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

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Hikes we did, plus some potential hikes

Lower North Lake:
1. We crossed the lake and climbed above the treeline to the cirque SE of camp. Elevation gain about 800 feet (250 meters). Highest point over there is about 6900 feet (2100 meters).
2. We also hiked a mile or so up the creek on the east shore 2/3 way up the lake. Elevation gain less than 300 feet (100 meters).
3. Did another hike from near the upper end of the lake, walked NW maybe a half mile (km or less) to glimpses of the other lakes above us. Elevation gain 200-300 ft (under 100 meters).
4. We did not, but could hike SW from the campsite up creek valley that direction, but it would be a couple miles of bushwhacking through willow and birch and then trees to above the tree line. Elevation gain about 1000 to 1200 ft (300 to 360 meters) above the water.
5. Could go NW or north up the mountain from camp. The highest point is 1979 meters (6500 ft) almost directly north of camp, you are at 4167 feet (1270 meters).

Campsite 2:
North River Above Fire Lake. We didn't hike from Campsite 2 as the area is very low and swampy. Dennis walked around a bit in the evening, but did not go far. Could cross the river and possibly get towards the north through the swampy stuff and bushwhack up the ridge in that direction. You would walk over a km through swamps and brush and woods before starting to gain any elevation.

Fire Lake:
1. We did not hike from Fire Lake, though there should be opportunity. The mountain slopes go up quickly from the lake shore. Pick a spot and start climbing to a view. You are 600 feet lower than at North Lakes, though so the tree line is farther away. High point SE of lake is closer to north end and almost 6600 feet (2000 meters). The lake elevation is 3566 feet (1087 meters).
2. The land to the NE, behind the mining camp is where most of the test hole drilling is happening (I don't know exactly where). High point there is about 6000 feet (1830 meters).
3. There could be a trail along the north shore of the river from the cabins at the lower end of the lake to the rapids stretch starting about a mile below. We didn't check. Might be well worth trying to find one if you camp anywhere near the south end of the lake. We portaged on the other side (right or south side) of the river.

Campsite 3.
About 3 miles below Fire Lake. We didn't try any hiking here because of rain at the time, and portaging gear for a couple hours earlier had been enough walking for most of us. I don't think the area is swampy at all but it is flat and very wooded for about a quarter mile or more before the slopes start to rise on either side. Elevation gain to the east would be about 2500 feet (750 meters), and to the west about 1800 feet (550 meters).

Campsite 4. On the North River just above the Black River confluence. Swampy all about, we did not hike. May have been able to cross the river to the east side and head a little north of east to get to higher ground in a quarter mile or so. The high point there is about 3 km straight east of camp and about 5450 feet (1658 meters) up. The area behind the confluence campground is also depicted on the maps as swampy. Might be able to head upstream (west) and follow a creek to higher ground when the river turns north. About a km to the mountain slopes, and the high point is about 3 km SW of the confluence and 5600 feet (1700 meters) high.

Campsite 5.
We did not hike from Black Lake, though it would have been easy (except for bushwhacking) from either the east or west shore. The mountain slopes rise almost immediately from the waters edge in several spots at the north end of the lake though they get a ways away on the east at the south end. The treeline averages almost 2000 feet above you (600 meters). It dips the lowest almost straight north of the NE corner of the lake. It would be just a one km hike up about 650 feet (200 meters) at that point. The ridge line is at about 1900 meters (6200 ft.) and only about 3 km from the water. Hiking would be pretty steep, but there ought to be a heck of a view if the weather would cooperate.

Potential Campsite
South of Black Lake, the land to the west of the river is all low relief and probably pretty swampy in spots. The land east is steeper and higher but only one place just south of the lake is high enough to be above treeline. This means it will be tough to get up to a view anywhere south of Black Lake. Your best bet might be to just hike up some creeks to see what they have to offer. High point to the west is about a mile SW and less than 400 feet above you (100 meters). To the east it's about two miles and 1500 feet up (450 meters).

Campsite 6.
On the Lower Black River, it was raining pretty hard most of that day so we didn't hike. We were in more of a canyon here, though it wouldn't be hard to get up on the rim in some places. You would not be able to get out of the woods for much of a view. This campsite is at 2600 feet and the canyon rims on both sides are at about 3200 or 3300 feet (1000 meters). I don't think the climb would be very tough.

Potential Campsite.
A big cliff behind this site that might be worth trying to get up. Highest points both sides of the river are 3000 feet (under 1000 meters), and you've dropped less than 50 feet since the last campsite.

Campsite 7.
Hiking not good, small island, swampy area. We did no real hiking anywhere on the Liard. As I've mentioned, up some the edge of some of the higher cut banks would be your best bet. The Liard Plains are quite wide and you will not get above the treeline for a good view without a long trek.

Campsite 8.
Meister River mouth.
We did not, but crossing the river and hiking up the edge of the cliff over there for a view and pictures would be interesting. The side we camped on is a very wide, flat wooded floodplain, three to four kilometers to any high spots for a view (swamps not indicated, but must be some).

Campsite 9.
On an island so hiking is very limited. Have to cross the river to go far. The whole western shore is indicated as swampy and there is some swampy land to the east. It is at least a couple kilometer walk through heavy woods either direction to get to a high spot for a view. There is a dry weather road you can reach either east or west. I have no idea what the vehicle traffic potential is for either one.

Other Hikes
Many of the high cutbanks looked as if they might provide a good view. Have to start at a low end and hike up the edge as most are way too steep to climb up the face.

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