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Home > Where We Go | How We Travel | Where We Stay > Yukon Trek
| Yukon
Trek |
 |
| 2006 |
|
This one way camping adventure tour from Vancouver follows the historic
gold rush trail to Whitehorse, a route that weaves through lands
as diverse as they are pristine.
We visit the historic 1860's restored town of Barkerville in central
BC before journeying north-east to K'san, where we encounter longhouses
and totem poles. Connecting with the Stuart Cassiar Highway, we
begin a wilderness journey of over 700 kilometers to join the main
trunk Alaska Highway. A short walk from the roadside brings us to
the unspoiled wilderness that still belongs to the wolf packs, the
grizzlies and mountain goats.
Along the way, we detour into Alaska to visit Hyder to spot grizzly
bears fishing for salmon. Joining the Alaska Highway, we explore
the almost abandoned mining towns of Faro and Keno.
After a night at the hot springs, we head for the Alaskan port city
of Skagway before arriving in Whitehorse. The sheer beauty
of this part of North America, its thin, magical light, the short,
star speckled summer nights and the mountains laced with snow and
glittering waterfalls, is hard to exaggerate.
Note: This tour is Leg 1 of our 29
day "Klondike" tour
which combines the Yukon Trek and Alaskan Arctic Circle tours.
| Duration: |
14
days/ 13nights |
| Activity Level : |
Easy.
Hikes average 2 to 3 hours. |
| Accommodation: |
Camping |
| Meals: |
Food
kitty on all days (local payment to tour leader of $168.00). |
| Tour Dates: |
Tour #1 : June
10 - 23
Tour #2 : June 24 - July 07
Tour #3 : July 08 - 21
Tour #4 : July
22 - August 04
Tour #5 : August
05 -18
|
| Departs: |
Vancouver,
B.C. (Day 1 @ 8:00 AM) |
| Arrives: |
Whitehorse,
YT (Day 14@ 5:00 PM) |
| Price: |
$
$1455.00 June departures
+ CDN plus local payment.
$1530.00 July &
August departures + CDN plus local payment.
|
| Included: |
- camping accommodation,
- services of a driver/leader
- customized 15-passenger van
- camping fees
- entrances to provincial, national & historic parks.
- Keno Mining Museum
- Takhini Hot Springs
- Grizzly Bear viewing
(when available)
|
| Not Included: |
Optional
activities, gratuities, and GST. |
| Optional Activities: |
- kayak and canoe rentals; see adjacent links to Whitehorse.
|
Reservations
Top of Page
Yukon
Trek Itinerary
Vancouver,
B.C. to Whitehorse, Y.T.
Day 1. Clinton, B.C.
Travelling from Vancouver, we leave the lush Coastal Mountains and
Pacific Ocean and follow the Trans Canada Highway to the arid landscape
of the Fraser Canyon. The highway through the Fraser Canyon is an
engineering marvel that includes tunnels, dramatic ascents and descents,
and splendid views of the Fraser and Thompson rivers. After passing
through the Fraser Valley, we arrive in Clinton where we overnight
next to a scenic lake.
Day 2 & 3. Barkerville, B.C. & Bowron Lake Provincial
Park, B.C.
From Clinton we continue north along the Gold Rush Trail to Quesnel.
Here we turn east and head into the Cariboo mountains to Barkerville.
On the way, we can stop in at Cottonwood House, an original 1860’s
Cariboo Road House, now preserved as a living museum. Between 1862
and 1870, over 100,000 people travelled the Cariboo Wagon Road,
named the 'Eighth Wonder of the World', converging on the goldfields,
and the bustling boomtown of Barkerville. Today, Barkerville endures
as a town of discovery, with unique streetscapes, over 125 heritage
buildings, the Theatre Royal shows, exhibits, entertaining street
theatre, and unique shops filled with Victorian-era merchandise.
Not far from Barkerville lies Bowron Lake Provincial Park. A wildlife
sanctuary of 149,207 hectares, this park offers a wide variety of
outdoor adventures including, canoeing, fishing, hiking and swimming.
A wide variety of wildlife lives in the park, including moose, deer,
mountain goat caribou, black bear, grizzly bear, waterfowl, beaver,
and otter. Rainbow trout, lake trout, bull trout, Rocky Mountain
whitefish and Kokanee salmon inhabit the lakes. The Bowron Lakes
are also a major stopover on the bird migration route, so bring
your binoculars and telephoto lens.
Day 4 Paarens’s Beach Provincial Park, B.C.
Continuing north we turn west onto the Yellowhead Highway at the
town of Prince George and make our way to Paaren’s Beach Provincial
Park. On route we will stop at Fort St James Historical Park. Established
by Simon Fraser for the North West Company in 1806, Fort St James
was the first post in the territory of the Carrier Indians. Ft.
St. James was once the hub of fur trade transportation and communication
routes. Nestled on the shore of Stuart Lake, many of the original
buildings are still standing. After visiting Fort St James we continue
another 11 kms along the road to set up camp at Paaren’s Beach
Provincial Park. Situated on the south-west shore of pristine Stuart
Lake, Paarens Beach is a small provincial park that few people outside
of the area know about. With uncrowded campgrounds, and a large
beach, it is an ideal base from which to explore the rich history
and enjoy the multitude of recreational opportunities around Stuart
Lake.
Day 5 K’san, B.C.
From Paaren’s Beach we continue along the Yellowhead Highway
– west to the Stewart Cassiar Highway. We make camp at K’san
located along the Skeena River, an area rich in the cultural northwest
Canadian First Nations People. Here we will tour the Historical Village
of Ksan. As a replicated ancient village, ‘Ksan illustrates
many features of a Gitxsan village from the distant past. The large
decorated house fronts and totem poles of the village are visible
from the water along the Skeena River. In conjunction with other features,
such as the smoke house and food cache, ‘Ksan illustrates characteristics
typical of a past Gitxsan village. After we set up camp we tour the
other surrounding native villages. Nearby is the ancient village of
Gitanmaax at the confluence of the Bulkley and Skeena Rivers in the
community of Hazelton. Gitanmaax has for centuries maintained communities
at important canyons and junctions on the Skeena River. This location
was an important fishing site and transportation hub. The grass-covered
hill at Kitwanga was the scene of fierce First Nation tribal battles
two centuries ago, which resulted in the destruction of the Gitwangak
Fort and cedar dwellings that once stood to protect the Gitksan people,
their fishing sites and the active trade routes in the region. At
Kitwancool we view some of the oldest totem poles in Canada, many
of them made famous by the Canadian Painter Emily Carr.
Day 6 & 7 Hyder, AK.
Our journey continues north along the Stewart Cassiar Highway with
striking views of the Coastal and Cassiar mountain ranges. Here
we cross the only unmanned border between Alaska and Canada. Crossing
into Alaska we make camp near the tiny village of Hyder, Alaska.
This area is heavily populated with black and grizzly bears. As
we drop down to the coast, we make stops at Bear Glacier and several
of the giant waterfalls that line steep mountainous road. Stopping
at the town of Stewart, we’re able to view Canada’s
most northerly ice-free port. While in Hyder we may be able to view
grizzlies fishing for salmon in the nearby river and bald eagles
soaring on the thermals. On Day 7 we drive into the mountains through
Tongass National Park for sweeping views of the Salmon Glacier and
hike in the nearby mountains. In the evening travellers can try
their luck consuming (and keeping down!) a local brew. This local
tradition is known as being “Hyderized”.
Day 8 Boya Lake Provincial Park, B.C.
Travelling north along the Stewart-Cassiar Highway we’re surrounded
by snow-capped mountain peaks of the Coastal Range, vast expanses
of Canadian wilderness and small pristine lakes. Arriving at Boya
Lake Provincial Park in the early afternoon, we set up camp before
exploring the area. Boya Lake at 4,597 hectares offers a wide variety
of water recreation with its superb water clarity and colour, beckoning
the traveller to explore its many islands and bays. Boya Lake is
situated on the Liard Plain, an area carved out by glaciers 20,000
years ago. The area is characterized by elongated ridges, or drumlins
and eskers. It is also one of the few lakes in the north that is
warm enough for swimming. Boya Lake offers two hiking trails, a
mountain bike trail and limitless bays and islands to discover by
canoe. Optional canoe rentals.
Day 9 Frances Lake Territorial Park, YT.
Our next destination is Watson Lake, home of the Signpost Forest,
a collection of sign posts numbering over 20,000 which was started
by a homesick US Army soldier in 1942. We follow Yukon tradition
by erecting our own sign at the Watson Lake Signpost Forest. We
then venture off the Alaska Highway and plunge into the Yukon wilderness
to set up camp on Frances Lake, a sacred native gathering place.
Optional Northern Lights Show in Watson Lake.
Day 10 Faro, YT.
From Frances Lake we make our way to Ross River and the abandoned
native village of the Pelly People. From here we travel into the
southern center of the Yukon Territory to the tiny town of Faro.
This town is tucked away in a mountainous setting in the Tintina
Valley and is a tranquil place where visitors find a warm welcome
and old fashioned hospitality. Situated in one of the most densely
concentrated wildlife areas in North America, its abundance of clear
blue lakes, mountain ranges, winding rivers and lush green valleys,
make Faro an ideal base for wildlife viewing.
Day 11 & 12 Keno, YT.
Travelling northwest we turn east and head off the beaten path to
the tiny settlement of Keno. Keno City lies nestled in the mountains
at the end of the Silver Trail, a small frontier community of 25.
Here we can explore the great back country by hiking, fishing, rock-hunting,
gold panning, and photography. Our tour leader will take the group
on a walking tour through Keno City including the Keno Mining Museum
and Alpine Interpretive Centre. On Day 2 we drive up Keno Hill to
the famous signpost. The road winds its way to an elevation of 6000
feet, and the view from the top is well worth the trip. A network
of trails criss-crosses the landscape through historic mine sites,
offering some of the most spectacular mountain vistas in the North.
Day 13 Takhini Hot Springs, B.C.
From Keno we travel south towards the city of Whitehorse. We make
camp at Takhini Hot Springs. A swimming pool fed by natural hot
springs and surrounded by rolling hills and hiking trails, the developed
Takhini Hot Springs might be just what you need as we near the completion
of our journey. After swimming, we can refresh ourselves at the
restaurant. Optional activities include horseback riding, hiking,
and wagon rides.
Day 14 Whitehorse, YT. via Skagway AK.
Before finishing the tour we take a day trip south to the Alaskan
Town of Skagway. Stopping at Carcross fro a brief visit of Emerald
Lake and the tiniest desert in the world, we make our way across
the moonscape territory leading down to the Lynn Canal. Passengers
have free time to explore this goldrush boomtown before returning
to Whitehorse. For those passengers wanting to disembark here for
the Alaska Marine Ferry, the tour guide will be happy to drop you
off with your luggage at your hotel or hostel. Passengers should
note that prior arrangements should be made for accommodation and
transportation before this tour ends. Passengers not disembarking
from the tour will be dropped off in Whitehorse at about 5:00 pm.
As another post-tour option, Midnight
Sun will offers a land and ferry package from Skagway, AK, to Victoria,
BC. This package includes:
transportation from Whitehorse to Skagway, AK, Alaskan Marine ferry
transportation to Prince Rupert, BC, accommodation in Prince Rupert,
BC Ferry transportation to Port Hardy, accommodation in Port Hardy,
transportation from Port Hardy to Alert Bay, accommodation in Alert
Bay and transportation from Alert Bay to Victoria or Nanaimo ferry
terminal. Those who do wish to transfer to the Arctic
Circle Tour can fly back to Vancouver via a daily flight from Whitehorse,
or take a coach.
Reservations
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Call toll free
1-800-255-5057
for info on tour availability |
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