Tatshenshini River Rafting – Glaciers, Grizzlies and Bald Eagles

Perhaps the wildest and most visually spectacular river in North America, the Tatshenshini flows through the heart of the largest bio-preserve in the world. The Tatshenshini courses among the tall spires of the Coast Range, vast glaciers and through a lake filled with huge icebergs. Bald Eagles abound, grizzlies feed on spawning salmon and if you’re lucky, you might catch a glimpse of the rare blue glacier bear. This adventure on the Tat is an international journey of unparalleled beauty. On this adventure, you'll experience:

Flows through the world’s largest non-polar ice cap with some of the world’s most active glaciers (see it while you still can).
Rafters are able to float in a stunning, iceberg-filled lake
Part of the world’s largest bio-preserve.
Bald eagles and grizzlies abound.
World’s tallest coast range mountain – Mount Fairweather – also BC’s tallest.
Flows through the Yukon, British Columbia, Alaska, Glacier Bay National Park, Tatshenshini-Alsek Provincial Park, to it’s denouement at the Gulf of Alaska.
Great hiking with abundant wildlife and wildflowers.
Location of the oldest human remains found in a glacier in North America.
Became well known in the late 1980s after a controversial, proposed copper mine and road in the heart of the region were stopped.
11 river days

The Tatshenshini River begins as a trickle in the alpine meadows of the Chilkat Summit, then swells to more than half a mile (about one kilometre) in breadth. The Tatshenshini flows through the Yukon, B.C., Alaska, Glacier Bay National Park, Alsek/Tatshenshini Provincial Park, out to the Gulf of Alaska.

At its confluence with the Alsek River, the two rivers rival the largest drainages on the continent. Together they form a vital green corridor, between the interior and coast, through the highly glaciated and rugged peaks of the St. Elias Range and coastal mountains. Below the spectacular peaks, the broad, lush valley is home to large populations of grizzlies, bald eagles, moose, wolves and other animals.

These qualities have earned the river a reputation as a coveted destination. Visitors are often torn between the choice of beginning their trip on the Tatshenshini or the Alsek. Those who have experienced both say you must keep each of them on your list.

Highlights of the Tashenshini include a section of Class III whitewater, spotting wildlife while meandering through lush meadows and thick foliage, the excitement of swift water through a glacially carved valley beneath the St. Elias Range and the vast glaciers at the confluence with the Alsek.

Duration

Over 11 days, we raft from the Klukshu River, a Coast Range river at Dalton Post to Dry Bay, at the Gulf of Alaska along a 255-kilometre (160 mile) route with an elevation drop of 550 metres (1800 feet)

Availability & Booking

2025 Dates

June 21, 2025 - July 3, 2025
July 5, 2025 - July 17, 2025
July 19, 2025 - July 31, 2025
August 2, 2025 - August 14, 2025

2026 Dates

June 21, 2026 - July 3, 2026
July 5, 2026 - July 17, 2026
July 19, 2026 - July 31, 2026
August 2, 2026 - August 14, 2026

Additional dates may be available upon request.

The first step is to reserve your spot using our online booking request form. Once we receive your booking request, we will contact you to confirm your trip dates.

Location / Where to Meet

Our rendezvous point is Whitehorse, Yukon Territory.

The scheduled flights arrive in Whitehorse throughout the day. Please make your way to your hotel and plan to rendezvous with your guides at the meeting point confirmed in your Welcome Aboard package at 6 p.m. for an orientation meeting. There will be a chance for last minute questions concerning clothing, gear, packing and other details. See FAQ for detailed options on reaching the rendesvous point.

Whitehorse is a great place to spend a few extra days. The historic sites are interesting and there are local day hikes, bike, canoe rentals, dog mushing kennels to visit as well as a National Historic Site and several museums. Renting a car for a day trip through the White Pass to Skagway, Alaska is a popular outing.

At the end of our journey, at the fish packing plant in Dry Bay we’ll be picked up by a small plane (probably a Hawker Sidley) and flown back to Whitehorse. Be sure to have your passport with you for the U.S. and Canadian customs. On the rare occasion, we get weathered in at Dry Bay. In that event, in order to keep on schedule, we require a shuttle flight to Yakutat, Alaska.

Pre- and post-trip accommodation is your responsibility – the cost is not included in the trip fee.

Ages & Requirements

Our raft adventures require no experience and anyone in good health can join us. We have had every age from 5 to 85. We are prepared and willing to help those who cannot carry heavy loads, etc.

Skill Prerequisites

Beginner - The guides navigate with oars & paddling by participants is optional for those who want more activity!

What's Included

You provide your personal gear and we provide the rest: top-quality tents, river gear, safety gear, kitchen and camping equipment and bush plane transportation. Included in your adventure is:

Experienced guides
All river, safety, & kitchen gear
Transportation from the rendezvous point to & from the river
Breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks are included from the Day 1 lunch until the final river meal.

Included Gear

Tent—Mountain Hardwear Trango 3, self-supporting dome tent. Comfortable for two people with some remaining floor space for gear. Our guides will show you how to set up your tent.
Tent bag—communal bags for transporting tents on the raft. Each bag holds three tents.
River bag (dry bag) —115 litre, 30 gal—this is for your clothing and camp gear. When closed properly it provides waterproof protection. We’ve never encountered anyone who couldn’t fit everything they needed in this bag!
Day bag—20 litre, 5 gal– a smaller dry bag for items you’ll want to have easy access to during the day. Waterproof when closed properly. (Note: This is not the same as the “Day pack” listed in section ‘C.OTHER’ of your What to Bring list which you must bring for hiking.)
Boot bag—communal bag for carrying hiking boots during the day (only available on raft trips).
Cooking, eating utensils, tableware— mug provided

Not Included

Pre- and post-trip accommodation
Gratuity

We rent the following items:

Rubber boots—$40.00
Pelican professional waterproof camera case — $40.00
Luxury sleeping bag & pad combination for—$130/person + GST.
Pad only $50+ GST. Or for couples get the double-wide sleeping system with luxury pads for $230/couple.

What to Bring / Wear

You'll be responsiblle for personal clothing, footwear, and sleeping bags. You probably already have almost everything you need – we can provide the rest. Getting ready is part of the fun and the following lists are designed to simplify your packing. (See FAQ for a detailed list.)

We use chartered aircraft with limited load carrying capacity. Try to restrict your gear to an effective but lightweight set of outdoor clothing and equipment. If you are in doubt about a certain item of clothing, bring it along and consult with the guides pre-trip. It can always be left behind if deemed unnecessary. We will arrange a place at the departure point for you to leave your travel clothing. Avoid bringing unnecessary valuables such as jewelry.

Day-by-Day Itinerary

DAY 0 – WHITEHORSE, YUKON

This is the first date listed for your trip.

Your journey north from your home will be a refreshing departure. You will fly over the largest expanse of wilderness in the world with stunning views on cloudless days, pass through quieter and friendlier airports and generally begin to immerse yourself in the wilderness experience that is about to unfold.

The scheduled flights arrive in Whitehorse throughout the day. Please make your way to your hotel and plan to rendezvous with your guides at the meeting point confirmed in your Welcome Aboard package at 6 p.m. for an orientation meeting. There will be a chance for last minute questions concerning clothing, gear, packing and other details.

Whitehorse is a great place to spend a few extra days. The historic sites are interesting and there are local day hikes, bike, canoe rentals, dog mushing kennels to visit as well as a National Historic Site and several museums. Renting a car for a day trip through the White Pass to Skagway, Alaska is a popular outing.

DAY 1 – ALPINE SCENIC DRIVE TO THE RIVER

Following breakfast (not covered), we will meet in the hotel lobby at 8 a.m. and will embark on our journey the Alaska Highway. Along the way we will visit Kwaday Dan Kenji (translated: Long Ago Peoples Place). Here we will meet First Nation elders and see examples of native shelters and traditional living skills used by First Nations in the region for 10,000 years. Further on, we will visit the Kluane National Park Interpretive Centre. We then head south into the Kluane Game Sanctuary. The next leg of our journey will take us through the stunning scenery of the Haines Pass. Our objective is the US Customs Post at Pleasant Camp where we clear US Customs before the trip. You may be tempted to have an afternoon nap during the drive, but the scenery will keep you riveted! Later in the afternoon we arrive at Dalton Post, now known as Shawshe reflecting its heritage with the Champagne First Nations. Following a safety orientation we will load the rafts and push off. At this point the Tatshenshini is a narrow stream. Watched by bald eagles we will travel a short distance before reaching the first camp.

DAY 2 – CANYON WHITEWATER

Another safety briefing will prepare us for the day. Before long, as we float deeper into the St. Elias Mountains (19,850 feet) we will encounter Class II – III whitewater jubilantly welcoming us into this land without roads. This is the most continuous whitewater of the trip. As we pass through the narrow gorge of the Tatshenshini and out into the broader valley, we will be paddling out of the Yukon and entering British Columbia. In June 1993 the BC portion of the Alsek and Tat was preserved with the declaration of the Tatshenshini- Alsek Park and is now a Canadian Heritage River. The Tat-Alsek watershed is the heartland of the largest protected wilderness area in the world.

In camp we will relax and dry out after an exciting day in the rapids.

DAY 3 – BALD EAGLES

Today, in contrast to the swift rapids we have descended, the river meanders quietly but surely through the broad valley dotted with oxbow lakes. This region is home to moose, beaver, bald eagles, osprey and many species of waterfowl. Throughout the day the many tributaries of the Tatshenshini cause it to swell until it has doubled in volume from our previous campsite. Here we are treated to our first view of the dramatic Alsek Range.

DAY 4 – RIDGES & MOUNTAIN GOATS

Weather permitting, this is a hiking day. We will spend the time exploring the local area. A hike up to an open ridge offers everyone the chance to overlook the river and surrounding area. A further hike along this ridge offers an alpine meadow hosting an endless variety of wild flowers. Those who are more adventurous can continue to climb another 1,000 metres to the top for a spectacular view of some of the glaciers of the Alsek Range. This area is known as Goat Ridge and often, if we are lucky, we glimpse mountain goats feeding on the open tundra of the high plateau.

DAY 5 & 6 – ST. ELIAS RANGE

We float past the Carmine peaks and the O’Connor River with great views of the far off St. Elias Range. Here we see signs of recent glacial action. The river picks up speed and becomes very braided after an exciting rapid called Monkey Wrench. Moose, mountain goats, grizzly bears and bald eagles often frequent the wide gravel river banks.

DAY 7 – GLACIERS ABOUND

Today we begin to see the many glaciers of the area. From our camp at Melt Creek, near the confluence of the Alsek River, we can count 27 different glaciers. Glorious views can be seen in all directions.

DAY 8 – CONFLUENCE OF GREAT RIVERS

Now, as we speed along with the current, the voluminous Alsek River joins us from the north. So large is the confluence that it is difficult to know exactly where our route lies. The Noisy Range overlooks the confluence where the Tatshenshini disappears in the shadow of the looming Pentice Ice Cap. The surrounding peaks become higher and increasingly majestic, robed in glaciers. We stop at the base of Walker Glacier and its huge moraines. During the night you may hear ice falls– huge blocks roaring down from the heights where they have broken free.

DAY 9 – ALSEK LAKE & BERGS

Back on the river after Cat-in-the- Washing Machine rapid, we float past more beautiful glaciers including the Novatak, nearly six miles wide where it sprawls towards the river.

As Mount Fairweather (15,300 feet) appears around the bend, dwarfing the surrounding 7,000 feet peaks, a narrow sliver of a peninsula separates the river from Alsek Lake.

Here the Alsek and Grand Plateau Glaciers occupy several miles of shoreline where they “calve” huge slabs of ice into the lake issuing a thundering roar. The iceberg-studded lake is an enchanting place to camp.

DAY 10 – GRAND PLATEAU GLACIER

On our layover day, we will relax and enjoy a hike to overlook the bergs on the lake.

DAY 11 – DRY BAY, GULF OF ALASKA & FLIGHT BACK TO WHITEHORSE

The Alsek now passes through a transition from the tallest peaks on the continent to the broad flat Pacific coastline. In this valley we have a vertical distance of over 15,000 feet between us and the highest peaks, an overall elevation difference greater than that of the Himalayas.

Back on the river we pull into shore at the tiny fishing community of Dry Bay where our plane will rendezvous with us in the afternoon. The location is home to a small group of seasonal fishermen. The only access is by air or boat. In all but the worst weather, the bush plane will pick us up and fly us back through the Coast and St. Elias ranges to Whitehorse. Following showers, the group may want to gather at a local eating establishment (not included). Whitehorse is a lively town and it will not be difficult to find a way to enjoy the evening!

DAY 12 – HOMEWARD BOUND

This is the last date listed for your trip.

After goodbyes and a last look around Whitehorse, we will head for home with a cargo of fond and spectacular memories. (We recommend you consider another day in Whitehorse in case of a rain delay from Dry Bay).

Please note: The above is a tentative itinerary and has been designed with much thought to capitalize on the most scenic and exciting parts of the river, while making time on other sections. Your guides will adjust the schedule to make the best use of river and weather conditions. Please ensure that you have a warm winter jacket (think ‘Puffy’) as well as waterproof rain jacket and pants. We rent robust rain gear and rubber boots – more on our ‘Details & Equipment list. Goretex is not a substitute for rain gear on this trip. Lifejackets are supplied. At the fish packing plant in Dry Bay we will be picked up by a bush plane and flown back to Whitehorse. Be sure to have proof of citizenship with you for the US and Canadian customs. Meals and pre- and post-trip accommodation in Whitehorse are your responsibility – the cost is not included in the trip fee. We have attached a list of Whitehorse hotels. Breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks are included from the Day 1 lunch until the final river meal.

CANADA Outdoor Adventures