lead the group on an easy hike to a scenic location above the river or recounting the day’s adventures around the campfire. 

Each bend in the river offers a new view and a new impression of this wonderful wilderness region. Near the Bear River confluence, Royal Mountain rises regally above the surrounding slopes. Farther downstream, at the confluence with the Little Wind River, the river flattens out as we leave the Illtyd Range and enter a broader valley. Mount Deception soon comes into view at Hungry Creek.

We’ll soon encounter the impressive Peel River, and further along we’ll pass the junction with the Bonnet Plume and Snake Rivers. Entering a short canyon, we will haul out our canoes on a small gravel island known as named Taco Bar. The waters here are deep enough to allow a float plane to land on the river. A short, but spectacular float plan ride brings up back to Mayo, and a very welcome hot shower, a meal prepared by someone else, and a soft hotel bed. Accommodation: Mayo hotel

Mayo - Whitehorse
Return to Whitehorse by maxi-van. You’ll have time for shopping and sightseeing and one last opportunity to dine with new friends while reminiscing about your river tour.

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