The Woodland Ways Yukon River Canoeing Expedition is a long-form wilderness journey through one of North America’s last truly remote river corridors. This is a classic expedition in the truest sense of the word—measured not in moments, but in days, distance, rhythm, and gradual immersion.
Over approximately 14–15 days on the water, participants travel by Canadian canoe along the longest river in the Yukon and the third-longest river system in North America. The expedition follows the historic route between Whitehorse and Dawson City, covering an extraordinary 445 miles (715 km) of boreal wilderness, mountain horizons, and glacial-fed water.
This is the same river corridor travelled by Indigenous peoples for millennia, and later by tens of thousands of gold rush stampeders seeking fortune in an unforgiving land. Today, it offers something far rarer—space, perspective, and a return to purposeful movement through wild country.
1. Choose the number of places you want to book.
2. Choose to pay a deposit or the full amount.
The balance payment is required no less than 8 weeks before your course commences. You will receive an invoice shortly after booking for the balance payment.
Please pay in full if the course start date falls within that period.
3. Click ’Next’ and complete the attendee details for each place you have booked.
The Woodland Ways Yukon River Canoeing Expedition is a long-form wilderness journey through one of North America’s last truly remote river corridors. This is a classic expedition in the truest sense of the word—measured not in moments, but in days, distance, rhythm, and gradual immersion.
Over approximately 14–15 days on the water, participants travel by Canadian canoe along the longest river in the Yukon and the third-longest river system in North America. The expedition follows the historic route between Whitehorse and Dawson City, covering an extraordinary 445 miles (715 km) of boreal wilderness, mountain horizons, and glacial-fed water.
This is the same river corridor travelled by Indigenous peoples for millennia, and later by tens of thousands of gold rush stampeders seeking fortune in an unforgiving land. Today, it offers something far rarer—space, perspective, and a return to purposeful movement through wild country.
The Landscape & The Journey
From the moment the canoes are launched, the scale of the Yukon asserts itself. Broad valleys framed by distant mountain ranges give way to long, sweeping bends of pale glacial water. Days are spent gliding through silence broken only by paddle strokes, wind in the spruce, and the occasional call of wildlife.
Sections of moving water provide challenge and engagement, while long steady reaches encourage reflection and efficiency. The river teaches patience, awareness, and respect—qualities essential to successful travel in remote environments.
Each night is spent wild camping or using established riverside camps where they exist. Camps are deliberately simple, comfortable, and well-organised. Meals are prepared together, using a combination of open fires and stoves, reinforcing both traditional campcraft and practical expedition routines.
As the days pass, the group settles into a natural rhythm: paddle, land, gather, cook, rest. This steady cadence becomes one of the defining rewards of the expedition.
Wildlife & Wilderness Awareness
The Yukon is renowned for its abundance of wildlife, and travelling by canoe offers one of the least intrusive ways to observe it.
On previous expeditions, the team has encountered black bears and grizzly bears, moose (including calves), beavers, otters, bald eagles, wolves travelling the riverbanks, and—on rare occasions—lynx. While sightings can never be guaranteed, the presence of wildlife is constant, evident in tracks, sign, and behaviour along the shoreline.
The teams tracking experience adds depth to these encounters, transforming sightings and signs into learning opportunities that reveal how animals move, feed, and coexist within this vast ecosystem.
Historical & Cultural Context
This river corridor holds deep human history. Long before the gold rush, it served as a vital travel and trade route for Indigenous peoples. Later, it became the artery through which over 30,000 stampeders pushed north in pursuit of gold—many of whom never returned.
As we progress downstream, the weight of this history becomes tangible. Stories of resilience, hardship, and ambition are woven into the journey, adding context and meaning to the landscape.
Towards the end of the expedition, time is available for those who wish to explore key cultural sites in Dawson City, including the Jack London Cabin, Diamond Tooth Gertie’s, and the Robert Service Museum (entrance and incidental costs payable locally).
Skills & Experience Developed
While this expedition is first and foremost a journey, it is also a practical learning environment. Participants will continuously refine existing skills while developing new ones under real expedition conditions.
You can expect to develop:
- Advanced canoe handling on both flat and moving water
- Expedition navigation and river reading
- Efficient paddling technique over consecutive long days
- Wilderness campcraft including fire management and camp organisation
- Expedition living systems—food management, kit organisation, and teamwork
- Wildlife awareness and tracking in boreal environments
The emphasis throughout is on efficiency, consistency, and sound judgement rather than speed or bravado.
Leadership & Professional Delivery
Expeditions of this scale demand meticulous planning and experienced leadership. Woodland Ways brings decades of expedition knowledge to ensure safety, efficiency, and professionalism throughout.
Jason, founder of Woodland Ways, has led expeditions across boreal forest, jungle, desert, and arctic environments worldwide. His leadership style is calm, measured, and deeply experienced—qualities essential for extended travel in remote regions.
He is joined by his long-time friend and expedition partner Richard, an accomplished canoeist and seasoned explorer. Richard has paddled the Yukon River on multiple occasions, competed in the Yukon River Quest (444 miles), and led expeditions ranging from Vancouver Island to Glacier Bay, as well as complex multi-modal journeys involving sea kayaking, hiking, and pack rafting through the Chilkoot region.
Together, they offer a level of expertise that allows participants to focus fully on the experience, confident that logistics, decision-making, and risk management are handled with care.
Physical Requirements & Commitment
This is a 15-day paddling expedition and requires a good level of physical fitness. Participants should be comfortable paddling for extended periods day after day and managing camp routines in variable weather conditions.
While the journey is demanding, it is not rushed. Success lies in steady effort, good preparation, and a willingness to embrace the simplicity of expedition life.
Logistics & Travel
Participants are responsible for arranging their own travel to Whitehorse Airport, where the Woodland Ways team will meet and transfer the group. For those travelling from the UK, flight recommendations can be provided and our we may meet earlier for a layover in Vancouver depending on the flights.
The paddling concludes in Dawson City, marking the end of a journey that few undertake and fewer forget. A night in Dawson City, transfers back to Whitehorse and accommodation for the night is included here before the return flights take place,
In Summary
The Yukon River Canoeing Expedition is a rare opportunity to experience distance, time, and wilderness on a meaningful scale. It is a journey shaped by water, weather, history, and human resilience—one that rewards patience, attentiveness, and quiet determination.
For those seeking a true expedition rather than a packaged adventure, the Yukon offers something increasingly scarce: space to move, time to think, and a landscape vast enough to change perspective.
Safety & Professional Standards
All Woodland Ways expeditions operate in accordance with The Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018, ensuring financial protection where applicable. Overseas expeditions are aligned with the British Safety Standard BS8848, reflecting our commitment to rigorous planning, risk management, and professional delivery.
Expeditions into extreme environments require experience, preparation, and accountability. Woodland Ways and our trusted partners are long‑established, highly regarded, and operate to exacting professional standards. We welcome informed questions and are confident in the systems in place to support you throughout this exceptional expedition.
