The Upper Liard River, of the Pelly and Cassier Mountains, is a classic mountain wilderness canoe trip. Starting high in the Mountains at the Caribou Lakes, the rive winds its way south for 250km to the Alaska Highway near the famous Liard Hot Spring. After shuttling from Whitehorse to the float plane base the trip begins with a spectacular flight through the mountains to the headwaters. We’ll spend the 1st night camped on this spectacular lake and then our paddling trip begins. At the start the creek out of Caribou Lake is only a small stream, just wide enough for a canoe. Once in the Liard itself though the river widens and braids, creating a shallow, easy, clearwater river in which we will paddle and float for ten days. For those who like, the fishing is excellent. You can literally float over pools and see the arctic grayling or bull trout below you.
In August the weather should be warm and relatively dry (the Yukon only receives 13 inches of rain annually). It’s like an Arctic desert, but surrounded by mountains covered with spruce, willow, birch and aspen, and bugs are minimal to non existent. In August we may get northern lights.
In the event that the Yukon does not open for outsiders the Back-up alternate trip for Liard will be:
Natashquan River
This Quebec north shore river provides a rugged scenic trip, akin to the Moisie but easier.
The river contains many class 1 & 2 rapids
There are a half dozen portages around chutes and waterfalls, but all these carries are short and most of them are near the end of the trip. The trip starts with a bush plane flight in from the village of Natashquan into km 280 on the river. From here we will paddle south back to the St Lawrence.
Dates and Costs would be the same.

Typical itinerary

(Note: this is a suggested itinerary only. Conditions on each trip may vary)

Liard Itinerary:

* Please note: It is the nature of bush plane flights that such factors as weather, pilot judgment, fire, mechanical problems etc. can dictate the schedule of flights and can cause delays. Wanapitei cannot control these factors and accepts no responsibility for lost time.

July 16, 2022, Meet: (Day 1) Whitehorse. We’ll all meet up for lunch and welcome. Arrive in Whitehorse a minimum of one day before trip meeting, so no later than July 16

Day 1 :

July 17: We will, weather permitting, be flown by charter float plane to the beautiful Caribou Lakes, high in the Mountains were we will set up camp.

Day 2:

Hike, Relax, Fish at Caribou Lakes. Stunning Mountain Lake.

Day 3:

In the morning we will paddle our way down the twisty little Caribou Stream, joining up with Liard River at the end of the day, where we will camp

Day 4-11:

On the Liard River. Fast current, swifts and class 1 rapids. Great camping, easy paddling. We’ll plan to take at least one, maybe two layover days over the course of the trip.

Day 12:

July 28
We’ll finish up the trip where the Liard crosses under the Alaska Highway. Shuttle back to Whitehorse.

Sat July 29, 2022:

.Flights home or on to Other adventures.

Note: Participants responsible for their own flights to and from Whitehorse, plus accommodations & meals in Whitehorse.

* Please note: It’s the nature of remote northern travel that uncontrollable factors like poor weather, pilot judgment, forest fires, and mechanical problems can affect our schedules and cause delays. We regret these situations but cannot accept responsibility for hotels, flight rebookings, and other costs you may incur.

Photos & video

Area map

More information

Wikipedia, Liard River