Duration: Based on guest's needs
Equipment:
Meals:
Skill Level:
Notes:
Dates:
We will fly via small charter plane from Mayo to Porter Lake. There is a one kilometer portage to the head water of the river. We will travel light, with inflatable canoe, small rafts and, or kayaks.
At first the river is small and narrow. It is the perfect habitat for moose, caribou and a great variety of waterfowl. The river flows South towards Keele Peak which is the highest point in the Selwyn-Mackenzie Mountains. Keele Peak is a huge circular, stand-alone massif, surrounded by valleys with small trees. The massif contains glaciers radiating out from the peak, and covering an area 10 km by 10 km. We will navigate 8 kms of grade III+ rapids before reaching Keele Creek where the river turns west towards Mayo and the Steward River. From here on the scenery changes to the typical rolling hills of central Yukon.
The Hess is the most consistent whitewater trip of the Yukon, we will encounter rapids everyday, grade III+. This is a true wilderness trip, a long way from roads and people, the river flows through a rich wildlife habitat, we are often rewarded by animals sighting. Colorful canyons, pristine wilderness and whitewater, it is a trip you won’t want to miss.
Traveling on the Hess is more of an adventure. The flight in limits the amount of gear we can carry. We are using small rafts and inflatable canoes to limit the amount of portaging/lining we would have to do in a regular canoe. Guests will need to participate actively in any portaging or lining of the boats as well as paddling. We will use freeze dried food; they will be plenty of food but no fancy meals.
Day 1
Transport to the head of the river.
Day 2 – until the end
Combination of paddling and hiking and layover days based on the groups preferences and interests.
Hess River trip is generally two weeks long, however the length can be altered to cater to the guests’ needs.
| 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.
