Wilderness Adventure: Our Yukon River Canoe Trip

The canoe slid into the water… After gaining my balance, I paddled, making the canoe swing from left to right like a pendulum.

“The steering will be tricky,” I thought, as I tried to keep the canoe straight. Ash and I — both comfortable in kayaks — were new to canoeing.

“You chose a great day to canoe,” our Kanoe People guide Joe Bishop noted, as he paddled alongside us. “With this current, it will be a relaxing trip.” The sun was out, with just the faintest hint of a breeze.

Joe has been living in the Yukon for a while, and, as an avid wildlife photographer, he has plenty of fascinating stories to tell. “I attract bears,” he mentioned before we set off on our trip. As I had no desire to bump into a bear, this statement made me a little nervous.

The Yukon River is an easy-going waterway, surrounded by some of the Yukon’s most spectacular scenery. It’s a popular river, among both beginners and pros, who enjoy experiencing the wilderness through either a kayak or canoe.

Multi-day adventures – where you camp en route to your destination – are popular among visitors. Short on time, we opted for a three-hour canoe trip, which would take us from downtown Whitehorse to the river’s confluence with the Takhini River.

Ash, sitting at the front, would provide the power, while I, sitting at the back, was in charge of the steering. I lowered my paddle down into the blue-green water – and after just three strokes, the canoe was already heading the wrong way. I watched Joe effortlessly steering the canoe, and tried to emulate his movements.

“Left! No… Right! Slow down!” I kept shouting to Ash, trying to get a pace going. I realised the canoe would never go straight. So, for most of the first section, we paused, and let the current guide us.

“We’ll stop here for a quick break,” Joe said, pointing to a small beach. By now, the steering had become easier, but I failed to land the canoe. Joe came to the rescue, grabbing our canoe and pulling it to shore.

“How embarrassing,” I thought, as I stepped out of the canoe, “I seriously need to up my steering game.”

All was quiet on the beach, and I kept thinking about what Joe had said earlier: I attract bears. We walked along the shore until he stopped and pointed to tracks in the sand. “These are wolves; they patrol the beach looking for prey.”

Joe walked a little further through the bushes, until we passed a clearing. “Beaver trail,” he said, as he walked up the path, “They leave the river and visit this little lake over here, looking for food.” We stopped and looked at beaver marks left on a tree stump. “It’s when they’re most vulnerable, and probably why the wolves are here.”

Usually, I never notice the marks wildlife leave behind, so I found the little shore excursion incredibly fascinating.

However, having safely encountered no bears, I was glad to step back into the canoe, and continue with the next stage of our journey.

Floating down the river was a peaceful experience. All was quiet, save from the splashing paddles and the many croaking ravens, flying around the cliff faces. Apart from an occasional bald eagle sitting on top of the trees, most wildlife seemed to be hidden away in the forest.

When it was time for a snack/tea break, we grabbed each other’s canoes and let the current move us along. “We have apples, strawberries, protein bars…” Joe said as he rummaged through the box, which contained all the delicious snacks. “Anyone want coffee or tea? I even have hot chocolate.” I did not trust myself with a hot drink in a canoe so I politely declined, instead taking a bottle of water and protein snack.

The break couldn’t have come any sooner. I was just beginning to feel the results of the repetitive movement. Sudden shoulder pangs were telling me to take it easy.

So, as my muscles enjoyed a little respite, my body consumed the fuel it had been craving. Rested, we set off on our last leg of the journey.

“One hour to go! We must pick up the pace if we want to make the pickup time,” Joe told us. Ash and I quickened our strokes. By now, I felt I had control over the canoe, so Ash set the pace, and I followed suit.

I steered the canoe whenever it veered off course, with broad strokes and the more unique “J” stroke, which I perfected from watching Joe. It felt exhilarating being able to paddle confidently – and by now, I was enjoying our paddle on the Yukon River!

My excitement wouldn’t last long, though, for the weather turned, and the first raindrops began to fall. As the rain brushed against my face, I hoped the clouds would not break.

While the river’s current was fast at the start of our trip, it slowed down significantly towards the last section. Especially with my shoulder protesting, paddling became harder. “Can we switch hand more often?” I asked Ash, “My shoulder is killing me.”

As we approached the Takhini River, sharp bluffs came into view. A colour difference between the waters marked the separation of the two rivers.

For our pick up, we needed to paddle into the current of the Takhini River. This proved to be the hardest paddle I have ever tackled. Ignoring the stiff muscles and pain in my shoulders, we paddled as if our lives depended on it.

I thought we were making progress until I glanced at the shore. “Oh no,” I called out to Ash. “We aren’t moving at all!”

I was exhausted. How could a three-hour canoeing trip wear me down so much? I clearly needed to work on my fitness.

The current slowly moved us to the shore, where we stayed close to the edge. This gave us the opportunity to paddle our way up the river towards the pickup point. Thankfully, we made it.

Canoeing wasn’t easy – in fact, at times, it was challenging. But paddling the Yukon River – encircled by wilderness and wildlife – is an experience I will not forget in a hurry… When you are heading up north, this is a true Yukon adventure not to be missed!

Canoeing the Yukon River

Tips for a Yukon River canoe trip

While canoeing the Yukon River, I was often frustrated when trying to steer my canoe.
After some research, I found out that many people struggle with this, especially on their first try. So, if you’re planning a first-time canoeing trip, check out this great guide on steering canoes.

Other Yukon canoe trips

Apart from day trips, you can also book a multi-day Yukon River canoe trip with the Kanoe People. They offer guided trips, running from 7 to 12 days in duration.
Or, if you want to step into the footsteps of the Klondike Gold Rush prospectors, Up North Adventures offers a 19-day guided tour, which will see you paddling 735km from Whitehorse to Dawson City. Day trips start from $150, while multi-day trips start from $1995. Pricing includes the following for multi-day trips: hotel accommodation, food, drinks, canoes/kayaks, tents and camping equipment.

Up for a challenge?

The Yukon River Quest is the world’s longest annual canoe, kayak and stand-up paddleboard race. It starts in Whitehorse and sees participants paddling day and night to reach Dawson City in just two days.
To find out more, you can visit the official Yukon River Quest site.