Yukon Canoe

DATES

TBD - July is ideal

REGION

Yukon Charley National Preserve

TRIP COST

$$

calendar

DATES

TBD - July is ideal
region

REGION

Yukon Charley National Preserve
price

TRIP COST

$$

Canoeing the Yukon is a classic Alaska wilderness experience, full of striking scenery and rich with history. A week on the river is a timeless experience suitable for novice paddlers and seasoned explorers alike.

TRIP DETAILS

The Yukon River starts small and gains size and speed in Canada’s thinly populated Yukon Territory. The river crosses the U.S. border just upriver from the village of Eagle, and this is where our canoe trip will begin. From Eagle, the Yukon flows another 1,400 miles through the heart of Alaska to the Bering Sea. At its mouth the river is nearly a mile wide!

The section of river that we will paddle from Eagle to Circle City is one of the most scenic stretches of the entire river.  Our route takes us through Yukon Charley Rivers National Preserve. Gravel bars stretch around long sinuous bends dotted by roots and trunks of trees bleached by the hot summer sun. Beyond the gravel and sand are young willows and cottonwoods which frame the river in vibrant green. Towering above the brush are the trees of the boreal forest, hosting stands of paper birch whose white trunks peel in papery sheets. Other areas support dark forests of spruce, long brown columns in a sea of green moss. The boreal forest is also home to comically small black spruce all twisted and bent, seeming to barely survive in the frozen soil.

Along much of the river in this section are steep and rocky bluffs. Some of them are several hundred feet tall. These spectacular bluffs support an ecology all their own and provide some of the best nesting habitat for peregrine falcons in Alaska. This is lean country as far as wildlife is concerned, but king and chum salmon will be working their way upriver towards their spawning grounds in Canada. These fish will draw bears and others to the river for this seasonal feast. Moose are a common sight in the ponds and sloughs near the river.

In addition to the rich natural history, the river has an interesting human history. Gwich’in Athabaskan Indians have hunted and fished this stretch of river for centuries, thriving on salmon runs and a variety of wild game. Starting in the 1800’s trappers and then prospectors inhabited nearly every side creek and valley. Cabins, old mines, fish wheels and other relics of the area’s history can be found along the river and in the woods. We may also have opportunities to visit with fishermen and homesteaders living along the river.

The pace of this trip will be leisurely. The camping along the Yukon is world class for scenery and comfort. Depending on the weather, we camp either on the beach spread-out in the warm sand with a driftwood fire at the heart of camp or if the wind is up we can camp under the spruces with the smell of wild roses thick in the summer air.

Some of our paddling days may be long, but there will always be time to pull over and investigate sights along the way, climb a bluff, or fish a clear water side stream.  Weather in the interior this time of year tends to be sunny and warm though we will be prepared for anything. Canoeing experience is not required. This trip is an ideal choice for anyone hoping to gain wilderness paddling skills on a classic wilderness trip in Alaska.

Last updated: July 22, 2023

Itinerary

What follows is a general flow of events. Expect the unexpected and prepare to be flexible.

As a Custom Trip we can set the dates to suit your schedule.

Meet your guides at 8 am at the Arctic Wild World Headquarters for a question and answer gear check before heading to the airport and flying northeast from Fairbanks to the riverside village of Eagle on our charter flight. Once we arrive and settle into our lodging, at the Falcon Inn (included) we will take some time to tour the Gold Rush Era town before we head to the river and assemble the canoes in preparation for the following day’s departure from civilization.

Day 1

After a great breakfast at the Falcon Inn we’ll load the canoes, discuss river safety and let the current pull us away from the hospitality of Eagle and into the wilderness.

Will work on refining our paddling skills and settle into the routines of river life. Once we are comfortable on the river, we can stop in at fish camps and homesteads to learn about modern life along the river.

Day 2 - 8

Our time is ours to do what we please. We can start our day by climbing the bluff behind camp to smell the sweet sage and watch rough-legged hawks circle above the river. Or we can head out early and watch the glassy river slip beneath the canoe. At lunch we can follow a small creek back into the woods where we find an old cabin with a garden still producing rhubarb in the wilderness. We will travel most days and will be on the water for five to six hours each day. This schedule allows plenty of time for exploring from camp or making side trips during a leisurely lunch break. We will pass many clear water side streams that offer opportunities to fish. As we near our final destination, the river bluffs disappear and we enter an area called the Yukon Flats, a fantastically productive area for waterfowl. Here, as the river slows, the sky is broad and colorful.

Day 9

We leave the main river for a smaller, willow-lined side channel. After a few miles we see the log buildings of Circle, Alaska. After disassembling our canoes and packing our gear we will load into our van for a four-hour scenic drive back to Fairbanks.

The guides were uncommonly knowledgeable, competent, hardworking, and they consistently took care of the group before taking care of their own stuff. They kept our safety in mind while staying open to suggestions, and allowing folks a lot of freedom for personal wanderings.

- Jim, Alaska, USA

DETAILS

WHAT'S INCLUDED

Round-trip transportation from Fairbanks

One night lodging in Eagle

Food while in the wilderness, stoves, cooking & eating utensils

Boats, paddles, life jackets, safety & repair gear

Professional guide service

Select Camping equipment is available through Arctic Wild

WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED

Lodging except one night in Eagle

Non-camp meals

Personal clothing and gear. See full equipment list

Fishing gear, and fishing license

Gratuity for guide(s)

WEATHER & BUGS

Temperatures vary dramatically in the Far North. Temperatures will range from 90 to 40. We will get some good hot weather and some windy cool weather, but generally it should be warm (by Alaska standards) This is mosquito season, and they will be a factor we plan to mollify by choosing open, breezy camps. Bring a mosquito head net and a small bottle DEET repellent for forays into the woods.

RECOMMENDED READING

Coming into the Country, John McPhee

Land Gone Lonesome, Dan O’Neil

Furs and Frontiers in the Far North, John Bockstoce

Interior Alaska – A Journey Through Time, Alaska Geographic Society

Ordinary Wolves, Seth Kantner

Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve’s video preview of the river

More Alaska reading is available from our Bookstore

"The wilderness was spectacular, the leadership perfect."
"I am just finishing my tenth trip with you guys. As always, the trip was more than I expected and I had a great time. See you next year!"
"Of all outfitters with whom we have worked (and that is quite a number), you were by far the most organized and responsive."
"That feeling of wide open wonder, the possibilities for nearly limitless wandering, and the image of those proud caribou...that will stay with me a long time"
"Our guide was an encyclopedia on legs. He was always willing and ready to teach, to talk, to listen, to do another hike, or to lie low in camp if we were beat. He truly gave us the trip we wanted!"
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Eileen - Canning River