Discover the Beauty of the Wind River in Canada's Yukon: Unforgettable Canoe Expeditions Await

Join us on a canoeing adventure down the Wind River in Yukon, Canada – an arctic mountain river known for awe-inspiring hiking and “friendly” whitewater.

The Wind River is a beautiful and inviting watercourse for any canoeist who possesses basic whitewater skills. In its upper reaches, the channel is narrow, gravelly, shallow and braided. Canoeists floating on the current enjoy an uncommonly vivid view of boulders and pebbles that appear to slip by beneath the boat. The ragged Rackla Range dominates the skyline. Wildlife and wild flowers abound.

  • Part of the greatest constellation of wild mountain rivers in North America
  • One of the largest conservation victories in a generation: The Peel Watershed Regional Land Use Plan—a plan that will largely protect the Peel for perpetuity—was officially signed by all of the parties on August 22, 2019
  • Wind River valley was the setting for the fabled “Lost Patrol,” a doomed group of North-West Mounted Police in the early 1900s
  • Wildflowers and wildlife abound, including Dall sheep, mountain caribou, moose, wolves and raptors
  • Whitewater canoe excitement through the crags of dramatic mountain ranges

The Wind is known for its crystal clear water. Canoeists floating on the current enjoy an uncommonly vivid view of boulders and pebbles that appear to slip by beneath the boat. The ragged Rackla Range dominates the skyline. Wildlife and wild flowers abound.

Every camp enjoys a beautiful backdrop for camping, and many offer a hike into the alpine to reveal panoramic vistas. On the river, the scenery continues to unfold daily in diverse tableaus. Bear River contributes to the flow where it meets the Wind. The name reminds everyone to be watchful for a sighting of the elusive grizzly. Royal Mountain appears on the horizon with regal splendor.

On it’s eastern shore the Wind courses beneath steep mountain slopes. Farther downstream, at the confluence with the Little Wind River, it squeezes out of the confines of the Illtyd Range into a broader, sprawling valley. At Hungry Creek, the landscape is dominated by Mount Deception. But there is no deceiving the paddler. This swiftwater canoe trip through the Peel watershed lives up to all the acclaim!

At the time of the Klondike Gold Rush, southern travellers who found themselves wintering on the Wind had a rough time. A small band of stampeders were forced to spend the winter at a makeshift camp, which they named Wind City. It was home to between 50 and 80 people during the winter of 1898-99. In the spring, they continued upstream on the Wind, over the pass to the Stewart River and then downstream to Dawson City. Many have searched for the remains of Wind City, but it seems to have been washed away by the shifting channels and spring floods of the river.

As the Wind approaches the Peel River, the valley bottom broadens and is heavily forested. It was in this region that another famous group travelled the river, but in the dark of winter. In December of 1910, Inspector Francis J. Fitzgerald of the North-West Mounted Police and his fabled “Lost Patrol” began their journey by dogsled, far away on Herschel Island, at the mouth of the Firth River. They neglected to engage a native guide for the remaining 475-mile (760 kilometer) leg. This oversight led to their peril. They floundered in the Wind River Valley, making vain attempts on the wrong tributaries to cross over into the Stewart River drainage. Finally, nearing the end of their supplies, they turned back. Weather and trail conditions conspired against them. Temperatures dropped to -65 F below zero and the group finally perished only 70 miles (112 km) short of Fort McPherson. They were discovered by a rescue party led by Corporal W. J. D. Dempster from Dawson City. The men of the patrol are buried in Fort McPherson on the Peel River, and Corporal Dempster was honored with having Canada’s most northerly highway named after him.

Wind River Trips

Wind River Canoeing Expedition – Friendly Whitewater and Mountain Hiking

Trip Length: 13 days
Craft: Canoe
Cost: $8,855 (CAD)

An arctic mountain river renowned for its tremendous hiking and "friendly" whitewater – ideal for intermediate canoeists interested in exploring the beauty that surrounds the Wind.

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Stories That Might Interest You

A Guide to paddling the Wind River

March 4, 2021 | Discover the North

Venture deep into Yukon’s untouched Wind River, where wild mountain rivers weave tales of fabled patrols and midnight sun discoveries. Will you unravel the secrets of this pristine wilderness?

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Peel Watershed – Conservation and Adventure

In 2019 Canadian River Expeditions heads to the Snake River and we invite you to join us to experience the volume of this grand landscape and to truly understand what is at stake.

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A conversation with river guide Bobbi Rose Koe

February 4, 2020 | Discover the North

Joel Hibbard joined river guide, Bobbie Rose Koe, for a conversation about the Yukons’ Wind River, and the importance of protecting the surrounding Peel Watershed.

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December 2, 2019 | Conservation & Science

At Nahanni River Adventures/Canadian River Expeditions, it is our passion and a privilege to share vast wilderness areas with our guests. With privilege comes great responsibility and, as a company, we do not take the opportunity and obligation we have to steward and safeguard the areas through which we travel each summer lightly.

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October 31, 2023 | News

Joel Hibbard and Bobbi Rose Koe unite heritage and ecology through Dinjii Zhuh Adventures. This venture revives ancestral Gwich’in routes with their Indigenous Youth River Guide Training Program, promising a transformative expedition along the Wind River.

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The Seven Sacred Rivers of the Peel Watershed

March 23, 2022 | Discover the North

The wind in Whitehorse was from the south today, carrying with it a warmth I haven’t felt since early Autumn….

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March 4, 2021 | Discover the North

Venture deep into Yukon’s untouched Wind River, where wild mountain rivers weave tales of fabled patrols and midnight sun discoveries. Will you unravel the secrets of this pristine wilderness?

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A conversation with river guide Bobbi Rose Koe

February 4, 2020 | Discover the North

Joel Hibbard joined river guide, Bobbie Rose Koe, for a conversation about the Yukons’ Wind River, and the importance of protecting the surrounding Peel Watershed.

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