Yukon River, Whitehorse to Dawson City

The Yukon River leaves from downtown Whitehorse and was the region's main highway until the late 1950s. During the Klondike gold rush, nearly 30,000 gold seekers in 7,000 boats paddled it to Dawson City. Explore Magazine puts the Whitehorse to Dawson City stretch at 715 km and suggests that only experienced moving water paddlers go without a guide.

Travel Yukon describes a trip of about 17 days, with the first night at Lake Laberge, a run through the Thirty Mile section and a resupply at Carmacks around the halfway point. Past Carmacks, Five Finger Rapids and Rink Rapids are the only two rapids on the route. National Geographic notes the fast current through Whitehorse and the historic stop at Fort Selkirk, reachable only by boat.