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Yukon River Watershed

Customized Yukon River Canoe Trips

Cathers Wilderness Adventures

Paddle along the Yukon River with an experienced guide and enjoy an experience of wilderness and history.

Overview

This trip involves paddling the beautiful Yukon River, interspersed with drifting breaks along the way where we let the current carry us along as we watch the scenery go by. We stop along the way at places of historical interest and may also be lucky enough to see wildlife. At night, we camp near the river, cooking our meals over a campfire. In June and July, we enjoy seeing wildflowers and experiencing "the land of the midnight sun," where it never gets fully dark at night.

In August and September, the darkness starts to return at night and we may be lucky enough to see northern lights, as well as the leaves starting to change colour. Trip options include two to three days from Whitehorse to our wilderness homestead at Lake Laberge, six to eight days from Lake Laberge to Carmacks, or other trips further downriver towards Dawson.

Highlights

Canoeing the Yukon River combines wilderness and history on a waterway that was important to the First Nations people of the area and later was the main route to the  Klondike Gold Rush of 1898, and the main transportation route in the paddlewheel steamboat days until the 1950's.

These days, the river is a beautiful wilderness trip, ideal for canoe camping, with reminders of these previous eras along the way.

A guided Yukon River trip can be suitable for those with little or no canoeing experience.

We are a family-run company, guiding on the Yukon River since the 1970's.

Trips are personally guided by our family and often begin or end at our family's off-road, off-grid wilderness homestead and sled dog kennel at Lake Laberge.

Trips can be designed around your schedule and interests or you may wish to join a trip that is already going during the dates you want.

Extra days can be added for a more leisurely pace, extra time to explore along the way, or the ability to take a rest day at a favourite camp. 

Guests may wish to add extra time at our wilderness homestead before or after the trip for hiking with our sled dogs, or just for an extra night's accommodation.

Details

Duration
2 – 18 Days
Level
Moderate
Dates
June – September
Price
$480 – $2,000+

Operator testimonials

DEVELOPED A PASSION FOR DOGSLEDDING WITH THE CATHERS

Julie

Our family, two middle-aged but fit parents, plus energetic 17- and 20-year-old sons, had the experience of a lifetime over five days in January this year. Temperatures plunged to minus 45 on one memorable morning which was incrediblly challenging but we had the balmy temperature of minus 30s for most of the time whilst we enjoyed clear, bright, sunny days at this wonderful winter wonderland location. The whole experience is very "hands on" from collecting your dogs from their kennels to hitching them up to the sled as well as the scenic rides, doing the same in reverse and making sure they are fed and watered. It’s strenuous but exhilarating. Our eldest enjoyed going out feeding the dogs with Jeninne and Ned. You build a real rapport with the dogs and owners in such a short time, such is the intensity of the experience. Cannot recommend this family-run company highly enough. We have developed a real passion for dogsledding and the wild Yukon landscape and will be back. Thanks so much.

BEAUTIFUL HUSKIES AND A CARING FAMILY

Lee

My husband, 16-year-old son and myself just spent three days with the Cathers family. We had the most amazing experience on our dogsledding adventure. Ned, Jennine and Mar were wonderful hosts making us feel extremely welcome. We sledded throughout the day stopping for campfire lunches and then at night spent time together over dinner swapping stories. I can't say enough about the beautiful huskies. They are working dogs that just want to run and run and run. They all are named and have their own kennels and the family knows each and every one just by a glance. Our log cabins were fantastic with log fires to keep us warm. Nothing was a problem for the Cathers family and their knowledge was outstanding. You see the most amazing scenery including night skies with depth you can't imagine. We thoroughly loved our time with the Cathers family and can't wait to visit again. We have come away from this adventure with knowledge and friendship and most importantly an experience of a lifetime.

AFTER TEN YEARS, I KEEP COMING BACK

Dave

I first booked for dog mushing with the Cathers in 2004. BEST THING I have ever done. The family are incredible hosts! You learn all aspects of mushing. You meet the stars of the program, those great lovable huskies, you learn to harness them, to feed them, and to drive a sled. The Cathers are fantastic teachers and guides! They help each person with lots of encouragement. They demonstrate everything one needs to learn and really work to ensure you have an enjoyable experience. The location, spectacular scenery, forests, lakes, cabins, the northern lights that can occur, and the winter atmosphere are spectacular! Did I mention the food? Great home cooking and lots of it! Having lunch on the trail in the Yukon wilderness, sitting around a campfire and meeting folks from around the world is another big plus! After the first week, I was hooked! I have been coming back for over ten years! Each time I learn new things about mushing, and the Yukon, and make new friends – human and dog!