Do your readers crave unforgettable scenery, active athletic challenges and lots of elbow room? Is adventure travel their true passion? For travellers in-the-know, the Yukon is an adventure nirvana, combining breathtaking unspoiled wilderness, mountain ranges teeming with wildlife, and over 70 wild mountain rivers. "Larger than Life" wilderness adventure is what the Yukon does best—come and see for yourself.
The Best Canoeing Secret
Yukon is a paddlers’ paradise—our rivers are among the most coveted canoeing, kayaking and whitewater rafting destinations in the world. None are more perfect than the Wind River, a Peel tributary and Class II mountain river that begins in the colour-stained Wernecke Mountains.
The Wind River enjoys a rare combination of factors that make it the ideal northern wilderness canoeing journey: it flows through stunningly beautiful landscapes, the alpine hiking from the river is extraordinary, wildlife is abundant, and it’s novice-friendly. Highlights on a 10-day to two-week trip could include fishing for Arctic grayling, watching wolves, finding fossils or reading about the region’s ill-fated Lost Patrol.
Whitewater Thrills on the "Tat"
The Tatshenshini River is a world-class river roiling with Class III and Class IV rapids surrounded by some of the most dramatic scenery anywhere. The "Tat" is a superb whitewater trip through Tatshenshini-Alsek Park, one of four contiguous parks that are collectively designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Fifteen years ago, contentious plans for a mine in the Tatshenshini were shelved and British Columbia declared it a park.
A rafting trip on the Tat is either a raucous one-day whitewater excursion or a 10-day river rafting expedition. Either way, you’ll probably spot lots of wildlife in this lush river corridor, and you’re guaranteed to be spellbound by the raw beauty of the area.
The Most Remote Biking Adventure
There are hundreds of kilometres of old mining roads and trails in the Yukon, and more and more of these overgrown routes are being discovered for mountain biking. The epic Canol Heritage Trail is like no other long distance wilderness ride. The Canol is a rugged route that was cut through sub-alpine wilderness during World War II to service a long-gone pipeline.
Today, the Canol is one of the most remote mountain bike rides in the world, with sweeping vistas and abundant wildlife and absolutely no services or settlements along the way. The 160-kilometre (100-mi.) stretch between Macmillan Pass and the Twitya River offers some of the best riding. Bikers often have to ford a few streams, but the awe-inspiring surrounding scenery is well worth it. This is not a journey for novices or the feint of heart.
Gone to the Dogs
There’s more than a few Yukoners who share the same story: they first came to the Yukon for a holiday, and now they live in a cabin with a couple of huskies. Don’t worry—you don’t HAVE to move here—but be warned that dogsledding is infectious. Yukon winters are spectacular, and riding with a team of excitable sled dogs is thrilling.
You can experience dogsledding a couple of different ways. Several Yukon mushers offer kennel tours, and some offer half-day, full-day or overnight packages. You’ll meet people who live the dogmushing lifestyle and you’ll learn the basics of running a team. If you’re keen for a more immersive experience, several operators offer weeklong wilderness adventures where you take to the trail with your own team. And for those who prefer to watch from the sidelines, don’t miss the Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race.
Beyond the Golden Staircase
In 1898, Gold Rush stampeders faced a major physical challenge on their way to the Klondike goldfields: the daunting Chilkoot Trail, with a climb of 1,067 metres (3,500 ft), some of it at a nearly 40-degree angle. The historic journey is immortalized in old photographs of weary packers climbing the Golden Staircase to the summit.
Today, hikers can retrace the rugged and beautiful 53-kilometre (33-mi.) trail from coastal Alaska to the shore of Lake Bennett. The route is lined with alpine lakes and century-old Gold Rush artifacts. Co-managed by Parks Canada and the U.S. National Parks Service, the Chilkoot Trail is Canada’s largest National Historic Site. Most people take three to five days to complete the journey. Hikers should reserve their trip well in advance, and anyone using the trail requires a backcountry permit.
Glaciers, Grizzlies and Giant Backpacks
If you’re looking for remote hiking amid spectacular mountain ranges, a trek through Kluane National Park is just the ticket. This is a wilderness park where you’re supposed to work hard to get from A to B--there are no developed roads or visitor facilities inside the park. You’ll ford icy rivers and scale mountain passes, and you’ll view grizzly bears, moose and Dall sheep in their element.
The six to 10-day hike to the toe of the massive Donjek Glacier is one of these epic journeys. The 96-kilometre (60-mi.) advanced wilderness trek requires map and compass abilities and good trail-finding skills. The route takes you from the Alaska Highway to the sprawling glacier by way of Hoge Pass and the Donjek River. Tackle the route with your own group of experienced hikers, or join one of several wilderness operators who guide trips to the Donjek.