Snake River Wilderness Odyssey > Wilderness Area
The Snake River
The
Snake River is a true Yukon wilderness river. The remote nature of the
river, tucked up against the NWT border, far from any roads, gives
paddlers an uncompromising taste of wilderness. It is the
farthest east river in the Peel watershed, a major tributary of the
Mackenzie River.
The Snake has sharp turns, exciting rapids, alpine canyons, and narrow valleys spaced along its 300 km (186 mi) as it makes a dramatic descent from its headwaters in the Werneke Mountains. Well known for its whitewater, the Snake also provides incredible opportunities for hiking in the readily accessible surrounding alpine. In fact, the river is lined with excellent opportunities for hiking from the very top to the last bend before you leave the mountains. The river winds it way through breathtaking alpine mountain views and if you keep an eye on the often snow-capped mountains you might spot some of the area's abundant wildlife, including; woodland caribou, dall sheep, and grizzly bears. As the Snake descends, the teal-green water you’ve become accustom to in its upper reaches, turns darker with the growing load of silt it has stripped from the Peel Plateau. Simultaneously you will experience a shift in ecosystems from alpine arctic tundra to boreal forest.
The Snake River travels through the traditional territories of the Tetlit Gwitchin and the Na-cho Ny’a’k Dun First Nations. They continue, to this day, to draw sustenance from this magnificent region.
