Big Salmon River Canoe Adventure

Originating in the Pelly Mountains, the Big Salmon is a river of mountain vistas and wildlife viewing opportunity. The Big Salmon runs parallel to the Teslin and meets up with the Yukon River about 1.5 days travel below Carmacks. You can end your trip at Carmacks or continue on to Dawson City, with Carmacks being about half way. The stretch between Carmacks and Dawson City is remote with few people living on the river. The Big Salmon starts off as a small river about 50 feet wide, and gets wider as you go down it. There are no real rapids on the river, but there is good current and some sweepers. The scenery is constantly changing and remains interesting for the whole trip. The area is home to moose, bear, and large Chinook salmon. Explore sand pillars and arches, abandoned villages, and a restored outpost.

Experience

Big Salmon River is a white water of class II with possible log jams, sweepers and tight corners. An experienced guide, allowing this route to be managed also by novice canoeist, will lead the group.

Itinerary

Whitehorse
Individual arrival in Whitehorse. In the evening meet your canoe guide and group members to go over details and last-minute questions.

Whitehorse to Quiet Lake
After breakfast shuttle transfer to Quiet Lake, located in the beautiful South Canol region about 230 kilometers from Whitehorse. Your guide goes over the gear and reviews paddling techniques. The fast currents of this river can quickly change to easily passable rapids, or to slower currents. It may be necessary to portage, or line the canoes around log jams and sweepers.

Canoeing Big Salmon River
We paddle through Quiet, Sandy and Big Salmon Lakes to the headwater of the Big Salmon River. We have to be very careful here, as the swift water could carry us into log jams and other obstructions. A favorite activity after a day of paddling is to cast your hook for lake trout, northern pike, arctic grayling and, in August, chinook salmon.

As you continue your journey down the Big Salmon, encountering the occasional exciting section of Class I & II rapids, highlights will include potential wildlife sightings—grizzly bear, wolf, moose, caribou, wolverine, mink, and bald eagle. You'll also have opportunities for world-class fishing. The river widens, with the beautiful Big Salmon Range rising to the west and Mt. St. Cyr and Tower Peak rising to the east.

The surrounding mountains, up to 2000 meters high, touch the waters of the endlessly bending river. The riverbanks are entirely overgrown by deep impenetrable brush and forest; however, with some luck we might spot moose, bears, lynx, or even wolves, and we will often catch sight of beavers and bald eagle. The fish you catch can provide variety on the daily menu. Everyone will have the opportunity to learn a few tricks of wilderness survival.

We reach the mighty Yukon River and Little Salmon Village. This little First Nation village is occupied only during the salmon fishing season. We continue paddling on the Yukon, with its fast water and high banks. The many sites to see and explore along this stretch include sand pillars and arches, abandoned villages, and a restored outpost. Run the famous Five Finger Rapids, the scourge of the "Klondikers," where many a raft and boat came to grief (but not ours!).

Return to Whitehorse
Arrive at Carmacks in the morning. Drive back to Whitehorse to a hotel and a shower. In the evening we come together for a last time before leaving for points south the next day.