Wind River Canoe Adventure

Located in the Wernecke Mountains of northern Yukon, the Wind River is one of the Yukon's clear-flowing mountain rivers with a reputation for "friendly" whitewater and excellent hiking, with the alpine ridges and peaks close to the river.

Wildlife encounters along the rivers are frequent and may include moose, caribou, eagles, wolves and grizzly bears. Camps are set up along the shores of the river and meals are cooked over an open fire. This is an excellent trip for the novice to intermediate whitewater paddler.

Paralleling the border of the Yukon and Northwest Territories, the Wind River is one of those remote northern rivers that offers superb mountain hiking without the mosquitoes of the tundra.

Experience
The river offers strong current and enjoyable class 1 and 2 rapids. Unlike many mountain rivers the upper section of the wind has no huge rapids, there is definitely some fun with swift current, braided gravelly shoals, sharp bends and the occasional large wave, but in general this is an excellent trip for the novice to intermediate whitewater paddler.

Wind River Canoe Tour - Itinerary

Whitehorse
We'll greet you at Whitehorse airport and transfer you to the hotel in downtown location. In the afternoon you have time to explore the many sights and to do the last 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.

Whitehorse to Mayo
After breakfast a shuttle van takes us on a 5-hour scenic drive to the "end of the road" at Mayo. Here we will board the charter float plane and fly the stunning and remote 215 km over the Wernecke Mountains into McClusky Lake. This is truly a spectacular part of the Canadian wilderness being largely untouched by mining activities!

Canoeing Wind River
Unwinding from the days of travel, we will review paddling skills on the beautiful lake bordered on all sides by majestic peaks and arctic grayling breaking the surface. After a short portage, afternoon will find us lining, wading and paddling McClusky Creek to the junction with the Wind River. Neoprene booties with tough soles or sneakers will pay off here. The Wind river is unbelievably crystal clear that we are able to see Arctic grayling darting from pool to pool along the river bottom. We have plenty of time to try our luck fishing, hiking and enjoying the sights.

Our days on the river will take us through some incredible Yukon wilderness. At the beginning, the Wind valley is a relatively wide allowing great panoramic views of the burnished grey, black and occasional red mountain peaks unique to this range. This is also a prime wildlife area with sightings of caribou, sheep, bear, eagles, and a myriad of mammal and bird life very possible. We have set aside some non-paddling days to hike some of the mountain ridges that parallel the river.

The river is mostly a Class I/II river, characterized by riffles, tight corners and the occasional powerful eddy. Our paddling is rewarded by another day of ridge tops and alpine skylines that stretch across the horizon overlooking Royal Mountain and Royal Creek. Keen eyes will spot Dall sheep among the crags.

To Prongs Creek
Back on the river the swift moving river will sweep us past the tail of the chain of mountains through which we have been paddling. Individual peaks will continue to dominate the horizon. Moose sightings are possible and camp will be upstream of Prongs Creek with views of the Illtyd Range. Further on a spectacular Ridge walk on Mount Deception will reward us with views north to the Richardson Mountains.

To Lower Wind
The strong current will accompany us to our camp on the Lower Wind. Higher cliffs cut by numerous small creeks provide numerous wildlife corridors. Here we will be in the vicinity of Wind City. No longer in existence it was the wintering place of an ill fated group of gold seekers on route to the Klondike in '98.

To Peel River
Arriving at the Peel River we will pass the confluence with the Bonnet Plume. The Peel watershed is home to healthy populations of moose and thousands of mountain caribou, and is the wintering ground for some members of the Porcupine Caribou Herd, that massive group of migratory animals that existed when woolly mammoths and giant beavers lived in the northern Yukon. The Peel River Canyon will be a highlight with spectacular vertical walls and standing waves of class II-III. Camp will be downstream of the canyon.

Return to Mayo / Whitehorse
In the morning we will be met by the aircraft that will ferry us back to Mayo. There we will be met by our van and travel the Klondike Highway back to Whitehorse. Overnight in Whitehorse. In the evening we gather at a local eatery (not included) to celebrate the return and recount tales of the adventure!