Packrafting the Duke-Donjek: Alpine Hiking and Glacier Vistas in Kluane National Park
Why Packraft the Duke-Donjek?:
Located in the southwest corner of the Yukon, the Duke-Donjek is a multi-river link-up that showcases the incredible backcountry of Kluane National Park. The route's hiking segments traverse two scenic passes, alpine tundra, and sparse forest that make for enjoyable walking with minimal bushwhacking. The river segments offer accessible whitewater through broad valleys with the chance to paddle along the toe of the Donjek Glacier. This route is a great option for packrafters seeking a point-to-point traverse with big scenery and simple whitewater.
ROUTE OVERVIEW:
Kluane offers many potential packraft link-ups, and there are several ways to connect the Duke and Donjek rivers starting and ending at the Alaska Highway. In September of 2026, we did this trip from Bock's Creek to the Donjek highway bridge. The map below also depicts other possible access and egress points that might suit groups with different time frames, water levels, or objectives.
Difficulty and Season:
The Duke-Donjek is a landscape-style traverse rather than a whitewater-focused trip. Be prepared for off-trail hiking and some moderate exposure while traversing scree and talus slopes. Lingering snow in the early summer or new snow at the start of fall can add to the difficulty along the route's high points and increase the consequences of a fall. The whitewater on this route is class II, although, as I discuss below, paddlers not wanting to exceed class II should consider putting in further downstream on the Donjek to bypass the most dynamic section along the glacier. Flows tend to peak from snowmelt in mid-June before settling into a diurnal pattern fueled by glacial melt throughout the warm summer months. Cooler temperatures moderate the levels by late summer, with low but navigable flows in early fall.
ROUTE DESCRIPTION
Hike: Bock's Creek to Duke (19.5km)
The hike begins from a pullout where the Alcan crosses Bock's Creek. The first 3 kilometers of the route are on a gravel road paralleling the west side of the creek. While the road appears drivable by 2-wheel-drive vehicles with average clearance, it frequently washes out, and we opted to park at the highway. Once the road ends, you can continue using the drainage as a handrail for the remainder of the ascent to Bock's Lake. While there is some vegetation, there are game and social trails, and low flows make it easy to link gravel bars with frequent creek crossings. The travel steepens up to Bock's Lake, which could serve as a good first night camp. From the pass above Bock's Lake, there are a couple of gullies that offer a short but steep descent to where the slope angle moderates. In our snowy conditions, it was straightforward plunge stepping, but it is reportedly scree when bare. From here you can follow the drainage until it widens into a low-angle tundra basin. This basin narrows to a ridge between two drainages, and you can descend into the north drainage and follow it through a couple of short canyons. When the creek opens back up once more, it's gravel bar travel the rest of the way to the Duke.
Paddle: Duke River (14 km)
In comparison to the Donjek, the Duke is a small drainage. Despite its glacial origins, at low flows, the river can be running clear, and the initial braided sections might require some starfishing as you hunt for the deepest channels. After the drainage where the Cooper Joe route reaches the Duke, the river consolidates and has short sections of class II whitewater, most of which happen as you approach the confluence with Atlas Creek. There are lots of camping options just downstream of the confluence, which makes for a great spot to transition to hike mode. For those who are interested in a shorter trip with more whitewater, continuing down the Duke is a possible variation.
Hike: Atlas Creek to Donjek River (21.5km)
The route to the Donjek River begins with a pleasant hike up the gravel bars along Atlas Creek. Eventually, the drainage narrows before the route departs from creek level and ascends a steep scree gully. There is a small but noteworthy vegetated bench at the top of this climb that signals the end of the steepest part and the start of a more moderate ascent to the ridge. Follow this ridge to the base of a cliff band before traversing below it to Atlas Pass. On the backside of Atlas Pass, descend to 1800m and then begin an extended contour in and out of many drainages towards Expectation Pass. There is one notable section of moderate exposure across steep scree; thankfully, there is an established social trail. After enjoying the views, descend following the steep creek originating from Expectation Pass through a tight canyon. When the valley opens up, leave the creek and travel due west through sparse forest before reaching another drainage which offers easy travel along wide gravel bars. Eventually, leave the gravel bars and cut through stunted forest to the northwest to reach the rim of the canyon above the Donjek River.
We opted to put in at the farthest upstream reach of the glacier, right below where the river cuts through a moraine canyon that looked to be class V at our low levels. While it's possible to start higher on the Donjek near Bighorn Creek, it would likely require a portage around this ever-changing canyon.
Paddle: Donjek River
Part of the Donjek's unique appeal is its incredible course, with the toe of the glacier forming the left bank of the river for the first 6.5 kilometers of the run. While this makes for a stunning paddle, it also creates a unique hazard. Here the river is in a dynamic state, being redefined annually as the glacier recedes through unconsolidated moraine, ice scours the channel, and hot summer temperatures lead to dramatic fluctuations in flow. Just a decade ago, the Donjek River flowed through a powerful class VI bedrock canyon, but due to the glacier's continued recession, the river now takes a more mellow course along its toe. The glacier frequently calves directly into the river, depositing large blocks of ice that tumble downstream and can form undercuts and sieve hazards. While we found this portion of the river to be enjoyable class II with a few sections of light III at our low fall flows, any specific beta on the river may be obsolete by next season, and high water could make this section much more serious. As such, some parties might choose to continue hiking beyond the extent of the glacier to where the river becomes less dynamic. There is still some fun, splashy class II until Hoge Creek, where the valley broadens, and the Donjek completely braids out for the rest of its course to the takeout. This section proves to be great practice for navigating a braided river, and given the vast network of braids, it is possible that one decision could affect what channel you are in for many miles. Even at low flows, the river moves swiftly, and excellent gravel bar camping is abundant.
LOGISTICS
Permits: This route requires an overnight backcountry permit from Kluane National Park, which is typically issued at the Park Visitor Center in Haines Junction. The park is willing to issue a permit over the phone for parties accessing the park from the west. Compare your intended itinerary with the park map before purchasing permits. We did this as a 4-night trip, but depending on your travel plans, you may only need 2-3 nights within the park boundary.
Hiking Beta: The online Yukon Hiking Guide is a fantastic resource that has given me lots of inspiration for future trips. Check out the overview map to find a description of each hiking section along this route in more detail than I've provided.
Shuttle: It's an hour's drive between the takeout at the Donjek highway bridge and the Bock's Creek Trailhead. Since the route starts and ends at the ALCAN, it's reasonable shuttle to hitchhike.
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