The Hess River stands as the most challenging canoe-able whitewater in Yukon, featuring daily Class III+ rapids and stunning glaciated peaks of the Selwyn Mountains. This 14-day journey of approximately 500km combines relentless excitement through canyons and boulder-strewn passages with pristine wilderness where paddlers encounter no other souls across the entire trip. The scenery evolves from dramatic high-altitude terrain with knife-edged ridges to the rolling landscapes of the North Yukon Plateau, offering exceptional hiking and wildlife viewing opportunities. Best paddled July through early September when water levels are manageable. Access is exclusively by floatplane from Mayo to Keele Lake, requiring exceptional planning and expert-level paddling skills.
The difficulty of Hess River River varies by section.
The best time is July-early September.
Hess River River is located in the Yukon region of Canada.
rubyrange.com · sidetracked.com · explore-mag.com · tatshenshiniyukon.com