Amazing Waterway Secrets

Pickup at the Whitehorse Airport and transfer to the hotel. You will have time to discover the town and do some shopping. We discuss the trip itinerary with all group members. Overnight in Hotel.

From Whitehorse we travel North with our Van on the Klondike Highway passing the Five Finger Rapids on the Yukon River. In the afternoon we fly with our gear to Clarke Lakes where we camp on the lake shore and enjoy our first camp fire after.

Start of canoe trip on the shore of Clarke Lakes, traveling towards the Beaver River. Over connecting brooks we find our way through a chain of small lakes. Each of these lakes invites to stay a while. Reed covered banks and the occasionally branch let us improve our navigational skills. Sometimes we may need to carry our gear over some fallen trees, which gives us time to observer the wild life. This is excellent moose habitat. Breathtaking Mountains rise over the spruce forest around us. Wonderful Camps await us at the lake and river shores.

With alternating flow conditions we have now free travel on the Beaver River. Fast water with sorted obstacles between the far gravel banks requires skillful maneuvering of the canoes. Here we encounter panoramic views with relaxed paddling. After the small brooks and lakes, it is now the width of the landscape, which fascinates. Fishing is easily rewarded and our dinner often gets to be a gourmet experience.

The Stewart River, the small brother of the Yukon River, receives us with fast-flowing. The water route is now a broad course. We now can also comfortably float with the current sometimes. High, rugged mountains surround us in the scenary. Again and again there is an interesting Trappercabin or an abandoned Homestead’s on the bank to discover. With more water arriving from small creeks the river swells further. The mysterious Baggins Canyon with light white water is a welcome alternation. Two larger rapids (WW class 2 - 3) again completely modify the river character. Already far of strong noise announces the turbulences which can be expected. High standing waves invite to be riden here. After viewing the main rapids from above and caring our gear around we can canoe the rapids and pick up our gear after them. Shortly after the rapids we get to Fraser Falls, which we will portage around with our gear and canoes.

After a short while on the River we reach the town Mayo again. From here the Van brings us back to Whitehorse. Overnight in Hotel.

Day 15: Departure Whitehorse
Transfer to the Whitehorse airport or connecting program in Dawson City.