BC & Yukon rivers

Choose your adventure!

Most rivers around Watson Lake are open for paddling. By contracting us, we will fly you and your canoe/kayak to the headwaters of the river you want to paddle, and we will pick you up and drive you back to our float base.

We operate a DHC-2 Beaver and a Cessna Caravan C208, both certified by Transport Canada to carry canoes as external loads into back country lakes. Our year round main base is located on the North shore of Watson Lake YT. Newly in 2022, we will also be operating our Caravan out of Muncho Lake BC during July / August.

All canoe multi-day canoe trips are unguided. We do not offer canoe rental at this time.

Fishing

In most rivers the fishing is excellent, with many exceptional spots to fish for a number of species of fish. These include Arctic grayling, dolly varden, and northern whitefish, and, in a few, select places, northern pike.

Safety

Never go unprepared! You MUST have safety and survival equipment and prior knowledge of canoeing! Some rivers can be more treacherous and technical than others, you are solely responsible for undertaking further research to ensure a safe trip. Be aware, that the country is home to many species of wildlife including moose, bears, wolves, cougars, and other smaller creatures. Be smart, be safe, and you will have no problems.

Suggestion of routes

  • Gataga/Kechika River

    Put in: Mayfield Lake BC
    Take out: Alaska Hwy (Skook’s landing)
    Grade: 2-3
    Duration: 14 days

    This route is an ideal river rafters’ getaway. It travels through Dune Za Keyih Provincial Park where it meets the Kechika, eventually joining the Liard and the Alaska Highway. The trip is full of beautiful, untouched scenery. There are plenty of open campsites along the way. The best time to complete this run is during early-mid July, although the water clarity is better in August. There are a few rapids in the Gataga, but they are easily portaged and this is mostly a Grade II river. Watch out for log jams along the way.

  • Turnagain/Kechika River

    Put in: Dall Lake BC
    Take out: Alaska Hwy (Skook’s landing)
    Grade: 2-3
    Duration: 10 days

    This is a heritage river that flows from Dall Lake through some wild, untouched country to its junction with the Kechika River. Rafters take about 10 days to do the full trip, which includes following the Kechika to the Liard and the Alaska Highway.

  • McNaughton Creek

    Put in: McNaughton Lakes BC
    Take out: Swift River.
    Grade: 4
    Duration: 4 days

    This trip begins at McNaughton Lakes, with a narrow Class IV whitewater passage found just below, opening up into a mellow, winding route through some scenic wetlands. At around the 25 km mark you will encounter an unmanageable waterfall that you can portage on river left. For the rest of the trip to the Swift River you will come across several Class II-III sections and some Class IV rapids. The total length of this difficult trip is 50 km (30 mi), which should take you three to four days to complete.

  • Coal River

    Put in: Lucky Lake YT
    Take out: Alaska Hwy
    Grade: 3-4
    Duration: 7 days

    There are a series of lakes near Coal River Springs that serve as a put-in for the lower stretch of the Coal River. From here the Coal flows swiftly to a canyon with intermittent rapids, rocky areas and rock walls. There are several rapids and waterfalls in the canyon. Most of the rapids are Class II-III, with the most challenging rapids found towards the end of the canyon. A Class III-IV rapid and subsequent drop can be portaged on river left or ran on river right. From here the river is steady until the take-out at the Alaska Highway. Overall, this lower section is 120 km (75 mi) long and should take four to six days to complete.

    Note: To paddle the upper section of the Coal River, the put in is Lucky Lake, where a narrow, shallow outlet creek flows into the Coal.

  • Rancheria River

    Put in: Northwind Lake BC
    Take out: Upper Liard
    Grade: 2-3
    Duration: 6 days

    The uppermost section of the Rancheria river can be started at North Wind Lake. The total length of the river to the Upper Liard is 170 km (105 mi). Expect some Class III+ rapids in the canyon found about 25 km downstream of the put-in. The rest of the river is mostly Class II. Take out at Upper Liard, 12 km west of Watson Lake.

  • Dease River

    Put in: Dease Lake BC
    Take out: Lower Post
    Grade: 1-2
    Duration: 9 days

    This popular paddling river runs 265 km (162 mi) from Dease Lake to the Liard River. It is mostly Grade I–II, with some Class III rapids and no portages. On average, it takes a little over seven days to complete. There are good fishing opportunities and camping spots along this river. Wildlife in this area is abundant, so expect to see black bear, deer, and other animals.

  • Hyland River

    Put in: Upper Hyland Lake YT
    Take out: Alaska Hwy
    Grade: 3
    Duration: 10 days

    Only a few have ever started the route from the source of the river, though it can be canoed at the beginning of the year. The river is slow and meandering through some scenic wetlands. You will encounter a difficult group of Class III rapids about 8 km above the confluence with the Green River. Be sure to scout ahead and be aware that portaging around these rapids would be difficult. Take out at the Alaska Highway bridge, 45 km east of Watson Lake.

  • Liard River

    Put in: Caribou Lakes YT
    Take out: Upper Liard
    Grade: 2
    Duration: 12 days

    From Caribou Lakes, at the upper section of the Liard River, it is a nice easy flowing river that skirts the mountains on its route to Watson Lake. The take out is at the Upper Liard village, by the bridge of the Alaska Highway, just 5 miles west of Watson.