From Eagle, it is 158 miles to where the river next sees road access at the remote town of Circle Alaska at the end of the Steese Highway. The Yukon (a Gwich'in word for "great river") is a really great name. From there, the river flows westwards through the central portion of Alaska, United States, and finally empties into the Bering Sea. notably lake trout, burbot and northern pike; however, these contaminants are thought to originate from distant sources. Learn more about bear safety through the Alaska Public Lands Information Centers' bear safety page. The Yukon River Inter-Tribal Watershed Council, a cooperative effort of 70 First Nations and tribes in Alaska and Canada, has the goal of making the river and its tributaries safe to drink from again by supplementing and scrutinizing government data. It is recommended that visitors bring all necessary camping gear and supplies. Just down river of town is the Eagle Bluffs that force the river into a big turn and is a spot where spring breakup sometimes forms ice dams and floods the river valley. Conditions for operating sonar in the lower Yukon River are . Car, train, or group tour. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Sea its relatively flat. Much of this region is within Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge. Where is the Yukon River - MyWaterEarth&Sky The Klondike is a small east-bank tributary that joins the Yukon at the historic territorial town of Dawson. It measures 1,980 miles (3,190 km) from the headwaters of the McNeil River (a tributary of the Nisutlin River). In the river itself are found species of such fish as Arctic grayling, burbot, pike, salmon, and whitefish. Yukon River | Physical Features & History | Britannica From 1896 to 1903, thousands of people traveled the river during the Klondike Gold Rush. There are a modest-sized plant at Whitehorse and two other small installations on tributaries of the Yukon in Canada, including at Mayo. Some argue that the source of the Yukon River should really be Teslin Lake and the Teslin River, which has a larger flow when it reaches the Yukon at Hootalinqua. Watch a short video on staying safe in bear country to learn safe and responsible practices for recreating on Alaska's wild lands. Stop at historic Canyon City which was one of the staging areas during the 1898 Klondike Gold Rush. Steamboats of the Yukon River - Wikipedia Its organizational goals include giving voice to the village fishers that have traditionally managed these resources, enabling communication between fishers and fishery managers, and helping to preserve the ecological integrity of salmon runs and local cultures' Traditional Ecological Knowledge[32], In March 2001, the U.S. & Canadian governments passed the Yukon River Salmon Agreement to better manage an internationally shared resource and ensure that more Canadian-originated salmon return across the border. After arriving in Circle, visitors may drive out on the Steese Highway or fly to Eagle or Fairbanks. Updates? Chloe Dumont-Samson, our interviewee, on the Yukon River. Yukon, a territory in the northwest region of Canada, spans an area of 186,272 square miles. Which one is right for you? However, in recent years, there has been a drastic decline in salmon runs. In Eagle, there is a basic general store, a restaurant, a small hotel, and a bed & breakfast. Yukon - Charley Rivers National Preserve (U.S. National Park Service) We have been helping people from all over the world experience one of the most unique places on Earth since 1991! (for which the community was named). The Tozitna slough is a nifty short cut. Our team will be reviewing your submission and get back to you with any further questions. How Deep Is The Yukon River? - AZ Animals Let us simplify it for you, How much does an Alaska summer vacation cost? The river is silt laden in summer due to glacial runoff, and it is completely clear in winter when glaciers are frozen. The Klondike valley floor is covered with sinuous wormlike ridges of gravel deposited behind the gold dredges that have worked their way through the valley gravels over a period of nearly a century. The Yukon is Alaska's largest river. All visitors should wear personal flotation devices (life preservers) and keep emergency gear with them, such as a first aid kit, whistle, signal mirror, knife, magnesium fire starter, waterproof matches, and tightly sealed emergency rations. Each fall Whitehorse discharges its treated sewage into the Yukon River, where it joins waste waters from smaller communities such as Dawson. Every summer, the world's longest kayaking and canoeing race - the 715 kilometre Yukon River Quest - takes places between Whitehorse and Dawson City. Once you arrive in Dawson you can be treated to all amenities and services. The Arctic Ocean lies to the north, providing a natural boundary for the territory. In addition to the canoe, Indigenous people also travelled the river with mooseskin boats and rafts that could carry entire households. However, demand for power is limited because of the sparse population in the region. It was built beside the dam at Whitehorse to provide a channel for the salmon as they migrate upstream. Visitors may bring their own vessels or rent canoes or rafts locally. Please use it as a visual and mental reference, in addition to proper river information and maps. Blast through the amazing Miles Canyon on the world famous pristine Yukon River. These obstacles to river travel during the gold rush era necessitated the construction of the short railroad from Skagway, Alaska, to Whitehorse in the Yukon territory, the latter becoming the southern terminal of water transport northward. At the junction of the Tanana River, the main southern tributary in Alaska, the Yukon is less than 300 feet (90 metres) above sea level. The usual furbearers trapped by the Indian population include muskrat, mink, marten, lynx, weasel, fox, fisher, and squirrel. This is the most dangerous part of this section of river as the lake often has high winds and can capsize a canoe easily. About ten miles past the Charley confluence, the river flows due west past a series of cabins known as Slaven's, McGregor and Woodchopper which are on the trail of the 1000 mile Yukon Quest SledDog race. The upper tree line is at an elevation of about 3,500 to 4,500 feet (1,070 to 1,370 metres), depending on local exposure and drainage; thus, about two-thirds of the mountainous Yukon territory is treeless. Economy of Yukon. 1997 - 2022 PR Services Ltd. All Rights Reserved, Indian Summer | Canoe Trips | Day Trips | Backpacking Trips | Wilderness Trips. The Lewes River is the former name of the upper course of the Yukon, from Marsh Lake to the confluence of the Pelly River at Fort Selkirk. Bennett Lake; Atlin Lake; Nares River. A few areas around waterways provide taller and stronger poplar trees where this may be possible. Author of. The woman has not yet been identified, but about 100 miles upriver from where the body was found, Kimberly Fitka O'Domin's family has been searching for her since she went missing in the Yukon River . Some of the significant avian species that are found here include swans, geese, ducks, ptarmigan, grouse, etc. Fishwheel downstream from Beaver, AK at sunset. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). The larger mammals include black and brown (grizzly) bears; caribou, deer, and moose; and mountain goats and sheep at higher elevations. "Yukon River. The Yukon River Drainage Fisheries Association was formed in 1990 by a consensus of fishers representing the entire drainage in response to recent disaster years. She gave us her advice on paddling the Yukon River, from using the right type of canoe to bear-proofing your campsite. In the mid-1880s, prospectors and miners arrived in the rivers watershed. The Stewart River, having about the same drainage area as the White River, flows out of the former mining area of MayoKeno City to the east. According to this theory, the ancestors of todays aboriginal peoples arrived across a now-submerged isthmus joining present-day Alaska with Russias Siberia. The Yukon River is such a giant; no words can accurately describe the scale of things along its more than 2000-mile length. Please dispose of inedible game parts, fish and food scraps that could attract bears at least 300 yards from camp and below high water level. Little Atlin Lake . The Whitehorse Fishway is, at 366 meters (m) in length, the longest wooden fish ladder in the world. The Canadian Encyclopedia is a project of Historica Canada, a non-profit, nonpartisan Visit September to April to see the Northern Lights. Yukon River Area - Alaska Department of Fish and Game The Yukon River has a recent history of pollution from military installations, dumps, wastewater, and other sources. Chinook and chum salmon migrate up the Yukon River in two separate summer runs. If you believe all Ask a local in a boat or on shore. The McNeil headwaters rise in the Pelly Mountains of south-central Yukon territory and flow south into Teslin Lake and thence into the Teslin River. Fairbanks, It is here the Top of the World Highway enters Canada from Alaska, with ferryboat services for cars and the Klondike River joins from river right. There is the Canadian section, The Yukon Charley section, the Yukon Flats section, the haul road section and the far western section to consider. The mouth of the Yukon River is far to the west at St. Michael and a journey from Seattle or San Francisco covered some 4,000 miles (6,400 km). After World War I, the gold mining activity declined and the use of water transport on the Yukon River also decreased. Many visitors paddle down the river each year to the Dawson City Music Festival and The third longest river in North America, flowing northwest from the Coastal Range mountains of northern British Columbia, through the Yukon Territory and Alaska to the Bering Sea. At Mountain Village the great river turns into agiant maze of braids and might be alogical place to end atrip on this lower part of theriver. Compared to similar-sized river basins in more moderate climates, there are fewer fish species found in the Yukon River, and fewer plant and animal species along the river banks. Beyond Carmacks a few miles is the Five Finger Rapid, a large section of river that passes through a set of rock islands that can create some waves. Motorized and non-motorized boats of all sizes and types are the principal means of travel on this section of the Yukon River. Running northwest and then west the river passes the mouth of the Charley coming in from river left. Plan your journey with this gorgeous printed map. The river passes through the communities of Whitehorse, Carmacks, (just before the Five Finger Rapids) and Dawson City in the Yukon Territory, and into Circle, Fort Yukon, Stevens Village, Tanana, Ruby, Galena, Nulato, Grayling, Holy Cross, Russian Mission, Marshall, Pilot Station, St. Marys (which is accessible from the Yukon at Pilot Point), and Mountain Village. Plans to build a permanent bridge were announced in March 2004, although they are currently on hold because bids came in much higher than budgeted. Wildlife is abundant and this tour includes the mighty Five Finger Rapids. For the safety of visitors, the NPS recommends that floaters file a Voluntary Backcountry Trip Plan with the preserve and a friend or relative. At the confluence of the Yukon and Klondike rivers . The take out at Eagle is on river left so stay left well above it in order to get across the strong current to the take out. "Yukon River". Over the last 20 years salmon recruitment, the number of returning adults, has taken several shocks. Solicitation for Arctic-Yukon-Kuskokwim Region Work Group - NOAA Fisheries historically caused damage in Dawson City. Some of the notable mammals that are found here include grizzly bears, moose, deer, caribou, sheep, mountain goats, timber wolves, muskrats, martens, lynxes, minks, etc. All donations above $3 will receive a tax receipt. The power plant opened in 1958 and continues to supply electricity to the city. Within the large central plateau of the Yukon, ringed by the Mackenzie Mountains to the east and the St. Elias range to the Its entire course of 1,265 mi (2,035 km) in Alaska is navigable. Either way, Atlin Lake flows into Tagish Lake, as eventually does Lake Lindeman after flowing into Lake Bennett. Gravel bars are recommended for camping since they are often breezy and deter the infamous Alaska mosquitoes. DAWSON CITYWATSON LAKEWHITEHORSECAMPBELL REGIONFAROROSS RIVERKLONDIKE REGIONCARMACKSDAWSON CITYPELLY CROSSINGSTEWART CROSSINGSILVER TRAILKENO CITYMAYOKLUANE REGIONBEAVER CREEKBURWASH LANDINGDESTRUCTION BAYHAINES JUNCTIONNORTH YUKONEAGLE PLAINSOLD CROWSOUTHERN LAKES REGIONCARCROSSMARSH LAKEMOUNT LORNETAGISHTESLIN, ATLINCHETWYNDDAWSON CREEKFORT NELSONFORT ST. JOHN, FORT MCPHERSONINUVIKPAULATUKTSIIGEHTCHICTUKTOYAKTUKULUKHAKTOK (HOLMAN), WHITEHORSE AIRPORT ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES, DAWSON CITY EVENTSFARO EVENTSMAYO EVENTSWATSON LAKE EVENTSWHITEHORSE EVENTS. To achieve this goal, new samples will be collected during the 2023 spring freshet and results compared to those obtained from archived 2019 . SCOTT SIMON, HOST: The salmon runs in the Yukon River in Alaska this year were bleak. By 1846, the Russians had successfully mapped about 970km of the lower river. Free personal GPSdriven travel guide to Alaska. The name Yukon comes from the Gwich'in word Yu-kun-ah meaning "great river" and is a reference to the Yukon River. This service is performed by Ruby Marine and reaches Tanana on the Yukon River and Nenana on the Tanana River.[25]. Jet skis and other personal watercraft are prohibited in the preserve. Thirty Mile (Yukon River), Yukon - Canadian Heritage Rivers System Coniferous forests grow to low height and low densities across the valley floors and lower mountain slopes of the Yukon River basin. The White River, with a drainage area of about 19,500 square miles (50,500 square km), adds silt from the glaciers and mountains to the southwest. Fortymile River | ALASKA.ORG Not far ahead you enter the Yukon Charley Rivers National Preserve and for over a hundred miles you will be in the preserve. Bear-resistant food containers (BRFCs) are not required but strongly encouraged for your overnight visit to Yukon-Charley Rivers. [12] The total area is more than 25% larger than Texas or Alberta. Motorized jet boats are often preferred since props can be easily damaged on unseen gravel bars. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. As salmon do not eat during their spawning migration, Yukon River salmon must have great reserves of fat and energy to fuel their thousands-mile-long journey. A dried-up section of the Fishing Branch River in the Old Crow, Yukon, area, in spring 2022. Visitors access Eagle by driving via the Taylor Highway or flying in on small aircraft. The average winter temperature at the city of Dawson on the banks of the Yukon River, is around -31C, while the average summer temperature at Dawson is about 16C.