Overview

Join our guided Yukon River tour on an expedition Zodiac boat. A journey through history, Indigenous culture, nature, and wilderness adventure. Explore the Klondike Gold Rush legacy, First Nations heritage, the river’s ecosystem, and its steamboat past. Experience science, folklore, and the thrill of boating on this vast, untamed waterway.

Easy booking Pick-up offered Mobile ticket Language: English, German (optional)

What to Expect

Safety Instructions ▼

Welcome aboard our guided boat tour on the legendary Yukon River! Every tour with us starts with a short, but important, safety briefing consisting of instructions for an emergency, behavioral rules and some interesting knowledge about the river and its specific features.

The Yukon River ▼

Stretching over 3,000 kilometers from British Columbia to the Bering Sea, this mighty waterway unveils a tapestry of history, culture, and nature. Prepare for an unforgettable adventure blending discovery, thrill and learning experience in a journey on one of the world most famous rivers. Hear about its seasonal changes, learn about the river dynamics and its shaping forces.

Historic Sites ▼

Picture historic gems along the banks. Moosehide Village, a Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in quiet haven near Dawson City, reflects Native resilience from the Klondike Gold Rush era, now part of the Tr’ondëk-Klondike UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2023. Tr’ochëk—once a Hän fishing camp—was known during the Gold Rush as Klondike City, bustled with gold seekers in the 1890s. The Paddlewheeler Graveyard looms with rusted sternwheelers, inviting you to reenact a captain’s perspective, steering through history’s echoes. Steamboat Slough, a narrow channel, hums with tales of paddlewheelers past.

First Nations Culture ▼

The Yukon pulses with Indigenous spirit, where sites like Moosehide and Tr’ochëk weave Hän and Gwich’in traditions into the river’s flow. During the Klondike Gold Rush of 1896-1899, the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in—once masters of birchbark canoes trading furs downstream—saw prospectors swarm the Yukon’s waters. Chief Isaac shifted them to Moosehide to escape Dawson City’s chaos, bartering river-caught game with stampeders as banks eroded under mining. Recognized by UNESCO, these places honor centuries of Native life—salmon runs, moose hunts, and enduring colonial tides—etched into the river’s shore.

River Ecosystem ▼

Nature shines here. The river’s ecosystem teems with bald eagles, bears, and salmon darting through a labyrinth of over 2,000 islands and braided channels—a geographic wonder. Scientists probe its silty currents and shifting banks, unlocking climate insights. The Yukon River, Chu Kon’ Dëk in the Hän language, lives up to its title, carving through mountains and tundra with raw power.

Steamboat Mastery and Laymen's Boatbuilding ▼

During the Klondike Gold Rush, the Yukon River buzzed with sternwheelers—shallow-draft steamboats with rear paddles, like the SS Klondike—engineered to tackle silty currents and braided channels. These 30-50 meter vessels, powered by wood-fired boilers, hauled prospectors and supplies with relentless churn. Smaller craft—canoes, skiffs, and rugged rafts—dodged rapids alongside, often slapped together by stampeders on the fly. Picture the chaos and ingenuity: smoke billowing, paddles thrashing, and makeshift flotillas racing for gold. Our guide will paint the scene—how these boats drove the river’s wild logistics, from fuel stops at chopped forests to navigating Steamboat Slough’s tight turns—bringing the grit and grind of that maritime madness to life.

Reenacting History ▼

Try to understand reading the river from the perspective of a sternwheeler captain. Decoding its secrets—eddies swirling behind boulders that could snag a paddlewheel, V-shaped ripples betraying shallow bars to avoid, and the broad, smooth tongues marking safe, deep channels for passage. Captains scanned for frothy whitecaps hinting at rapids to skirt, watched the dark, glassy flows hiding powerful currents that could swing their vessel off course, and noted the bubbling boils signaling submerged logs or rocks, all mastered through years of hauling gold and goods along this vital route.

Yukon Tales ▼

History and adventure intertwine. Dawson City’s gold rush legacy lingers, while folklore spins tales of lost treasure and ghostly captains. The river’s vastness—dotted with islands and channels—sparks joy and exhilaration. Boating this wild expanse, you’ll feel its untamed energy, hear the water’s roar, and marvel at its scale.
From the science of shifting shores to the thrill of the ride, the Yukon delivers. Historic sites whisper of prospectors and traders; Native culture roots deep in the landscape; ecosystems pulse with life. Soak in the views, breathe the crisp air, and let this great river carry you through a timeless saga of wonder and discovery!

SIGHTSEEING

Duration

~2.5 hours

Price

CA$149 /adult

CA$99 /teen

CA$49 /child

Season

May to

September

Book 2026

Book here or call +1 (867) 687-4023

Location

Dawson City, Yukon Territory, Canada

Meeting and Pickup

At the Dawson City dock (behind the sternwheeler S.S. Keno), at our blue sign 'YA Meeting Point'

What's included

Professional guide/s (English and German speaking)
Boat ride
Safety equipment
Trained professional in Swift Water Rescue, Wilderness First Aid, Marine Safety, certified commercial captain

What to bring

Rain gear (can be provided)

For obvious reasons, but rain gear/wind breaker also help greatly deflecting upcoming stronger winds.
Warm extra clothing

This is the Yukon, severe temperature drops due to weather changes should always be expected
Beverages

Boating causes more air movement on your skin - which means more evaporation and the need for replacement of water loss in your body. Bring a good amount of drinking water.

YUKON RIVER ODYSSEY