The South MacMillan is one of the longest rivers that we paddle running through the Selwyn Mountains, the old mountains of the central Yukon. The MacMillan has a hundred miles of swifts and rapids before it flattens out to run through some of the most picturesque mountains in the Yukon. It is accessible by traveling north by road shuttle on the Klondike Highway to Carmacks and then cutting east on the Robert Campbell Highway to Ross River and the North Canol Road. Before the road terminates at MacMillan Pass on the NWT border, it crosses the MacMillan at its headwaters as the 7000' chiseled peak of the Itsi range swings into view. The peak is shrouded in fog which rises from a glacier trapped high up in the range.
At the put-in-point, the river is smooth but quick-paced. This is a chance to shake off the cob webs! The river wanders through a flat plain before beginning a determined downhill flow. We hit a string of short portages around the split rock. We face technical and exhilarating stretches of water, both Class II rapids with some Class III ledges thrown in for excitement. Depending on water levels, we do short, deliberate runs portaging anything that appears questionable. We enter a fabulous 4 km stretch of swifts that are fun and very safe keeping canoes in formation through all whitewater stretches.

Campsites are on wide open gravel bars and it seems that every night there is a spectacular, wilderness view on the horizon. Mosquitoes aren't a big issue as we camp on open gravel bars and avoid the deep woods. We can have hot days in the 90s actually testing the waters for relief. Bathing is done with caution and goose bumps - the river is glacier fed! We will see lots of game on the MacMillan - moose, grizzly and black bear, fox, beavers and bald eagles. We may be serenaded by a wolf howl high in the hills and see many tracks by the water's edge. We lose count of the number of duck sightings and could see a family of great grey owls.

There was prospecting done on the MacMillan and yes, there is gold in them hills. The river never yielded more than gold dust but just the thought of finding a juicy nugget adds drama to the daily dish washing! We'll explore an abandoned mining community, Russel Post. On 1900, Neville Armstrong spent twenty-five years here searching for the mother load. He also conducted many hunting expeditions on Armstrong Mountain. In 1970, some later-day adventurers rebuilt the post and a stop here is intriguing to say the least.

The lower MacMillan flattens and winds through a gentle valley with fabulous peaks. The river then pours into the Pelly River beginning the final leg of our adventure. Needle Rock juts out of river center mid-way down a beautiful canyon. A night barge finds gentle rolling turns in the foothills, a chance to feel the wind in your face, to see the night sky, to share feelings with friends and to reflect on your wilderness experience. We take out of the river at Pelly Crossing and head south on the Klondike Highway to Whitehorse.