DECanoe Rentals
Are you ready to explore Yukons wilderness on your own?
The most unique way is to do it in a canoe!
We rent all boats and equipment you need and offer shuttles and transportation to your choice of rivers and lakes.
Below you can find a list and description of the most popular river trips in the territory.
Please choose your trip and duration wisely and suited for your personal level of skills, or ask for one of our guided tours.
Package 1
2 seater Old Town or Nova Craft Prospector Canoe
16 or 17 ft. up to 500 kg max load.
Included in rental price:
- 3 paddles
- Lifejackets
- Bow rope 5m
- Sponge and bailer
- 1 waterproof barrel 60 L
Our 17ft. can be upgraded with extra middle seat for a child.
Package 2
Sea Kajak Perception 16
Very manouverable 16ft. seakajak with 2 gear compartements.
Included in rental price:
- 1 doublepaddle
- Lifejacket
- Bow line 5m
- Sprayskirt
Prices
| Duration/Distance | Package 1 | Package 2 | |
|---|---|---|---|
Takhini River | Daytrip, 25 km | 30 $ | 35 $ |
Yukon River | 2,5 days, 70 km | 60 $ | 70 $ |
Yukon River | 8-10 days, 300 km | 200 $ | 240 $ |
Yukon River | 8-10 days, 400 km | 210 $ | 260 $ |
Yukon River | 16-20 days, 710 km | 350 $ | 450 $ |
Teslin River | 8-10 days, 370 km | 200 $ | 240 $ |
Teslin River | 16-20 days, 770 km | 350 $ | 470 $ |
Big Salmon River | 7-12 days, 400 km | 320 $ | 400 $ |
Big Salmon River | 16-20 days, 760 km | 440 $ | 550 $ |
Rose River & Nisutlin | 7-9 days, 190 km (Rose River) | 180 $ | 220 $ |
Rose River & Nisutlin | 5-7 days, 140 km (Nisutlin River) | 140 $ | 180 $ |
Pelly River | 10-12 days, 360 km | 240 $ | 320 $ |
Pelly River | 16-20 days, 700 km | 400 $ | 520 $ |
If you need some extra time, we charge per extra day:
- Package 1: 20 $
- Package 2: 30 $
All other rivers on request, just ask us for a quote please.
If you didn't book a return shuttle with us, we charge a storage fee as follows:
- Take out in Carmacks: 50 $/canoe
- Take out in Dawson: 100 $/canoe
All prices are in canadian Dollar & 5% Gst.
For all whitewater river rentals class II and higher we need to charge a 500,00 $ damage or loss deposit fee, which will be credited back at the end of your tour.
Equipment
We also rent out following equipment for your tour:
| Equipment | Price/Day |
|---|---|
| Waterproof tents (2 persons) | 5 $ (min. 40 $) |
| Thermarest | 2,50 $ |
| Waterproof und bearsafe barrels 60 L for food | 1,50 $ |
| Drybags 70 L oder 115 L | 2 $ |
| Bearspray | 1 $ |
| Minishuffle, saw and axe | 3 $ |
| Cookset (2 pots,frying pan, grill for firepit) | 2 $ |
| Kitchenbox | 20 $ |
| Tarp and ropes as rainshelter | 20 $ |
| First aid kit | 15 $ |
| Optional | |
|---|---|
| Satelite emergency locator Garmin InReach (per week) | 200 $ |
| Coleman propane cooker 2 flame incl. 5# bottle | 50 $ |
| Rivermaps | 15 $ |
| Grocery shoppingtour shuttle in Whitehorse | 100 $ |
Wilderness rivers in the Yukon territory
YUKON RIVER
This is probably the most popular river in Canadas north which is full of stories and mystery and lots of relics from the legendary Klondyke goldrush.
The river is mostly wide and big with good constant good current ( 10-12 km/h) and is also suited for beginner paddlers. In early summer you should put in at Marsh Lake or even in Tagish, that's when numerous birds are seen along the shores. On the way to Whitehorse you will pass the famous Miles Canyon,which still looks really impressive,but the whitewater is history since the dam tamed the waterflowarstellt.
The next challenge is Lake Laberge. It is around 40km long and can be really windy,so make sure to paddle close to shore.
After the lake you reach Thirty Mile river,this is probably the most beatiful part of the journey. Soon after the mighty Yukon picks up more water with the confluence of Teslin and Big Salmon rivers and you have reached your first goal,Carmacks! Here you can end your tour or stock up on groceries and have a hot shower at the Coalmine Campground and paddle on to Dawson City.
Shortly after Carmacks you reach "Five Finger Rapids" and together with "Rink Rapids" they form the only short whitewater sections of the river. Stay right! After the confluence with the Pelly river you reach the abandoned village of Fort Selkirk on river left,a former trading station of the Northern Tutchone/Selkirk First Nations.A few buildings are restored,it's a very interesing stop and nice to camp.
After the confluence with the Klondyke river on your right hand, Dawson City is in your sight!
- Whitewater class: 1 (+ 2 short rapids class II)
- Best season: End of May - End of September
- Sections: From 2 to 20 days & further destinations past Dawson possible
BIG SALMON RIVER
The absolute highlight amongst the wilderness rivers!
You reach Quiet Lake,the headwaters of the Big Salmon river after a 4 hour drive from Whitehorse to the canol road. The first 2 days you paddle through 3 lakes, before you reach the rivermouth and it is a paradise for anglers!
The Big Salmon starts out as a very small river with lots of "Log Jams" and you may have to portage around them. There are also plenty of sweepers in the first section of the river. Those are trees hanging into the river from eroded banks and you definately need some good paddle skills to avoid them.
Especially at high water levels this is a river only recommended for advanced paddlers.
You will see lots of wildlife on this trip from bears to moose and you can also watch spawning salmon in August and September.
The river carves like a snake through the Big Salmon Range,there are also some opportunities to hike along the river before you reach the confluence with the Yukon river. Ther are only a few short class II rapids,but it gets never boring!
- Whitewater class: 2
- Best season: July - Mid September (please check water levels before you head out)
- Sections: Quiet Lake to Carmacks 360 km, 7-10 days or to Dawson city 760 km, 16-20 days
TESLIN RIVER
This is another option to get to Carmacks or Dawson City and the Teslin is not as frequented as the Yukon river. Teslin river is also suited for the novice paddler and beside a few gravel bars, there is no rapids to worry about. There is a lot of historic buildings from the gold rush and beautiful campspots all along. Abundant wildlife and lots of bald eagles are to bee seen and fishing for arctic graying will be your daily routine! Put in at the bridge in Johnsons crossing.
- Whitewater class: 1-2
- Best season: June - End of September
- Sections: Johnson Crossing to Carmacks 370 km, 8-10 days or to Dawson city 770 km, 16-20 days
TAKHINI RIVER
This is a rewarding daytrip and a popular trip for locals to train for whitewater paddling. Takhini River is only a one hour drive from Whitehorse and you can put in at Kusawa Lake.
The "Jaws of death" are really the only rapids and can be easily portaged. There is some boulder dodging at low levels of water in May and June.
So also the intermediate paddler can have some fun on this great watershed.
- Whitewater class: II-III ( for the jaw rapids, the rest is ww I-II )
- Best season: End of May - End of October
- Sections: Daytrip 25 km ( It can be extend to the confluence with the Yukon river to Whitehorse 60 km, 2 days )
NISUTLIN & ROSE RIVER
This is the perfect river trip for families with kids, or novice paddlers for their first time on a wilderness river. You can put in at the Rose bridge #1 on the South canol road. The tiny river flows down in gentle curves and meests the Nisutlin river after 10 km. There is plenty of waterfowl to be seen on this strech of the trip. It is quiet here with little canoe traffic but still a wilderness experience with lots of wildlife. Nisutlin Bay is a haven for migration birds,so late August is a good time to paddle with less mosquitos!
- Whitewater class: I (Rose River I-II)
- Best season: Mid June - End of September
- Sections: Nisutlin Recreation site to Teslin village 140 km, 5-7 days or from Rose River #1 it's 190 km, 7-9 days
PELLY RIVER
This is an exiting canoe trip with little visitors. The river is medium wide with constant current and flows out of the Selwyn Mountains from Ross River to the confluence with the Yukon river below Pelly Crossing. There a two rapids.Fish Hook Rapids and Granite Canyon approx. 24 km below the confluence with the South Mac Millan river and they will guarantee you some adrenaline in your boat. All rapids are still class II, but some exposed
rocks need your skills for manouvering.
The Pelly would be rated at least class II-III at high water levels in June or July, Spraydecks would be recommended then.
- Whitewater class: I-II (Class II-III at high water)
- Best season: End of June - End of September
- Sections: Ross River to Pelly Crossing 360 km, 10-12 days or to Dawson city 700 km, 16-20 days. You can also shorten your trip by 1 or 2 days by putting in at Faro.