Teslin / Yukon Rivers - Johnsons Crossing to Dawson City

Shuttle to Johnsons crossing and start under the Alaska hiway bridge . Paddle down the Teslin River slow current the first 35 kms. Fast current from there till the end of the trip. Several old cabins and and good camping spots all along the Teslin.

There is an old barge and mining equipment at O`Briens Bar. A good place to stop for lunch and explore. Teslin joins the Yukon River at Hootalinqua, where there is a maintained campsite with picnic tables, toilets and a roof over a table. There is also a hiking trail behind the old buildings to well up in the mountain for a good view of the Teslin and Yukon River valleys at the confleuence. Just downstream of Hootalinqua is Evelyn Island with an old Paddle wheeler. A must-stop. The river flows on past numerous old cabins a gold dredge, 2 old native villages before comming to Carmacks.

The trip could be concluded here or you could stop at the restaurant for a meal, pick up a few groceries and carry on . There is a maintained campground here but we had been warned to keep an eye on our gear here as it has a habit of disappearing.

Moving down the river there is an abandoned coal mine from the 1800s with a fair campsite.
About 10 km past this is the only area of concern, the Five Finger Rapids. There is a path to a lookout on river right about 100 m above the rapid. This takes you to a lookout to scout the rapids. Not all the rapid is visible from the lookout but enough can be seen to make a plan. STAY RIGHT through the haystacks to avoid the tricky currents and whirlpools from the other channels . We did not see any possible portage around the rapids.

A few miles below this there is another rapid that looks fairly imposing at first but can be totally avoided by staying to the extreme right.

Just below this there is a spot with a thick layer of white volcanic ash that is reputed to be Sam McGee`s ashes.

The river carries on past Minto an old homestead where there is a few cabins an a dock for some mining operation.
There is an airfield here and access to the Klondike Hwy.

Then past Fort Selkirk where there is a museum run by the natives and a chance to buy some crafts.

All through this trip there is old wood yards that used to supply wood to the paddlewheelers . Some have returned to nature but several still have old decaying buildings.

Although there is some sand in the river water the water is still usable for cooking and drinking till the White river flows in. From then on it is necessary to get drinking and cooking water from feeder steams.

At Sterwart island there are old docks from an ore transfer site.

The river runs on and then comes to Dawson City. There is a government campground on river left just past the fairy landing dock - good place to camp while you see the sights of Dawson.