The S.S. Keno is a sternwheeler moored on the Yukon River waterfront in Dawson City, a reminder of the era when riverboats were the Yukon's highways. She was built in 1922 in Whitehorse to haul silver-lead ore from the Mayo district to Stewart City, working mainly the Stewart River with occasional early and late-season trips to Dawson. Steamboat service was seasonal, and road development ended the sternwheeler era, with the last boat dry-docked in Whitehorse in 1955. In 1960 the Keno was moved to her current berth in Dawson, refurbished by Parks Canada and declared a national historic site on 1 July 1962. Today a guided tour takes you aboard to see the pilot house, cargo decks and working spaces, and explains how a wood-burning paddle steamer carried people and freight across a vast roadless territory.
The 2026 Parks Canada schedule listed an S. S. Keno tour daily from 18 May to 19 September, at 12:30 pm from mid-May and at both 12:30 and 2:30 from June to mid-August. Tours last about an hour. As of early November 2026 the season has ended, so there are no tours, though the boat remains a visible landmark on the waterfront. Check the programme in spring for 2027 times, and buy tickets at the Visitor Information Centre.
The Keno is best appreciated as part of Dawson's river story. Before the Klondike Highway and the Dempster Highway, steamboats linked Whitehorse and Dawson, carrying miners, supplies and mail. The tour makes sense of the wharves and the town's orientation toward the river, and a guide can answer questions about wood-burning boilers, cargo and how pilots read a shifting river.
Expect a compact visit with narrow stairs and low doorways, so it suits most visitors but is not ideal for those with limited mobility. Allow time to walk the waterfront afterwards and look at the other historic buildings on Front Street. The S.S. Keno fits easily into a morning alongside the Historic Town Walking Tour, and the 12:30 departure in midsummer leaves time for lunch before a Dredge No. 4 tour in the afternoon.
What to expect
The experience
A one-hour Parks Canada guided tour aboard a 1922 sternwheeler moored on Dawson's waterfront.
Best time
Mid-May to mid-September, when tours run daily, usually around midday and early afternoon.
How long
About one hour on board, plus time to walk the waterfront.
Tips
Buy tickets at the Visitor Information Centre, expect narrow stairs, and pair it with the walking tour.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Anyone interested in Yukon river history and old steamboats.
- Families
- Children enjoy exploring the decks, though stairs and low doorways need supervision.
- Couples
- A quiet, atmospheric stop on the river, good before a waterfront walk.
- Pair with
- The Historic Town Walking Tour and Dredge No. 4 for a full Parks Canada day.
- Time needed
- An hour for the tour and perhaps another hour on the waterfront.
Good questions
Are S.S. Keno tours running now?+
No. The 2026 programme ran from 18 May to 19 September. Check the Parks Canada schedule in spring for 2027 times.
When was the Keno built?+
She was built in 1922 in Whitehorse to haul silver-lead ore from the Mayo district. She was moved to Dawson in 1960 and declared a national historic site in 1962.
How long is the tour?+
The guided tour takes about an hour.
Where is the boat?+
She is moored on the Yukon River waterfront in Dawson City, within walking distance of the Visitor Information Centre.
Is it accessible?+
A historic steamboat has narrow stairs and low doorways. Ask the Visitor Information Centre about access before you buy tickets if mobility is a concern.
