Yukon River – Canoeing through Historic Heritage Route
If you are looking to spend some time canoeing into the Yukon Wilderness you don’t want to miss out on this adventure. The Thirty Mile River with its blue-green waters and excellent fishing opportunities will be your perfect summer getaway!
The Thirty Mile/ Tágà Shäw Jädalį, is a narrow, swift and winding channel on the Yukon River. It begins at the outflow of Lake Laberge and ends at the confluence of the Teslin River. A crucial travel corridor for over 30,000 stampeders during the Gold Rush. It’s currents and shallow shoals where a challenge for the paddlewheelers and boats. Between the geological features and the cultural heritage the history is evident along the way such as the S.S.Evelyn on Shipyard Island.
We will pick you up at your hotel in Whitehorse and drive to Lake Laberge (approx 30min). A 50km long narrow lake, know for its unpredictable winds. A motor boat will shuttle us across the Lake. Our paddling journey will start from the north end of Lake Laberge. It is not uncommon to see wildlife along the way. From the little but mighty Chickadees to Grizzly Bears or Moose, we never know what might greet us around the next bend, so keep your eyes peeled.
Hootalinqua is one of the historic sites that we will explore during this canoe trip. It is a river junction located at the confluence of the Teslin River and the Thirty Mile Section of the Yukon River. The site was a traditional place used as a gathering, trading, fishing and hunting site by Northern Tutchone, Southern Tutchone and Tlingit families. It lays withing the traditional territory of the Ta’an Kwäch’än Council. During the Gold Rush it grew into a Supply hub, North-West Mounted Police post and Maintenance stop for the Sternwheeler during the Gold Rush.
Shippyards Island, where the remains of the historic paddlewheeler S.S. Evelyn sits is just a few paddle strokes below Hootalinqua.
As we continue downriver from the Thirty Mile Section along the Yukon River towards the town or Carmacks, we enter the traditional territory of the Little Salmon/Carmacks First Nation.
Steam powered paddlewheelers required an immense amount of fuel. Wood camps where established roughly every 16km/10miles along the river to supply them. One of them is the now abandoned Erickson’s Wood camp. Some remnant log cabins and worker accommodation still stand at the site.
As we paddle along your guide will point out some other interesting spots, Unquestionably our guides will spoil you with delicious meals throughout the canoe trip.
In total we will paddle about 216km. With a perfect balance between paddling and enjoying time along the shore this will be the perfect adventure from the novice paddler to the experienced explorer.
Once we land in Carmacks we will enjoy a delicious burger at the Coal Mine Campground before enjoying a scenic 2hour drive back to Whitehorse.
If you want this to be a more well rounded adventure and spend some time with our amazing dogs, you can add on a night at our lodge on either end of the trip.
Due to the nature of this adventure, itinerary might be subject to change.
