MacMillan River Canoe Adventure

The trip starts on the South MacMillan River high in the mountains at MacMillian Pass. During the first days of this trip you will be challenged with several rapids ranging up to grade III. If the water becomes too rough, portage trails are available on shore. This river will be an adventure for every canoeist, the entire trip will demand skill and attention. Towards the end the Mac Millan becomes calmer and the paddler has a chance to immerse completely in the landscape and admire the up to 3000 m high mountains.

Mac Millan Canoe Tour - Itinerary

Whitehorse
We'll greet you at the Whitehorse airport and transfer you to the hotel in downtown location. You have time to explore the many sights and go shopping. In the evening you will meet the group and we will discuss the tour routing. Your guide will introduce himself and gives substantial introduction to wilderness rules and canoeing techniques at the beginning and during the tour. You have plenty of time to organize your gear and adapt to the wilderness setting.

Whitehorse to Launch Point
After breakfast we pack up our gear and travel by mini coach on the Klondike Highway towards Carmacks. Then we take the Robert Campbell Highway to the bridge over the Pelly in Ross River. The last 160 kilometers we travel on the adventurous North Canol Road to our launch point at the South MacMillan.

Canoeing on the South MacMillan
Today we start our canoe trip on the South MacMillan and later on the Pelly River to Pelly Crossing. For the first few days there is substantial whitewater to be dealt with, which will hone your skills for the rest of the 320 miles of the trip. We encounter the different rapids, partly class III, which we will portage depending on the water level. After the last rapid the river winds down.

Passed the South Fork- and Wilkinson Range we come across the confluence of the South and North MacMillan rivers. The river picks up on speed. Although we are still very much in the wilderness we begin to see signs of bygone years when the trappers and gold seekers traveled these waters. At Russel Creek we set up camp at a former settlement, that was occupied by trappers and gold-digger families a couple of years ago. Far away from civilization the abandoned homes and used tools show the ingenuity and creativeness of the residents. These old signs send you dreaming of what it must have been like years ago when voyagers traveled up these rivers. We will spend a day relaxing or exploring the settlement.

We continue paddling on the MacMillan. Shortly after passing Russel Creek the river widens and becomes almer. While drifting along we have time to enjoy the panoramic vista of the Russell Range and Clark Hills and look out for animals. Often we can watch bears, moose and wolverine near the river bench. Shortly before our trip ends the MacMillan flows into the Pelly River. Granite Canyon will give us a final and solid taste of wave bashing and rock dodging. While we are making use of our newly acquired or improved canoeing skills, we will be surrounded by up to 100 metre high cliffs. We camp just below the canyon and have time for a backcountry hike. Finally we reach Pelly Crossing, the end of our canoe tour.

Pelly Crossing to Whitehorse
After breakfast we drive on the Klondike Highway back to Whitehorse. Along the way we stop at the famous Five-Finger-Rapids and follow the Yukon River to Carmacks - a trading post established in 1890. Via Twin Lakes - well known for their beauty and colors we stop at Conglomerate Mountain which was formed at the leading edge of volcanic mud flows some 185 million years ago. We will take our time for a good photo opportunity at beautiful Fox Lake and drive along Lake Laberge which became famous from a poem by Robert W. Service. We arrive in Whitehorse where we stay for the night and meet in the evening for a last time. The next morning we transfer you to the airport.