Canoeing the Yukon River to Whitehorse
Canoeing the Yukon River is often done as a multi-day or even multi-week paddling trip. As the third longest river in North America, the Yukon River is a favourite of recreational paddlers. Many people set off canoeing the Yukon River from Whitehorse to Dawson City – though that’s only a fraction of its 3,185 km length.
You can also go canoeing on the Yukon River via a 30 kilometre section from Marsh Lake south of Whitehorse to Schwatka Lake in Whitehorse over the course of a day. The river does much of the work! That’s what John and I did as we just didn’t have time to do more. Still, it was an utter delight as you’ll see in the photos below.
Fun fact: Did you know that the Yukon River starts in northern British Columbia to empty into Alaska’s Bering Sea? Or that it has played key transportation roles, especially during the Klondike Gold Rush at the end of the nineteenth century.
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The Yukon River cuts through a scenic river valley lined with white cliffs made of lake bottom sediments with the odd layer of volcanic ash. We were lucky to see two moose swimming in the river. You shouldn’t have any trouble spotting bald eagles either.
The Canyon City Heritage Site on the Yukon River
Although the Yukon River is fast flowing, especially through Miles Canyon, there are no rapids or portages to deal with on the 30 kilometre section we paddled. But there were years ago.
You can see photos of what they looked like if you pull over and explore the Canyon City Heritage Site. For over 2,000 years it has been an important campsite as it was the last safe spot before the dangerous White Horse Rapids, which have since been flooded by the dam further downstream.
Miles Canyon is a lot of fun to paddle
Miles Canyon is definitely the highlight of the day. Rocks tower above you on all sides as the river narrows and picks up speed.
In only a few minutes, you’re through it and into Schwatka Lake and the buildings of nearby downtown Whitehorse can be seen. The pullout is in a day use park on the eastern side of the lake about a kilometre after exiting the canyon.
Other trips you can do canoeing the Yukon River
There are a number of other day trips one could choose to do on the Yukon River. If you start in Whitehorse above the dam, then you can paddle to the confluence of the Takhini River or to Lake Laberge. I was happy we had time to get at least a taste of what this great river offers the paddler.
The Yukon River Quest
Every summer, the world’s longest kayaking and canoeing race – the 715 kilometre Yukon River Quest – takes places between Whitehorse and Dawson City. Winners have finished the race in less than 41 hours though most mortals take about two weeks to cover the distance.
Further reading on things to do in the Yukon
- A Yukon Day Trip on the White Pass Scenic Railway
- Hiking the Auriol Trail in Kluane National Park
- The Ivvavik National Park Base Camp Experience
- A Hike to Grizzly Lake in the Tombstone Mountains
- 12 of the Best Things to Do in the Yukon
Click on the photo to bookmark to your Pinterest boards.
This looks like a really great Canadian activity. Love the moose! We saw three moose when hiking Gros Morne Newfoundland. Wildlife always makes the experience better! I’d actually love to post something like this on Must Do Canada if you feel you like writing a different version :)…I think I need a canoe adventure soon!
When we visited Canada a few years back I really understood why people were carrying a canoe with them: there is so much to explore along water ways, wild animals aren’t scared away when you approach quietly ‘on their level’, and you quickly get away from all crowds in their vehicles…
Unfortunately Canada was only a small part of a long trip down to Patagonia, and for most of the way a canoe would have been only a ‘burden’ (and added risk of theft).
@Juergen There are many trips I’d like to do in either a canoe or a kayak that are in the order of one -two weeks long. I doubt I’ll be able to do all the ones on my wish list but I’ll keep chipping away at the list.
This is just so beautiful! It’s been high on my list to visit the North, and doing a canoe trip on the Yukon or another (calm) river like it looks perfect. Did you see any bears along way?
@Claudia No bears just moose. The Yukon has a lot of super beautiful rivers and there are several others I’d like to do a multi-day trip – but it’s always trying to find the time.
So glad to see Mike’s comments about the food, because I was also thinking about what you ate to fuel the canoe -paddling. Beautiful shots – as always, Leigh.
@Jackie A delicious lunch- and somehow it always tastes better outdoors.
Yukon River – the name alone evokes such romance and wilderness. Lucky to have seen the moose, eh? I very nearly bumped into one while I was in a rowing boat near our cabin one night a few years ago. Fingers crossed this one will make it past moose hunting season. (I suppose it’s about the same period of time in Canada as here in Norway – just about now…?)
@Sophie I’m sure it’s moose hunting season somewhere in Canada right now. I guess if you actually use all the meat – and there are lots of moose, then it’s not a problem but unless I was starving I couldn’t pull the trigger on one of these magnificent animals. I always fell privileged to see them.
Couldn’t agree more. Can’t begin to fathom how anyone can look a moose – or any animal – in the eye and pull the trigger. But I’m not a vegetarian, so can’t be too judgmental. And I suppose wild animals have a happier life than most farm animals.
Beautiful sight.. Canada is such a beautiful country… and still retaining the pristine wilderness
@Prasad We still have more pristine wilderness than a lot of countries – and I hope it stays that way.
You know me the foodie when I got to the one photo as I said, “What’s for lunch?!” 🙂 I love that nostalgia picture of the rapids back in the day. This sounds like so much fun Leigh and of course how you mentioned that the river does most of the work for you. Awesome photos of the moose and eagle! 🙂
@Mike The rapids were truly wild before the dam went in and I believe there were many drownings. We paddled hard but not too hard and the miles (about 18 of them) slid by pretty quickly. We were so lucky to see the moose and the eagle cooperated by flying closer to us.
I used to see moose all the time in Minnesota and Quetico, but it has been many years since my last one.I have serious moose envy right now. Looks like a gorgeous canoe. 715 kms in 41 hours is insane.
@Ted I would love to be up in Dawson City or at a few key points where you can actually see the race. These racers are like human machines and I can’t understand how they possibly do it. We felt very lucky to see two moose.Interesting you haven’t seen any in awhile in Quetico.