There are very few places left in the world where you can truly disconnect but the Yukon and Teslin Rivers are among them. This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience where families and friends travel together through vast wilderness, moving at the pace of the river and reconnecting with what matters most.

Surrounded by pristine landscapes, rich Indigenous history, and endless northern skies, you’ll paddle routes once travelled for thousands of years. Long summer days, quiet campsites, and the rhythm of the water create space to recharge, reflect, and build deeper connections—with each other and with the land.

This experience is designed to be flexible, supportive, and accessible. Whether you’re a first-time paddler or an experienced adventurer, our team customizes the journey to match your group’s comfort level, goals, and interests. We take care of all logistics—gear, food, safety systems, and route planning—so you can focus on the experience itself.

For Canadians looking for a meaningful adventure close to home, this trip offers exceptional value:

• World-class wilderness without international travel

• Organized and guided by experienced, certified leaders

• Customizable itineraries for families, friends, or individuals joining a group

• Affordable compared to global expeditions, with no compromise on experience

Simply put, it's an opportunity for you and your family to experience Canada’s North in a way few ever do.

A key part of this experience is learning together. Throughout the journey, you and your family will gain practical, hands-on skills that last well beyond the trip:

• Setting up camp efficiently and comfortably

• Cooking meals over a fire and managing a camp kitchen

• Basic navigation and reading the river

• How to safely store and animal-proof your belongings

• Understanding the history and geography of the Yukon

• And most importantly, how to paddle as a team on a moving river

These are real-life skills that empower families to continue exploring confidently and independently on future adventures.

This experience is designed to be flexible, supportive, and accessible for families of all backgrounds and experience levels. Whether you’re new to paddling or comfortable in the outdoors, we tailor the journey to meet your group where you’re at. Fireside takes care of all logistics—gear, food, safety systems, and route planning—so you can focus on what matters most: being present with each other.

Beyond the adventure itself, this trip is a powerful way to strengthen family values. It creates space for:

• Quality time without distractions—real conversations, shared challenges, and meaningful connections

• Unplugging from devices and reconnecting with nature, rhythm, and simplicity

• Practicing Leave No Trace principles, learning how to travel responsibly and respectfully in wild places

• Building an understanding of sustainable travel—taking only what you need, minimizing impact, and appreciating the land you move through

These are experiences that stay with families long after the trip ends, shaping how you travel, connect, and support one another.

We’re here to help you shape this experience into something that truly fits your family.

Whether you’re looking to extend your time in the Yukon or personalize parts of the trip, we can support you with:

• Visiting Dawson City

• Exploring Tombstone Territorial Park or Kluane National Park and Reserve

• Joining a group if your friends or family can’t make it

Beyond the itinerary, we also help with the details that make a big difference:

• Flight coordination and timing guidance to ensure smooth arrivals and departures

• Recommendations on accommodations before and after your trip

• Taking the time to understand why you and your family want this experience, so we can help shape it around your goals, comfort level, and interests

Your adventure starts with one simple decision: say yes to something bigger, together.

Reach out to us and we will send you a what to bring list and more information about Yukon and the experience.

As with all Fireside expeditions, we remain flexible and responsive, able to adjust plans as needed based on weather, river conditions, paddling ability, group dynamics, and overall goals. Any changes are made with one priority in mind: enhancing safety, experience, and enjoyment for everyone involved.

We strongly encourage families to plan ahead and stay in close communication with our team in the lead-up to the trip. We’re here to support you with gear questions, travel coordination, and any uncertainties to help ensure you arrive feeling prepared and confident.

Many participants also choose to extend their Yukon experience before or after the expedition. Popular options include visiting Tombstone Territorial Park, exploring Dawson City, or spending additional time in Kluane National Park and Reserve. If any of these interest you, we’re happy to provide guidance and help you plan it right.

All participants are required to arrive in Whitehorse the day before the trip begins

Arriving early is an important part of the experience. It allows time to settle in, shake off travel fatigue, and ease any pre-trip nerves. It also gives us the opportunity to connect in person, review gear, answer last-minute questions, and make any necessary adjustments before heading onto the river. In the evening, our instructors will be available to meet in downtown Whitehorse for introductions, a relaxed welcome, and a chance to get to know one another. It’s a casual and supportive start—setting the tone for the journey ahead.

Starting well makes all the difference.

We begin the day early at the Beez Kneez Hostel in Whitehorse, gathering for a casual breakfast, introductions, and a full orientation. This is where you’ll meet your guides, review the expedition plan, and complete a thorough gear check—ensuring both personal and group equipment are dialed in before heading out.

From here, we load up our vehicles with canoes, group gear, and personal items and make our way to our river put-in—typically Johnson’s Crossing (or Carmacks, depending on route and conditions). The drive itself begins to shift the mindset—leaving town behind and entering the vast northern landscape.

At the river, we take time to learn and prepare properly. Instruction includes:

• Meal planning and group food packing

• Knots, tarps, and campsite setup

• Use of safety equipment and maps

• Basic canoe skills (parts of a canoe, paddle strokes, river awareness)

Additional learning themes woven into the day:

• Team-building and communication

• History and geography of the Yukon

• Leave No Trace principles and responsible travel

Once ready, we launch onto the river for our first paddle together—a gentle introduction to the flow, rhythm, and teamwork required for the journey ahead.

We arrive at camp in the evening, set up together, share a meal, and settle in for our first night under the midnight sun—a moment that often stays with people long after the trip ends. This is where the adventure truly begins.

Days 2–10: A Family Journey on the Water

Over the heart of the expedition, families paddle the Teslin River, gradually making their way toward the mighty Yukon River—one of North America’s most iconic waterways. The Teslin begins as a gentle, welcoming river, ideal for building confidence and learning the rhythm of paddling together. As the days unfold, the current gradually picks up, offering just enough movement to feel the journey evolve without overwhelming new paddlers.

As Jack London once wrote, “The river was the Yukon, broad and silent, flowing by the unending forest.”

You’ll feel that presence here—vast, steady, and grounding.

Each day brings a new landscape: winding channels, open valleys, forested shorelines, and long stretches of untouched wilderness. Along the way, families will be on the lookout for wildlife—bald eagles overhead, moose along the shoreline, and the quiet signs of life that make the Yukon so alive.

This is where the experience truly comes together. With the steady support of Fireside’s experienced guides, families will:

• Build confidence in paddling as a team on a moving river

• Strengthen campcraft and outdoor living skills

• Learn how to read water, navigate, and travel safely

• Embrace the rhythm of the river and the simplicity of daily life outdoors

The journey is as much about connection as it is about movement—shared meals, setting camp together, and the quiet moments that naturally bring families closer.

Eventually, the Teslin merges into the powerful Yukon River. The scale opens up, the current strengthens, and the sense of history deepens. Along the way, there are opportunities to explore remnants of the past, including an abandoned sternwheeler and the historic Little Salmon Village, offering a glimpse into the stories that shaped the North.

The journey concludes in Carmacks, where we transition back to Whitehorse, carrying with us not just the distance travelled—but the skills, memories, and shared experience of a true northern adventure.

For those wanting more, some families choose to continue north to Dawson City—and we’re happy to help make that happen.

This is more than a paddle.
It’s a family expedition—supported, guided, and unforgettable.