Yukon canoeing and kayaking
Canada travel, tourism guide

Canoe & Kayak Routes : Yukon, Canada

The Yukon Territory has always been a canoe destination. The territory was first discovered and explored via its vast network of interconnecting lakes and rivers. First, the First Nation people explored the rivers for hunting, fishing and traveling from village to village. Then came the miners. They followed the same rivers and lakes in their quest for gold during the Klondike Gold Rush.

There are many canoe and kayak friendly rivers in the Yukon. Lakes being more friendly to canoes. There are easy going paddles and there are white water routes. Rivers run from Grade 1-3. And the higher graded rivers include Grade 6 white water rapids.

There are rivers ideal for day paddles and there are many rivers and lakes which require weeks to complete. Many of the longer routes are best explored with one of the local tour companies. They will provide lessons, a guide and equipment. Better yet the guides will know the river, provide an interpretive tour, meals and the location of the best wilderness campsites.

Most of the river routes are located in the Southern Lakes region of the Yukon Territory. The area is populated with a high number of shorter rivers and a chain of lakes. However, there are canoe and kayak rivers located all over the territory - some measuring hundreds and hundreds of kilometres.

The most popular canoe and kayak river in the Yukon Territory is the Yukon River. It measures approximately 900 kilometres. Other routes which are great destination rivers for canoe and kayak adventures include the Lower Klondike (50 km), Porcupine (350 km), McQuesten (128 km), Tatshenshini (220 km), Alsek (225 km), Dezadeash (100 km), Takhini (82 km), Teslin (420 km), Pelly (500 km), Lapie (43 km) and many others. All distances are approximates.

Each Yukon community listed on this adventure website provides the descriptions and photos for some of the local kayak and canoe lake and river destinations. The contact information for participating canoe and kayak tour companies are listed under each community.

Many lakes are fed by glaciers and alpine rivers - the water is cold, winds are unpredictable and dangerous in the open water. All canoers and kayakers are advised to wear floatation life jackets at all times and be skilled in open water survival and wilderness camping if going over night.

To access some of the recreation lakes in the Yukon there are roof top boat launches, gravel boat ramps and portage routes. Sometimes to access a remote lake one must drive a long gravel road or hike a trail so to launch at a specific point on a river or from a remote lake.

Each Yukon Territory paddle route has a series of designated put-in and take-out points located along each route to avoid difficult areas like dams, shallow water and rapids. Each river route has a designated starting point and ending point. In between the starting and finishing point of a multi day adventure are campsites and campgrounds for over night visitors.

Most designated wilderness campsites along the paddle routes will include tent pads, food storage and pit toilets. When paddle routes reach communities there are maintained campgrounds which provide washrooms, power, picnic tables and sometimes showers.