Imagine canoeing night and day for three days in order to complete a 444-mile course. That’s what competitors in the Yukon River Quest do.
Held in Canada’s Yukon Territory, the event is the world’s longest annual canoe and kayak race.
In addition to locals, the race draws solo entrants and teams from all over the world, including the U.S., the U.K., Japan, Australia, Germany and New Zealand.
The race is open to solo and tandem canoes and kayaks, and voyageur canoes – though only paddlers in great shape really ought to apply.
The race route literally flows north from Whitehorse to Dawson City. Its latter stages are at a northerly latitude where the sun doesn’t set in summer, lending the event the nickname the Race to the Midnight Sun.
Entrants are encouraged to paddle around the clock, but are forced to make two mandatory 10-hour rest stops along the way for safety reasons.
Beyond the river’s edge lies a near-pristine forested wilderness with distant mountain peaks and unseen valleys. The Yukon Territory is home to around 6,000 grizzly bears. Spotting one or two during the race is a near certainty, and entrants are advised to be on the lookout when at shore.
Written by insider city guide series Hg2 | A Hedonist’s guide to…
