Yukon Territory - North/Black/Liard River Canoe Trip, Water Level Chart

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The levels indicated below are based on one experience in the area. Your trip will probably be different. Anyone who's done this run, or knows someone who has, please contact me via this e-mail Comment link.

cfs = cubic feet of water per second (ft.³/s)
m³/s = cubic meters of water per second (cms)

Out of Lower North Lake - 300 cfs (8.5 m³/s)
Out of Fire Lake - 1,000 cfs (28.3 m³/s)
After Black R. confluence - 2,500 cfs (70.8 m³/s)
After Black Lake - 3,000 cfs (85.0 m³/s)
After Liard R. confluence - 10,000 cfs (283 m³/s)
After Meister R confl - 15,000+ cfs (425 m³/s)
After Frances R confl - 40,000 cfs (1133 m³/s)

North River flows:

North River out of either of the upper two North Lakes is probably less than 150 cfs (4.25 m³/s) when you'd want to be there. Less than 300 cfs (8.5 m³/s) flowing into the (lower largest) North Lake, barely runnable, which means it's not, above there. If it is higher than this, some of the North River downstream could be pretty nasty.

Several very small creeks flow into Lower North Lake. Total is probably less than 50 cfs (1.4 m³/s).

About 300 cfs (8.5 m³/s) flowing out of lower North Lake, and many very small creeks flow in, along with a few larger ones down closer to Fire Lake.

The North River might have been 500+ cfs (14.2+ m³/s) flowing into Fire Lake (gauge read 0.46 meters about 9:30 the morning of 3 July, 1997). Several small creeks flow into Fire Lake, plus one larger one, total maybe 300+ cfs (8.5+ m³/s) We obviously didn't check them all. There had been no significant rains recently to alter gauge readings.

Probably less than 1,000 cfs (28.3 m³/s) flowing out of Fire Lake (0.35 meters on gauge about noon on 3 July, 1997). Many very small creeks and several larger ones flow in. Waters Creek might add 200 cfs (5.7 m³/s).

The North River at the start of the braids might be 1,000 to 1200 cfs (28.3 to 34 m³/s).

Black River flows

The Black where we met it looked bigger than the North River. I figure 1,500+ cfs (42.5+ m³/s). Much of it was probably North River water that made it to the Black upstream. Maybe 2,500 cfs (70.8 m³/s) below the confluence and into Black Lake. Small creeks enter below the junction.

A few very small creeks flow into Black Lake.

2500 cfs (70.8 m³/s) out of the lake, many small creeks enter with a few larger ones. Less than 3,000 cfs (85 m³/s) flowing into the Liard River.

Liard River flows

The Liard where we met it was about 10,000 cfs (283 m³/s).

The Meister River added at least 5,000+ (under 10,000) cfs? (142 to 283 m³/s).
The Frances River added 25-30,000? (708-850 m³/s).
The Rancheria added 5,000 cfs (142 m³/s) or less.

Takeout flow -- I'm guessing 40,000 cfs (1133 m³/s) or more.

Lots of other small rivers and creeks, none adding anything significant to the Liard flow.

Season:

The runnability window is probably pretty short in the upper watershed. I'm guessing that you could fly into Black Lake about any time and get to the Liard without much problem. At least well into the summer. Not sure about late summer and fall. Probably scrape bottom at least some.

Above there, I don't think there is a place to land a plane in the upper Black. You will have to fly into Fire Lake or one of the North Lakes. Obviously after ice-out. I might recommend missing the peak flow, too. You want to catch it on the way down. Rain can obviously make the rivers rise, though probably not to ice-out levels.

The river below Fire Lake might be runnable to August 1 (after?) in a typical year. Above there would not be. Our year was not typical (on the low side) so season is somewhat unknown. Basing a runnability curve on just one experience like I'm doing is probably not very smart. Good luck on your own run.

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