Dan Maclean, Author of Paddling the Yukon River and its Tributaries

“Could any river system inspire a more wild yearning for adventure than the Yukon?
Its very name held the world spellbound at the turn of the century. Less traveled now than before, and even more mysterious, it still cuts through the boreal forests and trackless tundra, and deep into our imaginations. Dan Maclean has done a masterful job providing the reader, researcher, and potential traveler with a wealth of information about this great waterway. When preparing for real adventure, nothing in your provisions is as vital as good, accurate, and useful knowledge. Mr. Maclean provides all of that in abundance. I promise you, I would never enter this great river system without this book near the top of my possible bag.”

Daniel L. Quick, Author
The Kenai Canoe Trails, Alaska’s Premier Hiking and Canoeing System

Paddling the Yukon River and its Tributaries covers over 4,000 miles of watery trail. The Yukon, Tanana, Porcupine, Koyukuk, and Kuskokwim Rivers are the five longest rivers in Alaska, extending into the Yukon Territory. This water flows freely, almost entirely undammed. Salmon surge against the current. Moose, bears, and wolves wander the banks. Birds swarm in spectacular density. Roads rarely cross. Many residents live a subsistence lifestyle. No permits are required to be here. These channels are a natural path through the last large wilderness in North America.

This guide approaches journeys of this magnitude like a through-hiker on the Appalachian Trail, but with a boat. Each river is described from beginning to end, detailing access points, resupply options, and navigation tips throughout the flow. There are 35 original maps. Although the approach assumes long voyages, information is supplied for a range of trip lengths. Anything from an afternoon to a weekend to a week to a two-month float is possible.

Paddling the Yukon River and its Tributaries is the only guidebook to paddling the entire Yukon, Tanana, Koyukuk, and Kuskokwim Rivers end-to-end. It is available in Alaska and Yukon Territory bookstores, or signed copies can be ordered here:

To contact Dan Maclean, please send an e-mail to
infodanmaclean.com

Download a hi-res tif of the Paddling the Yukon River and its Tributaries cover (5mb)

View a sample map from the book.

ISBN: 1-59433-027-1

News:

Paddling the Yukon River and its Tributaries is now translated and published in German. Der Yukon River und seine Nebenflusse is for sale in Germany and will be for sale in Whitehorse, YT soon, too.

Paddling Alaska , a guide to canoeing, kayaking, and rafting the state's fresh water has just been published in 2009 by Falcon Guides.

The guide details the most popular trips in the state, mostly Class I-II water, and all of them accessible from roads.

As the Million Dollar Bridge on the Copper River shows below, just you can get there by road, doesn't mean it isn't gorgous.

The Clearwater River and Clearwater Lake almost-loop near Delta Alaska is appearing in a guidebook for the first time. Other rivers are much more detailed than any other river guide.

A few examples: the location of the big eddies on the Copper River are marked, as are essential routes to follow to avoid contrary currents and getting thrown into rapids without scouting. On the Nelchina to Tazlina Lake to Tazlina River float, the GPS coordinates for the house and a picture of the outlet rapids are shown.

Buy a copy through this website and I'll sign it.

Handy Links:

Check the latest water levels on rivers throughout Alaska at this site.

The Alaska Outdoors Forum is a very active venue for exchanging information about paddling in Alaska, and lots of other outdoor activities.

Joining a local paddling club is one of the best ways to increase your knowledge of paddling:

Knik Canoers and Kayakers is the Anchorage club.

Fairbanks Paddlers is, not surprisingly, in Fairbanks.

Kayak Yukon is the paddling club in Whitehorse.

Interested in forest fires in the western United States? My dad, John N. Maclean, is the author of three important books on the subject: Fire on the Mountain, Fire and Ashes, and The Thirtymile Fire. He actively maintains an extensive website.

Yukon Journey CD

Producer Jessica Cochran and I made a CD from the original calls made from villages along the Yukon River and broadcast weekly by the Alaska Public Radio Network. There are also some more fun parts - singing, poetry, etc - put together in the studio from tapes recorded on the river. To purchase a copy, please click here:

Paddling the Yukon River and its Tributaries is a finalist for the 2006 Independent Publishers book of the year award.

The Dawson to Circle section of the Yukon River guide is excerpted in the 2006 edition of The Milepost.

“Could any river system inspire a more wild yearning for adventure than the Yukon? Its very name held the world spellbound at the turn of the century. Less traveled now than before, and even more mysterious, it still cuts through the boreal forests and trackless tundra, and deep into our imaginations. Dan Maclean has done a masterful job providing the reader, researcher, and potential traveler with a wealth of information about this great waterway. When preparing for real adventure, nothing in your provisions is as vital as good, accurate, and useful knowledge. Mr. Maclean provides all of that in abundance. I promise you, I would never enter this great river system without this book near the top of my possible bag.” Daniel L. Quick, Author The Kenai Canoe Trails, Alaska’s Premier Hiking and Canoeing System Paddling the Yukon River and its Tributaries covers over 4,000 miles of watery trail. The Yukon, Tanana, Porcupine, Koyukuk, and Kuskokwim Rivers are the five longest rivers in Alaska, extending into the Yukon Territory. This water flows freely, almost entirely undammed. Salmon surge against the current. Moose, bears, and wolves wander the banks. Birds swarm in spectacular density. Roads rarely cross. Many residents live a subsistence lifestyle. No permits are required to be here. These channels are a natural path through the last large wilderness in North America. This guide approaches journeys of this magnitude like a through-hiker on the Appalachian Trail, but with a boat. Each river is described from beginning to end, detailing access points, resupply options, and navigation tips throughout the flow. There are 35 original maps. Although the approach assumes long voyages, information is supplied for a range of trip lengths. Anything from an afternoon to a weekend to a week to a two-month float is possible.	Paddling the Yukon River and its Tributaries is the only guidebook to paddling the entire Yukon, Tanana, Koyukuk, and Kuskokwim Rivers end-to-end. It is available in Alaska and Yukon Territory bookstores, or signed copies can be ordered here: To contact Dan Maclean, please send an e-mail to infodanmaclean.com Download a hi-res tif of the Paddling the Yukon River and its Tributaries cover (5mb) View a sample map from the book. ISBN: 1-59433-027-1
News: Paddling the Yukon River and its Tributaries is now translated and published in German. Der Yukon River und seine Nebenflusse is for sale in Germany and will be for sale in Whitehorse, YT soon, too. Paddling Alaska , a guide to canoeing, kayaking, and rafting the state's fresh water has just been published in 2009 by Falcon Guides. The guide details the most popular trips in the state, mostly Class I-II water, and all of them accessible from roads. As the Million Dollar Bridge on the Copper River shows below, just you can get there by road, doesn't mean it isn't gorgous. The Clearwater River and Clearwater Lake almost-loop near Delta Alaska is appearing in a guidebook for the first time. Other rivers are much more detailed than any other river guide. A few examples: the location of the big eddies on the Copper River are marked, as are essential routes to follow to avoid contrary currents and getting thrown into rapids without scouting. On the Nelchina to Tazlina Lake to Tazlina River float, the GPS coordinates for the house and a picture of the outlet rapids are shown. Buy a copy through this website and I'll sign it.	Handy Links: Check the latest water levels on rivers throughout Alaska at this site. The Alaska Outdoors Forum is a very active venue for exchanging information about paddling in Alaska, and lots of other outdoor activities. Joining a local paddling club is one of the best ways to increase your knowledge of paddling: Knik Canoers and Kayakers is the Anchorage club. Fairbanks Paddlers is, not surprisingly, in Fairbanks. Kayak Yukon is the paddling club in Whitehorse. Interested in forest fires in the western United States? My dad, John N. Maclean, is the author of three important books on the subject: Fire on the Mountain, Fire and Ashes, and The Thirtymile Fire. He actively maintains an extensive website. Yukon Journey CD Producer Jessica Cochran and I made a CD from the original calls made from villages along the Yukon River and broadcast weekly by the Alaska Public Radio Network. There are also some more fun parts - singing, poetry, etc - put together in the studio from tapes recorded on the river. To purchase a copy, please click here:
Paddling the Yukon River and its Tributaries is a finalist for the 2006 Independent Publishers book of the year award. The Dawson to Circle section of the Yukon River guide is excerpted in the 2006 edition of The Milepost.