HART RIVER! Towering Wernecke Mountains right out of the water, great Arctic Grayling fishing, spectacular day hikes and great wildlife viewing right from the raft. Recharge and relax on the tranquil sound of the river and its extraordinary scenery as you casually float by.
On March 22nd 2017 the Supreme Court ruled to protect the most pristine and untouched landscape known to Canada, the Yukon's Peel River Watershed. It spans over 68,000 square kilometers of rugged northern wilderness, making it the largest inaccessible by road natural area in the world. From its dramatic mountain peaks and sweeping sub-Arctic tundra, to its sprawling alpine meadows and pristine boreal forest, the Peel is a rare place where nature continues to be limitless. Larger than the entire province of Nova Scotia, the Peel abounds with life, anchored by seven crystal-clear rivers that drain into the sea. Yukon's purest rivers and majestic mountains of the Peel are and will now be here for generations to come. The ruling by the Supreme Court of Canada was an incredibly victory for the affected First Nations, the Yukon Conservation Society, CPAWS and the Yukon Territory as a whole. Midnight Sun Outfitting's, Alan Young, was an instrumental role in pledging for the protection and the outfitting concession will remain pristine for forever.
Two of the main rivers in the protected area is the Hart River and the Wind River. Midnight Sun Outfitting has over 20 years of navigating the Peel River Watershed and in particularly these two rivers. We offer a once in a lifetime raft trip to guests to show them what all the fuss is about!
The Hart River is one of the most energetic and pristine rivers in the Yukon. It also may be one of the least travelled rivers in all the Yukon because of its difficulty to access. Midnight Sun Outfitting's base camp at Hart Lake is the headwaters of the Hart River. The raft trip offered starts at another nearby lake, Elliott Lake because the nearby channels are easier to navigate. It is rated as a Class III. The terrain at the river banks is breathtaking! Towering Wernecke Mountains right out of the water, great Arctic Grayling fishing, spectacular day hikes and even great wildlife viewing right from the raft. Recharge and relax on the tranquil sound of the river and its extraordinary scenery as you casually float by.
The Water and Difficulty
The Wind River is a calm, peaceful river. The water is not as energetic as others, allowing for a family friendly, comfortable, enjoyable lounge raft with a few technical parts. The northern Yukon’s waters are crystal blue, clean and fresh. Water originates on high alpine ravines and runs down in small creeks to add to the large moving river. Steering the raft and avoiding unexpected oncoming hazards are the only technicality of this raft trip. The Wind River is a Class II and the Hart River is a Class III. Both these river can be easily done with no previous rafting experience. We do however recommend that our guests are capable to swim even at a beginners level. All people will be required to wear a helmet and a flotation device/life vest.
Camps
Each night, a tent camp will be set up at our overnight spots. There are some designated areas that our party will camp at, however these may change depending on the day events and clients schedule. Camps vary, each camp is different. Camps are riverside, for fresh drinking water access. Midnight Sun Outfitting provides ground pup tents for each guest or group, a group may chose the numbers occupying each tents. A large kitchen tent can be set up for unfavorable weather. Cooking supplies is all supplied. Guides and assistant guides will prepare meals. Meals can be specifically tailored to all our guests needs and wants, likes and dislikes. Menus for meal plans are sent out upon booking trip.
Food
Meals are tailored to all guests’ likes and dislikes, and special diets alike. Food is usually prepared on an open fire or a small camping two-burner stove. A standard Yukon mountain meal is meat and potatoes, or protein and starches, with balanced vegetables. Some meals are freeze-dried for easy use on the raft trip and lighter loads. Pre-made meals are brought on trip as well. There are plenty of opportunities for fishing and in true Yukon fashion a good Arctic grayling shoreline supper is a must! In our guest's pre-raft trip package a menu and choice of meals is available. Our guests and adventurers are always well fed and Midnight Sun will make sure that guests are always satisfied.
The Raft
Midnight Sun Outfitting has three 12 foot rubber rafts. We have been rafting the Hart/Wind River for over fifteen years. The rafts are comfortable for 2-3 people and their gear. Guests are given a paddle expected to simply help steer raft as we follow waters current, and simply enjoy the waters. Each guest is obligated to wear a life jacket, helmet and polarized sunglasses for safety.
Hiking
Day hikes or overnight backpack trips off the river are available and recommended. The Ogilvie and Wernecke Mountains are not only beautiful and vast, but pristine and wild. The perfect combination for an excellent day hike. Hikes, short or long, are available to all our guests and will be guided by our experienced, nature loving guides. Hike up for an incredible view of the valley bottom or walk along the historic Wind River Trail, a famous ice road travelled in the 60’s by early exploration miners. Historic artifacts line the Wind River Trail and are fun to explore. There are very few who have travelled along the Wind River Trail and witnessed its scar on the landscape from decades ago.
Wildlife
This area is rich in wildlife. An abundance of sheep, moose, caribou and grizzly sightings are common. The Wind River Trail is popular for roaming wild game and even sees part of the migrating Porcupine caribou herd roaming the wide open spaces. Moose are highly populated in the area and live in the lower parts of the valley near the river. Muskeg and marshes are common for these large Alaskan-Yukon moose and our guides will help point them out on the trip. Mountain sheep (Dall and Fannin) roam the high alpine terrain close to river banks and peer down watching the raft go by. Mountain and Barren Ground caribou are abundant in the area and will be spotted on trip guaranteed. Grizzly are in area as well and are seen often rummaging the valley bottom shrubs for roots and grubs. Guides all carry a rifle and/or pepper spray for safety, as well, our staff are experts in the mountains and safety that precedents same.
Fishing
The Wind and Hart Rivers waters are alive with huge populations Arctic grayling. Each guest will be registered for a fishing license upon their arrival to camp and before the trip. Spinner rods and a fly rod will be brought on the raft trip, and everyone is welcome to fish (that has a license). If a guest chooses to freeze and package fish to take home, arrangements can be made. The most popular fish species are Arctic grayling, Arctic char and Lake trout.
Daily Activities
An array of activities are available to our guests on their raft trips. There is always something fun to do in the Yukon and with our team, such as hiking, wildlife viewing, resting in camp, fishing, swimming, glassing, fun camp games, playing cards, reading and much more...or simply enjoy the from civilization.
