GET TO THE YUKON AND WE’LL TAKE CARE OF THE REST. If you’re looking for out-of-this-world adventures that take you straight into the wild, we’ve got ’em. From fabulous fishing under the midnight sun, to camping under the northern lights, our expert guides are ready—let’s go!
YUKON WILD 01
02 YUKON WILD
Cabin Fever Adventures
SIX REASONS TO CHOOSE A YUKON WILD ADVENTURE
1 2 3 4
We are licensed under the Wilderness Tourism Licensing Act of the Yukon; we keep the adventure safe (and thrilling) We support eco-tourism best practices Our guides are highly experienced in the Yukon We customize the experience for you (group size, length, activities, etc.)
5
You can choose from rustic, to rugged, to luxury lodging
6
You can get all your gear and equipment rentals from us
GET HERE. GO WILD. What does Yukon mean to you? Unspoiled, pristine wilderness? A place where humans know their place in nature’s order? A chance to score a new adventure—or hone your skills on a new challenge? To us, Yukon is all of that and more, and we can hardly wait to share it with you. We’ve put together some of our favourite experiences here—and we’ve got hundreds more, too. So take a look, then talk to us about where your wild heart wants to go. We’ll get you there.
The wet-and-wild rapids of this spectacular river aren’t the only things that will have your heart pumping! The Tat (as we call it) flows through one of the largest bio-preserves in the world, offering you rare glimpses of wildlife and natural phenomena others read about, but never get to see. Imagine the thrill of rafting through one of the largest non-polar ice fields in the world— that’s the Tat. Your adventure starts on the upper river as your experienced Yukon Wild guide steers you through the class III-IV rapids. But the frothing whitewater is only part of the fun. Once we enter quieter waters and you can take your eyes off your paddle, look up to spy bald eagles soaring overhead and grizzlies feeding on spawning salmon by the banks.
IT’S EASY TO GET HERE
As the river flows on we’ll pass through remarkable valleys and spots where you can take a land break with a walk through a flower-filled alpine meadow. Farther down, hike up to Alsek Lake with your portable raft and spend time floating among the icebergs. The thunderous roar of their calving is something you both hear and feel.
Your Yukon adventure is much closer than you think:
Whether you choose a single-day or multi-day trip down the Tat, you’re in for a treat that will delight all senses.
Best time to go: summer Skill level: beginners welcome! Accommodation: camping on multi-day trips Don’t forget: your hiking boots Bragging rights: “One of the Top 10 Whitewater Rafting Trips in the World” –National Geographic
Did you know there are direct flights to Whitehorse from Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Kelowna, Yellowknife, Ottawa, and Frankfurt with Air North, Air Canada, WestJet, and Condor?
03
Tatshenshini Expediting
ICEBERGS AND EAGLES RAFTING THE TATSHENSHINI
A GENUINE YUKON EXPERIENCE
04 YUKON WILD
ICE ROAD TRUCKING WINTER VAN TOURS
Arctic Range Adventure
Enter a world where the road is paved in ice, not asphalt, and the bridges melt in spring. Jump in, buckle up, and take in all the winter wonder while your expert Yukon Wild guide takes the wheel – destination: Tuktoyaktuk! Our famous Dempster Highway becomes a whole new adventure in winter. Now you’re seeing it as it originally was: an ancient wildlife corridor, a traditional trading route for the First Nations people, and a dog sled route used by the Klondike prospectors and the North-West Mounted Police. The lack of amenities along the way punctuate that point. Once we pass the Arctic Circle we officially become ice road truckers as we leave solid land behind and drive onto the ice of the Mackenzie River. Don’t worry: the ice is up to 1.5 metres thick—we’re perfectly safe! The only clue we’re on a river, not a road, is the sight of frozen-in boats along the way. Soon we’ll arrive in Tuktoyaktuk, or Tuk as we call it. The name means “resembling a caribou” and legend has it reefs along the town’s shores aren’t made of stone: they’re the bodies of a herd of caribou that walked into the water and became petrified. After a tour of Tuk and a view of the pingos (dome-shaped mountains of ice), it’s back on our frozen road to head home. The days may be short as we get this far north, but there’s no denying they’re long on adventure!
Northern Tales
Duration: multi-day Best time to go: February to March Did you know? The Dempster is no ordinary “dirt” road. It sits on a gravel berm that protects the permafrost. Without it, the permafrost would melt and the road would sink into the ground.
Don’t forget: your camera Add on: dog sledding Read ahead: anything about the Dempster
What could be more synonymous with Yukon than dog sledding and the northern lights? Come lose yourself in the wild as you and your dogs tame the trails. At night, the otherworldly northern lights will inspire the sweetest of dreams. Here’s the secret to dog sledding: just about anyone can do it. All you have to do is hang on—the dogs do all the work! And with one of our expert Yukon Wild guides leading the way, you don’t even have to break trail.
05
Northern Tales
MUSHING AND MAGIC RIDING THE SILENT RUNNERS
A GENUINE YUKON EXPERIENCE
So jump on and imagine you’re an old-time trapper as your friendly dogs pull you over abandoned mining roads, across endless lakes of ice, and into a winter silence broken only by the sounds of panting and runners in the snow. Now it’s time for nature’s most amazing light show: the aurora borealis. Join us around a cozy campfire—we may even recite Robert Service’s “The Cremation of Sam McGee” for you. Or sink deep into your cabin’s private outdoor hot tub and soak up the awesome vision of lights dancing in the sky.
Up North Adventures
Duration: single to multi-day Best time to see the lights: August to April Best time for dog sledding: November to April Skill level: beginner Don’t forget: your thermal underwear and your copy of Songs of a Sourdough Watch out for: deer, fox, and moose
Add some horsepower to your dog power! Round out your backcountry experience with a guided snowmobile tour.
06 YUKON WILD
WHERE NATURE STILL RULES PADDLING IN THE PEEL WATERSHED
Ruby Range Adventure
You haven’t experienced raw, unspoiled nature until you’ve been to Yukon’s Peel River Watershed. One of the last truly pristine areas left in North America, the Peel Watershed dwarfs more famous landscapes, like Banff and Yellowstone national parks, both in size and beauty. To paddle any of its striking rivers is to return to Eden on Earth.
FINDING THE “LOST PATROL” In 1910, Inspector Francis Fitzgerald of the North-West Mounted Police set out on a winter journey that ended in tragedy. In the dark of winter, and without a native guide, they lost their way and attempted to turn back to Fort McPherson but never made it. The Wind River Valley is the setting for this story—your guide will share all the details.
It’s a tough choice: the Peel Watershed offers you seven rivers to conquer, each more technical and thrilling than the last. So let’s start with the most accessible, the Wind River. Don’t even bother bringing your cell phone— except for the camera, it won’t work. Once your floatplane lands at McClusky Lake, you’ll have left civilization behind. It’s just you, your expert Yukon Wild guide, and Mother Nature now. It’s best to have some canoeing experience for the Wind. At the top of the river, the waters are clear and fast flowing with boils, tight corners, and a few stretches of Class II rapids to keep you on your toes—but don’t forget to look up at the peaks as you pass through. The mountain valley views are breathtaking. Gravel bars along the way provide perfect spots for lunch and sub-alpine valley stops allow stunning hikes to stretch our legs. We may even see a herd of caribou along our walk. At night we’ll camp under the stars and enjoy a feast cooked on the fire. No doubt your guide will tell you some tales of the fabled “Lost Patrol.” Our own journey ends on a much happier note as we pull over on our last day at “Taco Bar” and get picked up by our float plane to head home.
Best time to go: June to August Cabin Fever Adventures
Skill level: some white water experience required Don’t forget: to leave the world behind Trip type: canoe
Called Ddhäl Ch’èl Cha Nän, meaning “ragged mountain land”, by the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in, the park boasts endless visual delight.
Sea to Sky Expeditions
Funny that a territorial park named for something so macabre is actually bursting with wildlife, wilderness, and every colour nature ever invented. Come with us on a hike through this incredible landscape where there’s a trail for every ability and an awe-inspiring sight at every step.
07
Come in late summer to catch the park wearing its coat of many colours, when spring greens change to yellows, oranges, and deep crimson reds—blanketing the valley in a rainbow of hues that make a startling contrast with the black granite mountain range above. This is a world where granite pinnacles have been shaped by wind, water, and glaciers; where sub-Arctic tundra and boreal forest collide; and where moose, caribou, and grizzlies outnumber the humans. Your expert Yukon Wild guide will lead you to the most scenic spots, like the Glissade Pass with its stunning view of Grizzly Lake, the Grizzly Creek trail and its spectacular view of Mount Monolith, and easy walks through the valley to see Mt. Frank Rae (the highest of the Tombstones). Hard-core hikers can choose itineraries that helicopter you into the heart of the park, allowing you to hike out. With this you get the added advantage of an eagle’s view of the Ogilvie and Tombstone mountains. If you’ve ever been to southern Chile, you’ll soon understand why the Tombstones have been called the “Torres del Paine of the North.” But really, shouldn’t that be the other way around? Duration: multi-day Best time to go: Late August to catch the colors Accommodation: camping Don’t forget: pack for changeable weather
Cabin Fever Adventures
s,
MORE COLOURS THAN YOU CAN COUNT HIKING THE TOMBSTONES
A GENUINE YUKON EXPERIENCE
Did you know? The mountains in the park are still growing! Hundreds of small tremors occur every year, pushing them ever skyward.
08 YUKON WILD
THE LURE OF THE MIDNIGHT SUN FISHING IN THE YUKON
Yukon Government
Upside of fishing in the Yukon: it’s entirely possible to have a river, stream, or lake all to yourself. Our vast land has more than enough room for you to cast off and enjoy—especially when you’ve got 24 hours of daylight in the summer. Downside: there won’t be too many people around to admire that 20-pound lake trout you just landed. Better take a picture!
FISH BITE IN WINTER TOO! Just because the lake is frozen doesn’t mean we can’t go fishing! Ask about guided ice fishing expeditions that could land you a nice big rainbow trout, lake trout, Arctic char, or pike.
With ten species of sport fish, more lakes and streams than we can count, and gin-clear waters, it’s quite possible that Yukon wins the title of perfect place to fish. So now that we’ve figured out why you should come here, the question remaining is what would you like to catch? Our expert guides know all the best places to go and will even fly you to remote lodges and lakes to get your perfect catch. We’ll take you to the right rivers and creeks for Arctic grayling, into the shallows for northern pike, and out on the boat in search of that trout. Our mind-blowing scenery and teeming wildlife might even make you forget about the fish. Watch for moose, grizzly bears, and dall sheep, as well as breathtaking vistas of mountains and meadows. And don’t forget, there’s no rush to call it a day: in summer the midnight sun makes it one long, never-ending day! But when it is time to tuck in, we offer you a choice of wilderness camping, comfy cabin, or luxury lodge. Reeling in doesn’t have to mean roughing it.
Duration: single to multi-day Best time to go: June to September Skill level: newbie to expert Arctic Range Adventure
Don’t forget: your fishing licence