Life on the River: Campsites, Wildlife, and Daily Routines

Life on the River: Campsites, Wildlife, and Daily Routines

Life on the River: Campsites, Wildlife, and Daily Routines on the Yukon River is shaped by the rhythm of nature. From selecting campsites to spotting wildlife, each day brought new challenges and unforgettable moments. Whether it was waking to the calls of bald eagles, paddling past beaver dams, or watching the sun set over a sandbank, life on the river was an ever-changing experience.

Campsites on the Yukon River: How to Pick the Perfect Spot

Campsites on the Yukon River are not always where you expect them to be. We relied heavily on Yukon River (Marsh Lake–Dawson City)—a 450-mile guidebook detailing charts, history, and key campsite locations. It was our bible, but even with it, we didn’t always find the sites listed, and when we did, they weren’t always ideal.

What Makes a Good Campsite?

• Sandbanks Were Our Favourite: We camped on sandbanks whenever possible—flat, easy to set up, and fewer insects compared to the woods.
• Avoid the Woods!: The Yukon’s infamous mosquitos (giant, relentless, and hungry) made camping in forested areas unbearable. In Scotland, we’d call them ‘beasties’—here, they’re another level of aggressive.
• Fire Pits in the First Stretch: Campsites in the early part of the river often had pre-built fire pits, making cooking much easier. Further down, we had to build our own.
• No Rocky Shorelines: Thankfully, we never had to settle for rocky ground. If not a sandbank, we found clearings large enough for the tent.
• Toilets: Yes, a huge surprise to us that there were sometimes pit toilets, wooden long drops or plastic long drops if not then intertidal or cat holes were the next option. Our toilet bag had paper, trowel and hand santitizer. If the bag was in use, you knew someone was off doing their business and you should wait your turn!

Making Camp Comfortable

• Driftwood Fires: We collected driftwood for burning and used our folding saws (yes, we brought two) to cut larger pieces down to size.
• Firelighters for Efficiency: A tiny bit of firelighter made a big difference in getting things going quickly—no struggling with damp wood!
• Water Safety: We always set up above the high-water line, avoiding areas where the river could rise unexpectedly overnight.

Here’s the updated Setting Up Camp section, incorporating your firsthand experiences while keeping it structured and engaging:

Setting Up Camp: A Well-Rehearsed Routine

It took three or four days to refine our system, but by the end of the trip, setting up camp became second nature. The key was efficiency—everyone had a role, and we followed the same steps each evening to make the process smooth.

1: Landing & Unloading the Canoes

• The first priority was getting everything out of the water.
• Unload the canoes completely before lifting them onto higher ground.
• If the riverbank was too high, we securely tied the canoes for the night instead.
• When we could lift them, we carried the canoes away from the shoreline and turned them over—essential if it rained overnight.

2: Organising Camp

• Dry bags and bear barrels were moved to their designated spots.
• If there was a fire pit, we placed the bear barrels nearby (but away from the tent).
• Sleeping gear—tents, sleeping bags, and clothes—went to the sleeping area, well away from the fire and cooking space.

3: Tent & Fire Setup

• Tents were first—by now, we could pitch them in minutes.
• Food was sorted into meals, so if you were cooking, you got dinner ingredients ready while others collected firewood.
• Driftwood was plentiful, but larger pieces needed to be cut with our folding saws.
• First, we got the water boiling for a cup of tea (jet boil). The fire was then lit using firelighters and driftwood.

Cleaning Up: Leaving No Trace

A strict leave-no-trace routine kept our camp clean, safe, and free of bear attractants.

Tins & Waste

• If we used tinned food, we burnt out the tins in the fire to remove all food smells.
• Once cooled, we smashed them flat and packed them out.
• Any packaging we brought in, we packed out—no exceptions.

Washing Up

• Our folding bucket made washing up much easier (and kept our feet dry).
• We washed away from the campsite, ensuring all food smells were kept far from the sleeping area.
• We always brushed our teeth well away from the tent and spat directly into the river to prevent food smells from lingering around camp—another crucial step in bear safety.

By the end of the trip, our camp routine was second nature, ensuring we always had a warm meal, a safe place to sleep, and a clean site before setting off again in the morning.

Wildlife Encounters: The Yukon’s Untamed Residents

The Yukon River is home to incredible wildlife, and while some animals remained elusive, others made unforgettable appearances.

Bears: Tracks Everywhere, One Sighting

We saw plenty of bear paw prints in the sand at various campsites, but only once did we actually see a bear.

• While setting up camp on a sandbank, we noticed fresh black bear tracks—a reminder that we were in its territory.
• The tracks crisscrossed the campsite and appeared to enter the Yukon.
• Later, we spotted the black bear on the nearby island. It had crossed over but showed no interest in us.
• This bear had no association with humans and food—and let’s keep it that way!

Moose: A Miss for Most of Us

Only Cory saw a moose—a distant figure swimming across the Yukon. However, fellow Yukon canoeists we met had a far closer encounter.

• A moose had walked straight through their campsite, yet their two dogs barely reacted.
• Yip they were doing the river with their two passive pouches!
• According to them, it was huge but uninterested in them.

Bald Eagles: Majestic and Everywhere

If one animal dominated the Yukon skies, it was the bald eagle.

• We saw countless eagles, perched high above the river or swooping low for fish.
• The most exciting sighting was two juvenile bald eagles, screeching loudly and unmistakably.
• Before long, we recognised their calls instantly, a sound that became part of the river’s soundtrack.

Wolves: Silent and Invisible

We had hoped to hear or see wolves, but this time, they stayed hidden. No howls in the night, no distant figures on the banks—just the knowledge that they were out there somewhere.

Beavers: Builders at Work

Beavers were one of the most fascinating animals we encountered.

• We paddled past numerous beaver dams, incredible feats of engineering.
• One evening, we spent over an hour watching two beavers, busy with their endless back-and-forth work.
• Thankfully, we had monoculars/binoculars, which made it even better to observe their behaviour up close.

Food and Bear Barrels well away from tents

The Biggest Danger: Wildfires

Forget bears and wolves—the real danger on the Yukon wasn’t the wildlife, but the fires.

A Front-Row Seat to Destruction

One night, while camping on a sandbar near “Two Waterfalls” campsite, we watched as the entire riverbank erupted in flames.

• Trees exploded like candles, fire spreading at shocking speed.
• Cory, a former reserve firefighter, assured us we were in no danger.
• Still, seeing the forest vanish in flames was horrific—a reminder of how powerful nature is.
• We sat on our folding camp chairs and watched it, spellbound, like watching a horrible but fascinating movie.

Fire’s Lingering Impact

Earlier in the journey, we stopped for a morning break in what looked like a burnt-out section of forest.

• To our surprise, parts of it were still smouldering, indeed on fire.
• We grabbed our folding bucket, filled it with river water, and put out the remaining hotspots.
• This was early on in the Thirty Mile section—one of the Yukon’s most beautiful stretches, running between Lake Laberge (Táaʼan Män) and the Teslin River.

Evacuation Came After We Left

We later heard that just one week after we passed through, this section had to be fully evacuated of paddlers due to out-of-control wildfires.

How lucky we were with timing.

Trees burning one by one like candles

Lessons Learned from the Yukon’s Wild Side

1. Bears are out there, but they don’t have to be a threat. Keeping camps bear-safe is key. Have your bear-spray on you at all times
2. Moose can appear anywhere—even in the middle of a campsite.
3. Bald eagles own the Yukon sky. Their calls became part of our adventure.
4. Wildfires are fast and ruthless. We saw firsthand how quickly an entire riverbank can be destroyed.
5. Nature always surprises you. Whether it’s smouldering fire remains or a beaver hard at work, the Yukon is full of unforgetable moments.

A Day in the Life on the Yukon River

Every day on the Yukon followed a rhythm shaped by the river, the weather, and our energy levels. Here’s what a typical day looked like:

Morning: Waking with the River

Mandy was usually the first to wake, somewhere between 6 and 6:30 AM. As the mist hung low over the river, the first task of the morning was to get the coffee pot percolating—a ritual that quickly became essential.

Breakfast on the Yukon

• Day 1 Luxury: Fried eggs and rolls, eaten immediately since they were too delicate to transport.
• After That: We alternated between:
  • Granola with powdered milk (simple, fast, and filling).
  • Pancakes with Nutella (a bit more effort but worth it).

Before breaking camp, we topped up our water bottles with purified river water and made sure to apply sunscreen—even under cloudy skies, the reflection off the water was intense.

Breaking Camp: Packing Up with Purpose

By the third or fourth day, we had camp breakdown down to a quick and efficient routine.

• Tents & Sleeping Gear: Packed away first while everything was still dry.
• Food & Bear Barrels: Checked and secured.
• Final Sweep: We left no trace, ensuring the site looked as untouched as when we arrived.
• Canoes & Gear: Everything loaded in its place before pushing off for another day on the water.

On the Water: The Daily Paddling Routine

Once we were on the river, the day settled into a steady rhythm.

Morning Break

• After about two hours of paddling, we’d stop for a quick comfort and snack break—a chance to stretch, drink some water, and have an energy bar or dried fruit. It was also a good time to check progress and consult the Yukon book.

Lunch: Mandy’s Domain

Lunch was always tortilla wraps—practically indestructible and long-lasting, making them perfect for the trip.

Typical fillings included:

• Cheese & Salami (high in calories and flavour).
• A squirt of mayonnaise or Thousand Island dressing for some extra taste.
• Crumbled dry biscuits (like saltines) for added crunch.

Lunch always included dried fruit, nuts, and oat bars—easy to eat while paddling and packed with energy.

Afternoon Break

Depending on how long we were paddling that day, we often had a second break after another two hours. This was another chance to rest, reapply sunscreen, and take in the surroundings.

Evening: Camp, Food, and Reflection

By the end of the day, setting up camp followed the same well-rehearsed system—choosing a site, unpacking gear, and getting dinner going.

Dinner on the River

Dinner was always something warm and hearty, usually a combination of:

• Smash (instant mashed potatoes), pasta, or rice.
• Spam, corned beef, or tuna.
• Fried onions or beans for extra flavour.

After eating, we followed our strict clean-up routine—burning out tins, washing up with our folding bucket away from camp, and securing everything with a scent into bear barrels.

Evening Reflections & Looking Ahead

After dinner, we’d settle in for some quiet time before bed.

• Taking Notes: Writing down the day’s events in our notebooks.
• Reading: We each had just one book.
• Planning the Next Day:

One of the most enjoyable evening traditions was reading aloud from the Yukon guidebook, which told us:

• The history of the land ahead of us.
• What we might see on the river the next day.
• Where we could stop for breaks, or camp, key sights like Fort Selkirk, or Big Salmon and Little Salmon, Hootalinqua.

The Rhythm of River Life – Life on the River: Campsites, Wildlife, and Daily Routines

Fifteen days on the Yukon shaped our daily routine into something simple yet deeply fulfilling. From the first sip of coffee at dawn to the last quiet moments reading about the journey ahead, every day was an adventure—one dictated by the river itself.

In the next blog, we’ll cover the challenges and triumphs of paddling the Yukon, from battling headwinds to unexpected moments that made the journey unforgettable.

For more WEE WILD ADVENTURES in Canada

Master the Yukon Adventure: What You Need to Know Before You Paddle

Yukon River Essentials: How to pack for 15 days on the Yukon River

Life on the River: Campsites, Wildlife, and Daily Routines