Duration: 11 days
Equipment: Included
Meals: Included
Skill Level: Beginner
Dates:
Rated as one of the top ten river trips in the world. The Tatshenshini is located in the largest preserve in the world which consists of Glacier Bay National Park, BC Tatshenshini Provincial Park, Kluane National Park and Yukon Game Preserve. This is the largest non-polar ice field in the world.
Carving its way through the St. Elias Range, the Tatshenshini has gained a reputation as one of the best rafting trips in the world.Our trips start at Dalton Post bordering Kluane National Park in the southwest Yukon.
The canyon run of the first day gradually gives way to widening panoramic views of the 15,000 foot-high-peaks and glacier-covered valleys. The long hours of daylight and the flexibility built into our trips allows time for side hikes or an extra day at iceberg-filled Alsek Lake. The scenery is simply overwhelming.
We do not follow a specific schedule, but prefer to run the trips catering to the speed of the group and preferences for hiking, photography or layover days.
Day 1
We meet in Whitehorse and drive to Haines Junction, where we stop for lunch, after which we continue to Dalton Post, located in Kluane Game Sanctuary. The guides will prepare for the next day’s start on the river and you will be able to explore this historic site.
Day 2-10
Put-in at Dalton Post and raft to Dry Bay, Alaska. The pace on the river is relaxed and the schedule varies from trip to trip depending on the mood of the group and the weather. Time is set aside for hiking and resting, usually at Goat Mountain, Sediment or Tat Creek, Walker Glacier or Alsek Lake.
The Tatshenshini starts as a narrow, fast flowing river, with most of the whitewater being concentrated in the first day of paddling. The upper section rapids are graded as III – IV. After the rapids the river enters the “Quiet Canyon” where it widens in size and we begin to pass through remarkable valleys.
If you choose to participate in the hikes, you will see many different types of wild flowers and wildlife, including perhaps moose, grizzly bear, wolf and goats.
When you reach the confluence with the Alsek River, the river begins to braid into many channels. Numerous glaciers surround you. You float past the many peaks which surround the valley, including 15,300 foot Mt. Fairweather. The thunderous sound of glacier ice calving into the river can be heard from miles away.
Day 11
Return to Whitehorse from the air strip at Dry Bay via charter aircraft. Arrival in Whitehorse scheduled for early afternoon.
Notes:
Due to weather considerations in Dry Bay, planes are sometimes delayed – we recommend that you purchase cancellation insurance for your flights out of Whitehorse.
Since you will be leaving and re-entering Canada, you must have a passport with you to present to the customs authorities.
We have been operating rafting trips on the Tatshenshini River since 1983. Our guides are professionals trained in the latest river rescue techniques as well as being certified in wilderness first aid.
| River Name | River Class | Distance (Km) | River Days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blackstone River | II (class III-IV sections) | 568 km or shorter | 14 – 21 days (shorter length requires float plane exit) |
| Bonnet Plume | class III-IV (+ portages around class V rapids) | 570 km or shorter | 14 – 21 days (longer version only requires one flight) |
| Hart River | class III (plus long portage around class VI canyon) | 628 km | 16 – 24 days (shorter version requires 2 flights) |
| Bell & Porcupine River | class I-II | 333 km | 12 – 16 days (To Old Crow) |
| Snake River | class III+ | 305 – 552 km | 12 – 18 days (shorter version requires 2 flights) |
| Wind River | class II | 295 – 519 km | 14 – 20 days (shorter version requires 2 flights) |
| River Name | River Class | Distance (Km) | River Days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ross River | class III | 159 – 219 km | 6 – 9 days |
| Hess River | class III-IV | 495 km | 15 – 20 days |
| South Macmillan River | class III ( in the upper potions) | 503 km | 12 – 16 days |
| Upper Stewart (Beaver River) | class II | 350 km | 12 – 14 days |
| Pelly River | class II (large sections of class I) | 290 – 355 km | 8 – 12 days |
| McQuesten River | class I | 123 km | 3 – 5 days |
| Big Salmon River | class I-II (sweepers) | 355 km | 8 – 10 days |
| River Name | River Class | Distance (Km) | River Days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wheaton River | class II-III (log jams, sweepers, braided) | 41 km | 3 days (can get wind-bound on Bennett Lake) |
| Watson River | II-III (mostly class I with one rapid) | 18 km | 1 day |
| Nisutlin River | class I | 192 km | 5 – 7 days |
| McNeil River | class III-IV | 161 km | 5-7 days |
| Yukon River | class I | 320 – 740 km | 8 – 20 days (2 sections) |
| Teslin River | class I | 370 – 786 km | 8 – 20 days (2 sections) |
| River Name | River Class | Distance (Km) | River Days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dezadeash River | class I (sweepers) | 152 km | 4 – 7 days |
| Kathleen River | II (+class five canyon-sweepers) | 43 km | 1 – 2 days |
| White River | class II (sweepers) | 323 km | 7 – 9 days |
| Donjek River | class II (sweepers) | 448 km | 9 – 12 days |
| Kluane River | II-III (at the beginning, the class II and then ending class I | 498 km | 9 – 12 days |
| River Name | River Class | Distance (Km) | River Days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frances River | class III (mostly class I) | 230 km | 6 – 9 days |
| Wolf River | class II-III (portages around class IV) | 142 km | 5 – 7 days |
| Hyland River | class III sections (with lots of class I) | 224 km | 6 – 9 days |
| Beaver River | class II (with portages of class IV) | 350 km | 10 – 14 days |
| Upper Liard River | class I-II | 255 km | 8 – 12 days |
| Coal River | class III-IV | 121 km | 4 – 6 days |
| Jennings River | class II-III | 112 – 155 km | 3 – 8 days (if hiking added) |
| River Name | River Class | Distance (Km) | River Days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Lakes District | class I (but big waves are common) | 0 – 300 km | 1 – 20 days |
| River Name | River Class | Distance (Km) | River Days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bonnet Plume | class III-IV (+ portages around class V rapids) | 570 km or shorter | 14 – 21 days (longer version only requires one flight) |
| Hart River | class III (plus long portage around class VI canyon) | 628 km | 16 – 24 days (shorter version requires 2 flights) |
| Bell & Porcupine River | class I-II | 333 km | 12 – 16 days (To Old Crow) |
| Snake River | class III+ | 305 – 552 km | 12 – 18 days (shorter version requires 2 flights) |
| Wind River | class II | 295 – 519 km | 14 – 20 days (shorter version requires 2 flights) |
| Hess River | class III-IV | 495 km | 15 – 20 days |
| Wolf River | class II-III (portages around class IV) | 142 km | 5 – 7 days |
| Beaver River | class II (with portages of class IV ) | 350 km | 10 – 14 days |
| Upper Liard River | class I-II | 255 km | 8 – 12 days |
| Coal River | class III-IV | 121 km | 4 – 6 days |
| Jennings River | class II-III | 112-155 km | 3 – 8 days (if hiking added) |
| Upper Stewart (Beaver River) | class II | 350 km | 12 – 14 days |
| McNeil River | class III-IV | 161 km | 5 – 7 days |
Please Note: Information provided in this chart is for comparative purposes only for potential clients of Tatshenshini Expediting Ltd. considering paying for the services of a professionally guided trip and is not intended to provide definitive information to third-parties regarding the challenges or risks associated with travelling on any of the listed rivers. Please do no paddle any of these rivers based on the river classification system indicated here without doing your own exhaustive information gathering, studying of maps, detailed route research and careful evaluation as to whether you group has the skills to paddle this river. Tatshenshini Expediting will not be held liable for any events which may occur to third parties using this information to plan their own canoe trips. All recommendations for appropriate skill level below assume that paddlers are being guided by a professional river guide and are not applicable to groups travelling without guidance of an expert.
The table above is courtesy of Dustin Davis / The Bistro on Bennett.
