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All Canada Yukon Dawson City Paddlewheel Graveyard

Paddlewheel Graveyard

A skeletal collection of former nautical mainstays.

Dawson City, Yukon

Added By
Gord McKenna
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The Dawson Paddlewheel Graveyard   questconnect.org
The Dawson Paddlewheel Graveyard   questconnect.org
Paths wind in and around the wreckage.   matthewhollett / Atlas Obscura User
The southernmost graveyard, this photo taken in 2013.   GordMcKenna / Atlas Obscura User
Paddle boat graveyard 2015 hull interior   sonicpix / Atlas Obscura User
paddle boat graveyard - 2015   sonicpix / Atlas Obscura User
Masts and funnels jut above the treeline.   matthewhollett / Atlas Obscura User
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About

Scuttled inconspicuously off the side of the road near Dawson City, Yukon are a veritable graveyard of wooden paddlewheel boats that remember a time when the rivers were the only way to get around.

The remains of about seven historic paddlewheel boats can be found lodged in the woods on the banks of the Yukon river outside of Dawson. Formerly the primary mode of transport in the region of Dawson along the Yukon River, the boats were abandoned as overground travel became more popular. The hulking wrecks are full of broken planks and damage looking almost as though they were crashed onshore. Most of the wrecks have collapsed after years of their wooden struts rotting away, but a few of the ships are still intact enough to explore, and many of the actual paddlewheels still remain thanks to their metal skeletons. 

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Ruins Boats Water

Know Before You Go

Located at the government campground on the west bank of the Yukon River adjacent to Dawson City, YT, Canada. Take the ferry across from Dawson to the Top of the World Highway (Highway #9). Park at the end of the campground (1300 yards from the highway) and walk north (downstream) along the Yukon River 330 yards.

Community Contributors

Added By

mckennafamily

Edited By

sonicpix, EricGrundhauser, matthewhollett, GordMcKenna

  • sonicpix
  • EricGrundhauser
  • matthewhollett
  • GordMcKenna

Published

September 20, 2013

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Sources
  • http://travelswithmiranda.uskeba.ca/?p=1947
  • http://suethomas.ca/DawsonCity.html
Paddlewheel Graveyard
Unnamed Road
Dawson City, Yukon
Canada
64.084351, -139.442013
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Dawson City Museum

Dawson City, Yukon

miles away

The Sourtoe Cocktail

Dawson City, Yukon

miles away

Poker Creek

Eagle, Alaska

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Dawson City

Dawson City

Yukon

Places 3

Nearby Places

Dawson City Museum

Dawson City, Yukon

miles away

The Sourtoe Cocktail

Dawson City, Yukon

miles away

Poker Creek

Eagle, Alaska

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Dawson City

Dawson City

Yukon

Places 3

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