Yukon Territory Big Salmon River Canoe

TYPE OF TRAVEL/DISTANCE: You will travel in 17-foot Old Town or Mad River canoes, which hold two to three paddlers plus all necessary gear. The average day’s travel consists of 5-7 hours of paddling, depending on weather conditions. Because of the fast-moving current, you will travel anywhere from 10-50 miles a day with the exception of layover days. To protect the environment, Wilderness Inquiry uses Leave No Trace camping techniques.

LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY: The Big Salmon River trip is truly an expedition, consisting of challenging canoeing, unpredictable weather, and remote terrain. The trip is open to people of all abilities; however, it requires physical endurance and psychological stamina. Solid wilderness camping and canoe experience are recommended. Depending on water levels, the Big Salmon can have some lively rapids, including some class III. White water paddling experience is a plus.

WEATHER: Temperatures in the summer can range from 20 F in the evening to 70 F during the day. Expect a variety of weather patterns, from hot, calm, summer days to rain, wind, and cold.

YOUR GROUP: The group size ranges from 10 to 12 participants, plus 2 or more Wilderness Inquiry staff. Each group consists of people of various ages, backgrounds and abilities, including people with disabilities.

ACCOMMODATIONS: This is a camping trip. At night you will sleep in a comfortable Eureka Dome tents. Typically, there are 3 people per 4-person tent (although other arrangements can be made). Bathroom facilities consist of an outhouse or a foldable commode chair set up in a privacy tent. We make every effort to ensure privacy and cleanliness.

MEALS: The food we bring is plentiful and nutritious. You can expect meals like burritos, pesto pasta, and chicken stir-fry for dinner; gorp, sausage, cheese and sandwiches for lunch; pancakes for breakfast. If you have special dietary restrictions, be sure to list them on your registration.

EQUIPMENT AND CLOTHING: Wilderness Inquiry will provide all necessary canoeing and camping equipment. All you need to provide is your personal gear, such as clothing and a sleeping bag. A detailed equipment list will be sent to you upon confirmation of your participation. If you need to borrow personal gear, that can usually be arranged.

FISHING: The tributary lakes to the Big Salmon are great for Lake Trout and Northern Pike. Once you are on the Big Salmon River, it is abundant with Arctic Grayling.

PASSPORT/VISA: U.S. citizens need a passport to enter Canada. One blank passport page is typically required for entry stamp. No tourist visa is required for U.S. citizens for stays under 180 days. We encourage you to check the State Department website for the most up-to-date entry requirements:  http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/country/canada.html

COVID POLICY: We continue to monitor and update our COVID-19 policies. Wilderness Inquiry strongly encourages everyone to be fully up to date with their COVID-19 vaccination and take other necessary steps for the health and wellness of all. We ask you to self-screen for any signs of illness prior to your trip’s departure. Please contact Wilderness Inquiry if you are exhibiting signs of illness. We will also continue to follow all guidance and requirements of locations that we travel, keeping in mind some international destinations do require vaccinations and/or negative covid tests. We will update this policy as new information and guidance becomes available.

SAFETY WHILE ON TRAIL:  Though not required, some individuals may choose to wear a mask, and we expect all participants to respect this choice. Please ensure proper hygiene including, but not limited to, hand-washing and/or sanitizing before eating and after using the restroom. Individuals who become ill or test positive for COVID-19 during a Wilderness Inquiry experience will be isolated to the best of the group’s ability and are responsible for their own transportation and expenses to depart the trip.

The Big Salmon River arises in a series of remote lakes in the northern Yukon Territory. Paddlers begin with Quiet, Sandy, and Big Salmon Lakes before entering the Big Salmon River itself; the journey ends at the small historic pioneer town of Carmacks on the Yukon River. The Yukon Territory has been historically undeveloped, unknown, and remote with little human presence until European explorers in the mid-19th century came in search of furs and minerals. The Territory remains a vast wilderness with little human settlement, making it a true frontier in wilderness travel.

Once leaving Quiet Lake, paddlers will see no roads or bridges for the remainder of the trip. Not until arriving at Carmacks will visitors see a hint of civilization. The Big Salmon River flows through truly remote wilderness country.

Before the arrival of European traders and explorers, humans sparsely populated the Yukon Territory. Russians first laid claim and began early exploration of the Territory and were later followed more extensively by Canadians and Americans. The area was principally exploited for its furs and minerals. In 1896 gold was found in the Territory, resulting in a pandemonium of people flooding the area to exploit the resources. In 1881 exploration of the Big Salmon began. Early prospectors called it “Iyon” after an Indian tribe they found near the mouth. Later, in 1894, George Dawson of the Geological Survey of Canada chose to return the River to its original name. Literally translating the Indian name “Ta-Tlin-Hini” the River became known as the Big Salmon.

The Big Salmon River is a part of the Yukon River watershed. The mighty Yukon River, a principle watercourse in the northwestern portion of the continent, provides one of the longest salmon runs in the world. This salmon run courses up the Big Salmon River, too, from which came its name. Along the river and its tributary lakes visitors find an abundance of fresh water fish, including arctic grayling, lake trout, Chinook salmon, and northern pike. In addition to the fish, the river corridor provides habitat for a number of small game, moose, grizzly and black bears, wolf, and caribou among others.

Early on, the Yukon and the Big Salmon Rivers served principally economic development. The demand for furs, and later the gold rush, produced the need for an extensive paddleboat system in the region to facilitate commerce. These first paddleboats began sailing the Yukon and Big Salmon Rivers in 1869 and remained the primary mode of travel in the region until the 1930s. The boats required a massive amount of fuel and would burn two cords of wood an hour to move up and down the rivers. The demand for fuel created an extensive system of logging camps along the river and gradual deforestation of the area. Today several major highways built during World War II provide the primary mode of travel. Although no paddleboats run the rivers today, several decommissioned boats remain in Whitehorse and Dawson City.