Yukon Territory - North/Black/Liard River Canoe Trip, River Gradients List

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Rough, Over-all Gradients:

• North Lakes to Fire Lake -- Averages 42.3 fpm (8.0 mpk), with short stretches of 70 and 80 fpm (13.2 and 15.2 mpk).
• Fire Lake to Braids -- Averages 48.5 fpm (9.17 mpk), with short stretches of 65 and 70 fpm (12.5 and 13.3 mpk)
• Braids to Black Lake -- Averages under 10 fpm (1.9 mpk), with log jams.
• Black Lake to Liard River -- Averages 17.5 fpm (3.3 mpk), 3 mile (5 km) stretch of 33 fpm (6.2 mpk).
• Liard to take out -- Averages 5.5 fpm (1 mpk), no rapids, some wood to dodge.

Description

Remember that ice out and flood conditions can rearrange the river bed, even cause river course changes, as was indicated on our trip by the mouth of the Black River not being where the map shows it (it moved 2+ miles downstream). The info below is from the current set of topo maps (1970 to 1985) with notes I saw as to any changes, or info that didn't seem to agree with the maps. Consider the river conditions as being as we saw and experienced them on our 1997 trip, they may be different when you go. See the link to the legal disclaimer at the bottom of this page.

Between North Lakes:

From Upper North Lake (east most-one) --
Upper Lake elevation: 4,222 feet (1,287 meters)
Lower Lake elevation: 4,167 feet (1,270 meters) 
Total vertical drop: 55 feet (17 meters)
Average gradient: 1.7 mi @ 33 fpm  (2.7 km @ 6.3 mpk)
Steepest section: .6 mi @ 38 fpm (1 km @ 7.2 mpk) 
        (lake to the 1,280m contour)
Flattest section: 1.1 mi @ 29 fpm (1.8 km @ 5.5 mpk) 
        (1,280 m contour to lake)
Other significant parts: none
Notes: I doubt any lengthy section is significantly steeper 
than others, but do not know for sure.  There could be a single 
large drop or drops in there, but I doubt it.  

From west-most North Lake --
Upper Lake elevation: (?) approx 4,298 feet, 1,310 meters 
Lower Lake elevation: 4,167 feet (1,270 meters) 
Total vertical drop: 131(?) feet (40? meters)
Average gradient: 1.8mi @ 73(?) fpm (2.9 km @ 13.9? mpk)
Steepest section: .8 mi @ 82 fpm (1.3 km @ 15.6 mpk)
        (1,300 to 1,280 m contour)
Flattest section: 1.1 mi @ 30 fpm (1.8 km @ 5.7 mpk)
        (rest of run to lake)
Other significant parts: unknown, but from lake to 1,300 m contour 
        could be steeper  
Notes: Exact data unknown as elevation of upper lake is unknown.  
Again, individual significant drops are unknown, all would probably 
be above the confluence as it is steeper there.  Could definitely be 
large drops in the upper part.  

North Lakes to Fire Lake:

Lower North Lake elevation: 4,167 feet (1,270 meters)
Fire Lake elevation: 3,566 feet (1,087 meters)
Total vertical drop: 600 feet (183 m)
Average gradient: 14.2 miles @ 42 fpm (22.8 km @ 8.0 mpk)
Steepest section: .9 mi @ 75 fpm (1.4 km @ 14.3 mpk)
        (1,220 to 1,200m map contours)
Flattest section: 2.7 mi @ 14 fpm (4.8 km @ 2.7 mpk)
        (1,100m contour to Lake). 
Flattest mid-river section is 2.3 mi @ 27 fpm (4 km @ 5.0 mpk) 
        (1,200 to 1,180m contours)
Other significant parts: .9 mi @ 70 fpm (1.5 km @ 13.3 mpk)
        (1,160 to 1,140m and 1120 to 1,100m contours)
Notes: No single significant drops (but that could change from 
year to year).  Because of steep gradient, I consider this section 
the upper limit of navigability for good tandem teams in 17 foot 
(5.2 m) loaded open canoes.  

Fire Lake to Braids:

Fire Lake elevation: 3,566 feet (1,087 meters)
Braids start elevation: 3,018 feet (920 meters)
Total vertical drop: 548 feet (167 m)
Average gradient: to Braids is 11.3 mi @ 48.5 fpm (18.2 km @ 19.2 
        mpk)
Steepest section: 1.7 mi @ 70 fpm (3.0 km @ 13.3 mpk) 
        (960 to 920 m contour)
Flattest section: 5.1 mi @ 30 to 40 fpm (8.2 km @ 6.7 to 7.7 mpk) 
        (1,060 to 1,000 m contour)
Other significant parts: 1.0 mi @ 66 fpm (1.6 km @ 12.5 mpk)
        (1,080 to 1,060 m contour) and 2.4 mi @ 56 fpm (3.9 km @ 
        10.5 mpk) (1,000 to 960 m contour) 
Notes: About a half mile below Fire Lake the big rapids stretch 
starts, which requires a portage.  The other portage is the falls 
below Waters Creek, not far above the Braids.  The contours do not 
show the real gradient in these areas.  

Start of Braids to Black Lake:

Braids start elevation: 3,018 feet (920 meters)
Black Lake elevation: 2,950 feet (899 meters)
Total vertical drop: 68 feet (21 m)
Average gradient: Braids to Black Lake is 8.8 mi @ 9 fpm 
        (14.1 km @ 1.7 mpk)
Steepest section: 6.6 mi @ 10 fpm (10.6 km @ 1.9 mpk) 
        (960 to 920 m contour)
Flattest section: 2.2 mi @ 2 fpm (3.5 km @ .3 mpk) 
        (900 m contour to lake)
Other significant parts: None
Notes: Lots of logjams to pull over, trees to duck under.  Not 
steep at all, usually decent current, few rapids, if any.  

Black Lake to Liard River:

Black Lake elevation: 2,950 feet (899 meters)
Liard confluence elevation: 2,500 feet (762 meters)
Total vertical drop: 450 feet (137 meters)
Average gradient: 25.4 mi @ 17.5 fpm (40.9 km @ 3.3 mpk)
Steepest section: 3.0 mi @ 33 fpm (5.0 km @ 6.2 mpk) 
        (2,800 to 2,700 foot contours)
Flattest section: 5.8 mi @ 9 fpm (9.3 km @ 1.6 mpk) 
        (Lake to 2,900 foot contour)
Other significant parts: none
Notes: big waves and holes in the steeper part with a few 
        others around, most are easily avoidable.  

On the Liard River:

Black River confluence elevation: 2,500 feet (762 meters)
Take-out bridge elevation: 2,000 feet (610 meters)
Total vertical drop: 500 feet (152 meters)
Average gradient: 92.5 miles @ 5.5 fpm (148.9 km @ 1 mpk)
Steepest section: 10.5 km @ 9.5 fpm (16.9 km @ 1.8 mpk) 
        (2300 to 2200 foot contours - approximately Allan Creek 
        to Sambo Creek) 
Flattest section: After Meister River is under 3 fpm (.56 mpk)
Other significant parts: none
Notes: Slowest current is the ten miles (16 km) above the 
Frances River confluence.  

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Revised: 15 November, 2002
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