2024 Departures: 3-9 June, 10-16 June, 1-7 July, 8-14 July, 22-28 July, 29 July - 4 August
If your goal is to improve your canoe skills, or simply to pack as much of the Yukon’s whitewater as possible into a short amount of time, this is the trip for you. Our complete whitewater package includes a selection of three rivers (based on current water levels and conditions) and the coaching of our experienced guides to help you advance your skills safely and quickly. Equipment, accommodation, and transportation are all taken care of, so you can focus on catching every eddy, and surfing every wave. This is a great preparation for some of our more technical river tours.
Physical Demands -
Not for novice paddlers. Your paddling skills are at an expert level, you can handle your canoe or kayak in most weather conditions and have whitewater skills.
Day 1 - Arrival in Whitehorse
Welcome to Whitehorse! Ruby Range Adventure will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel, where you’ll meet your fellow group members. We’ll take some time together to review the tour and introduce you to the equipment you’ll be using. (Overnight accommodation at a hotel in Whitehorse)
Day 2 - (Wheaton River or Kathleen River)
Our first day will be spent paddling one of two class II+ rivers near Whitehorse. June tours will take on the Wheaton River, which is in prime condition in early summer. July and August tours will go to the Kathleen River, near Haines Junction. Both rivers offer continuous technical paddling with spectacular mountain scenery and easy access. (Overnight accommodation at a nearby campground)
Day 3 - Kathleen River or Tatshenshini River
For June tours, we’ll take the third day of our trip to paddle the Kathleen River. This is a consistently challenging class II+ river with an abundance of alpine scenery and is not to be missed. For July and August tours, we will head further down the Haines Highway to put in on the Tatshenshini River, a renowned class III river that has earned a Canadian Heritage River designation for its exemplary preservation of the Northern Coast Mountains ecosystem. (Overnight accommodation at a nearby campground)
Day 4 - Travel Day
We’ll head north today, taking our van back through the Whitehorse area and then up the Klondike and Robert Campbell Highways toward our put-in on the Lapie River, near the small town of Ross River. This is a travel day and offers a chance to rest, clean up, and replace or repair any lost or damaged gear. We’ll travel along a scenic gravel road to a whitewater treasure in this remote corner of the territory. (Overnight accommodation at a nearby campground)
Day 5 - Lapie River
Get ready for a day of action-packed paddling. We can choose from several different sections of the Lapie River, depending on the group’s abilities. The Lapie is an ideal teaching river, offering a range of difficulties with good positions for safety. This is the place to hone your back-ferry, jet-ferry, and just about any skill you want to build. Our guides will make sure you get the most out of this amazing river. (Overnight accommodation at a nearby campground)
Day 6 - Return to Whitehorse
We’ll finish off with a return by van to Whitehorse. The last day of our trip may leave us enough time to explore the Yukon capital. Whitehorse holds many attractions, from world-class museums to historic sites and scenic walks. Our guides can show you the best the town has to offer, depending on the group’s interests. (Overnight hotel accommodation in Whitehorse)
Day 7 - Depart Whitehorse
You will be transferred to the airport or to your connecting program. (End of tour services) (This trip is conditions-dependent, and changes to the itinerary may be necessary. Any changes are left to the discretion of the guide.)