Gold Rush Tour: Discover the Land of the Midnight Sun

In the morning, a shuttle van will meet you at your hotel. We’ll head south along the Alaska Highway for about one and a half hours to our put-in at Johnson’s Crossing. Your guide will teach you some basic paddling techniques, and then it’s time to hit the river. Our first day will be a short paddle to one of many possible camping spots along the river. The river is slow and gentle here, making it a safe and comfortable place to learn.

Over the next week we will cover more than 350km of this quiet, scenic river. We’ll encounter a winding mix of mostly gentle current with a few faster sections and riffles (all less than class II), which your guide will show you how to navigate safely. We will be camping on gravel bars and in wooded clearings, leaving minimum impact on the land. Evenings are a chance to swim in the river, fish the shoreline, and enjoy campfires and share in fine camp cooking. If time allows, we may take short hikes into the surrounding hills in search of wild berries and panoramic views. Though not as famous as the Yukon River, the Teslin River was one of the more popular routes to the gold fields during the Klondike Gold Rush. It joins the Yukon River at the abandoned trading post of Hootalinqua, where we’ll stop to visit what remains of the village and of the steamship, the S.S. Evelyn. From here onward we’ll be on the Yukon River itself. Up to the 1950s, when the construction of major highways spelled the end of the steamship era, this river was the Territory’s central artery. Today the river has gone quiet, but the history is still tangible as we pass the overgrown relics of paddlewheelers, trapper’s cabins, mines, and trading posts. Our final night will be in the village of Carmacks, where we will spend the night in a local campground with full amenities — hot water for laundry and showers, electricity, nearby stores, and, of course, ice cream. (Overnight campground accommodation in Carmacks)

In the morning will leave our canoes and travel north from Carmacks by road. The Klondike Highway follows the Yukon River for much of its length, and we’ll be treated to views of the Five Finger Rapids and high, sandy bluffs along the way. Our destination is Tombstone Territorial Park, a preserve that protects the most impressive formations of the Ogilvie Mountains, just 285km south of the Arctic Circle. The park straddles the Dempster Highway, a gravel road stretching 730km to Inuvik and the arctic coast, making it one of the northernmost highways in the world. We’ll spend the night at a campground just off the highway, in the middle of this spectacular territorial park. (Overnight campground accommodation)

We’ll spend the day hiking in this remote and unique part of the world. The park is named for the dark, steep peaks that dominate the view. North of this, the tundra spreads for hundreds of kilometres northward, supporting one of the North’s largest free ranging caribou herds. Open ridges provide incredible hiking opportunities. Your guide will lead you on the best trails, based on conditions and the group’s interests and ability. In the evening, we’ll spend another evening around the campfire at our campsite. (Overnight campground accommodation)

After breakfast we’ll break camp and head south to the gold rush capital, Dawson City. At one time this was the largest city west of Winnipeg and north of Seattle, having grown up almost overnight during the stampede of 1898. Many of the false-fronted and garishly painted gold rush buildings have been maintained and restored. We’ll have the day to explore some of the many historic sites and exhibits around town. A visit to Diamond Tooth Gertie’s Gambling Hall is on the itinerary, as is a drive up to the panoramic views of the Midnight Dome, the mountain that looms over this fun and fascinating town. (Overnight campground accommodation)

Today we’ll visit an active gold mine in the heart of the Klondike gold fields, where you’ll have a chance to see first hand how gold was found then and now. You’ll even have to try a hand at panning gold yourself. A visit to the Jack London and Robert Service cabins are also on the program today, and visits to the Discovery Claim and Dredge #4 are also possibilities. Be sure to talk to your guide to see what options are best for you. (Overnight campground accommodation)

In the morning we’ll head over the Top of the World Highway into Alaska. This gravel road follows ridge-tops through high tundra, and passes through the remote and delightfully strange towns of Chicken and Jack Wade. (Overnight campground accommodation)

We’ll cross the Alaska Border again today at Beaver Creek, heading eastward. Much of the day will be in view of the mountains at the edge of enormous Kluane National Park. At Sheep Mountain, we’ll stop at the Parks Canada visitor centre, and with luck watch wild Dall sheep feeding on the high slopes. We have the option here of taking an optional scenic flight over the interior of the park, where the highest mountains in Canada are found, surrounded by the largest non-polar ice fields in the world. This is a spectacular opportunity and highly recommended. We will spend the night camping near the town of Haines Junction and spend the next couple of days exploring some of this extraordinary national park. (Overnight campground accommodation)

Depending on conditions and the group’s interests and ability, we will take a hike into one of park’s high alpine valleys today where there’s a good chance of spotting Dall sheep and grizzlies. Mountain weather requires some flexibility, and these two days offer more chances at catching a good weather window for a flight over the icefields. The area around Haines Junction offers many possibilities for hiking and sightseeing—your guide will help you decide which is best for you. (Overnight campground accommodation)

Today is a highlight of the tour: a whitewater rafting trip on the Tatshenshini River. This Canadian Heritage River flows fast and rowdy through the alpine landscape the Coast Mountains. This is a thrilling day and a favourite of nearly every guest. We will spend the night at nearby Million Dollar Falls campground. As the name suggests, there’s a priceless view a short hike away. (Overnight campground accommodation)

We’ll head further south today and into Alaska, crossing the high alpine landscape of the Chilkat Pass and descending to the coastal town of Haines, Alaska. This is a wildlife sanctuary, where thousands of salmon migrate through the streams, attracting eagles and bears for extraordinary viewing opportunities. The town Haines is a charming place and we’ll have some time to shop and explore. It is an important centre for Tlingit culture, you will have the oportunity to look at the work of totem carvers all around town. (Overnight campground accommodation)

We’ll head up the Lynn Canal today to the town of Skagway. The ferry ride itself is spectacular, taking us through a mountainous fjord where, if we’re lucky, we may see seals, whales, or Alaskan brown bears along the shore. Like Dawson City, Skagway is a piece of gold rush history preserved. We’ll have plenty of time to explore the town and it’s attractions, which range from pleasant seaside and forest hikes to historic sites, museums, and saloons. (Overnight campground accommodation)

There’s time today to take an optional ride on the narrow-gauge White Pass and Yukon Route rail line, which hugs the mountainsides on its way to the town of Carcross. Those of us opting out of the train ride will drive across the border again, meeting in Carcross and continuing the rest of the way to Whitehorse together. A hotel room and a night on the town are waiting at the end of this epic journey. (Overnight hotel accommodation in Whitehorse)

On the last day of the program, Ruby Range Adventure will provide a transfer to the airport or to a connecting program. (End of tour services)   (This is an expedition-style trip, and changes to the itinerary may be necessary due to weather or other conditions. Any changes are left to the discretion of the guide.)