Guided Yukon River Expedition
Relive the past in the adventures of the present! The Yukon River is best known for assisting the gold seekers during the exciting Klondike Gold Rush. You will see relics of several steamships, old settler cabins and gold dredges on the banks along the river. As you paddle down this historic river you will canoe through many famous Yukon landmarks such as Lake Laberge (made famous by poet Robert Service), Thirty Mile River and Hootalinqua, a historic North West Mounted Police outpost. The Yukon flows north all the way to the Bering Strait through some of the wildest terrain in the world!
The Yukon River twists and turns through a vast and beautiful natural landscape. Starting upriver from Lake Laberge in the stunning Yukon Plateau region, you will admire the endless wilderness surrounding you, where grizzly bear, wolf, moose, caribou, wolverine, mink, bald eagle, marten and beaver roam. Relax after a day of paddling while casting your lure for “the big catch” of the day or just enjoy the serene setting. The Yukon River Expedition will take you down the swift waters from Lake Laberge to Dawson City. At the end of your journey you will spend the better part of two days and a night in Dawson City where you will have the opportunity to live and play like the gold seekers did over 100 years ago! The Yukon River Expedition is a fascinating and pleasurable river adventure for both the beginner and intermediate canoeist.
Day 1:
Arrival in Whitehorse. The Up North Adventures shuttle will greet you at the airport and take you to the hotel. You will meet the other trip participants and your guide will verify your personal gear and go through any last minute questions. You are then invited to explore the City of Whitehorse, enjoy a good meal or take in some historic sights on your own. Enjoy your first night in Whitehorse in a downtown hotel (included in price) located within walking distance of many attractions and restaurants.
Day 2:
The group officially meets at 10:00 am at the Up North base in Whitehorse. After another quick gear review to make sure everybody is properly equipped, we start our adventure right from downtown! The balance of the day will be spent getting acquainted with our boats and paddling to majestic Lake Laberge. Depending on time, a relaxing evening will be spent on the shore of the lake complete with a roaring campfire reminiscent of Robert Service’s classic poem ‘The Cremation of Sam McGee’.
Day 3 and 4:
Day 3 and 4 will be spent paddling across Lake Laberge and onto the Thirty Mile River section of the Yukon River proper. The group may take advantage of some excellent day hiking opportunities on Lake Laberge. On the Thirty Mile River section, we will be introduced to the wonderful world of swift water with an extensive introduction and/or review of swift water techniques and safety. The long daylight hours give us lots of time to enjoy the vast scenery!
Day 5 -16:
The canoe trip down the Yukon River continues. Highlights include: world-class fishing and searching for wildlife with potential sightings of grizzly bear, wolf, moose, caribou, wolverine, mink, bald eagle and martin. All day long the group will encounter beautiful mountain views. Camping in tents and eating by the campfire while under the “midnight sun”, provides the foundation for a truly unique wilderness experience.
Other highlights include day hikes, Hootalinqua (a historic NWMP outpost), the ancient First Nations encampment of Big Salmon at the confluence of the Big Salmon and Yukon Rivers, Cyr’s dredge, a derelict from the 1898 Yukon Gold Rush, Five Finger Rapids, Fort Selkirk and the legendary Dawson City.
Day 17:
We arrive in the famous “city of gold”, Dawson City, which marks the end of our river adventure. We will be staying in a hotel for the evening (included in price of trip) as we embrace the Gold Rush era. The remainder of the day will be spent taking in the history of beautiful Dawson City. After a casual dinner we will head to Diamond Tooth Gertie’s Gambling Hall for a night set to the 1898 Klondike era.
Day 18:
Today we head back to Whitehorse. After a morning of exploring Dawson City’s many attractions including Jack London’s Cabin and the gold dredges, the Up North shuttle will pick us up around 1:00pm and return us to Whitehorse. Arriving in Whitehorse in the early evening, the group can say their goodbyes after the completion of their grand adventure. Participants will spend their last night at a downtown Whitehorse hotel (included in price).
Day 19:
Departure day. We will bring you back to the airport or you can start your next adventure.
Note:
Due to the expeditionary nature of this program, changes to the itinerary are a possibility and are left up to the discretion of the guide. All attempts will be made to complete the trip within the outlined timeline.
Logistics
- 19 days
- Beginner Paddling Level
- Maximum guide ratio 6:1
- Rate: $4,620 + GST per person
Included
- Certified, knowledgeable and experienced river guide
- Rental and transportation of canoes and equipment
- Overland shuttle to and from the river
- Safety equipment including satellite phone
- All meals while on the trip
- Airport shuttle pick-up in Whitehorse
- 1 night hotel accommodation in Whitehorse prior to the trip
- 1 night hotel accommodation in Dawson City
- 1 day and night in Dawson City
- Entrance fee to Diamond Tooth Gertie’s Show in Dawson City
- 1 night hotel accommodation in Whitehorse after the trip
- Tents, cooking and shared camping equipment
Not Included
- Meals while staying in Whitehorse or Dawson City
- Transportation to and from Whitehorse
- Fishing license and fishing equipment
Sleeping equipment (sleeping bags and mattress) and personal equipment - Gratuities for guides
And the rivers all run God knows where