Teslin River Canoe Trip Itinerary: Johnsons Crossing to Little Salmon 9 Days (305 km)

A complete itinerary along with maps, clothing, and equipment list, will be issued upon registration.

Day 0: Arrival in Whitehorse
This represents the day or days spent in Whitehorse before the actual trip date posted on our website.
We will meet in the evening around 7 pm to discuss the adventure ahead, go over some basic paddling strokes, distribute dry bags, and answer any last minute questions. Air arrangements should allow for your attendance at the evening meeting. It is not necessary to await our call. We will leave a message at your accommodation detailing where we will meet if you are out. Your guide team will have emailed you their contact number and email approximately a week beforehand so you will have their details should you need to make contact.

1. Day 1 Pick up and travel to Johnson’s Crossing

   After breakfast, we will be picked up by our driver and taken to our destination, Johnson’s Crossing. Here we will load canoes, review paddling safety and technique, and begin our paddle to Little Salmon, where we will finish on day 9. Today, we will paddle 21 to 25 km, probably camping on Henry Isle.

2. Day 2 To Mary River

   One of the nicest camps on the river is at the confluence of the Mary River. We will try to make this our campsite for the night.

3. Day 3 To Roaring Bull Rapids

   The additional volume from the Boswell, Swift, and Indian Rivers results in more gravel bars and islands appearing. The river valley widens and large clay banks with distinctive eroded features called hoodoos become more frequent. It is in this stretch of river that we will experience “Roaring Bull Rapids”. Other than a “rush”, the rapids are not technical or dangerous.

4. Day 4 Roaring Bull Rapids to Hoodoos (or High-Water)

   Travel today has a mixture of slow and ‘quicker’ moving water sections.

5. Day 5 Hoodoo to “Battleship Island”

   The trip today to Battleship Island sets us up to pull out early at Hootalinqua to get a good camp spot.

6. Day 6 Battleship Island to Hootalinqua

   This is a short day, so a bit of a longer breakfast, but getting on the water early enough to get to Hootalinqua early. At Hootalinqua, there is a steep hike up behind the camp with magnificent views of the confluence of the Teslin and Yukon Rivers.

7. Day 7 Hootalinqua to Big Salmon River area

   Today we move on to the Yukon Rives, which has a faster overall current and some historical sections. We will stop to see the remains of the steamship “Evelyn” before we continue on to the Big Salmon area.

8. Day 8 Big Salmon to Twin Creeks

   This is the last full day of paddling on the river. We will stop after a full day of easy paddling at Twin Creeks.

9. Day 9 Twin Creeks to Little Salmon

   Our paddle will continue past the confluence of Little Salmon and Yukon Rivers to our take out just past Little Salmon. Once we have all the canoes and gear sorted and stowed, we will take the 3-hour drive back to Whitehorse, stopping in Carmacks. Plan on a shower, and dinner together in a local restaurant, to recount the river experience before parting ways.

inclusions and exclusions at a glance