Dawson City River Hostel — Hotel in Dawson City

Heads-up 2024 travellers: there is NO access to the bathhouse this season - no ability to have a shower on site - and plan to bring your own drinking water

We were sorely disappointed by our stay at the hostel. Having read earlier reviews we arrived with tempered expectations, understanding that there was no electricity, no hot water, and rustic accommodations. Despite these expectations we managed to be disappointed. The place is falling into disrepair and the management seems to have severed relationships with anyone who could help out.

As of late June 2024, the bathhouse is closed, so showers, even cold water baths, are impossible (we were only told this after we had paid in cash). The drinking water provided was dirty - visible debris floating in it - small bits of paper and other tiny particles. The urinals have a bucket of water to flush/rinse which had a dead rodent floating in it, and the outflow for the urinals were blocked with dead leaves and cones. In our room, the door would not lock and the solar powered lights were broken, so we had to use headlamps and used our Swiss army knife to reposition the bolt on the door. None of the driving services, such as airport transfers or tours, were available as the owners license has been suspended.

Ultimately, what was most upsetting was that none of this had been disclosed before paying, and these services are prominently advertised and no refunds are provided. Once we heard the water tanks were empty, we offered to help out by carrying water to fill the tanks and Dieter told us he hadn't even opened the bathhouse for the 2024 season and wasn't even prepared to have us help fill water tanks. His behaviour was difficult - we tried to be polite but there was zero compassion or acknowledgement on his side that it is not okay to advertise services and not disclose that they are not available until after money has been handed over.

If you choose to stay here, be prepared as if you are doing self-supported camping - bring your own water, bug spray & nets for sleeping (cabins have cracks under the door where mosquitos can come in). Showers are available across the river at the RV park (4$ for 5minutes). Or save yourself the heartache and stay elsewhere, and support other more welcoming businesses in...

This was, in no small sense of the phrase, a unique experience. After crossing over the Yukon River on the free ferry, we took a short walk to the gates of the Dawson City River Hostel and found the check-in shack. There we met the quirky hostel owner, Dieter, and checked in. Our first glimpse at the grounds and private cabin was but an unobstructed clue eluding to just how unconventional this place was. The hostel is off the grid, so you have to come expecting a pseudo-camping experience, though we were always warm and cozy under the shelter of our small cabin. ||||Facilities are basic and include pit toilets, showers, wood stoves and candles in late summer (as was our experience - this only added to the fun rustic atmosphere). There is a nice spot to sit near the river and take in Dawson City from the vantage point of the Yukon River. I caught myself pretending I was a Klondike prospector from the 1890's on a few occasions; it didn't seem like a stretch given my current surroundings. The scenery could not have been more conducive to the sentiments of gold rush as depicted by the dirt roads, fake-facades and saloon style venues of Dawson City. ||||Make no mistake, the Dawson City River Hostel has no Wifi, limited plumbing and is mostly log-cabin style, but if you're ready to let go of your creature comforts for a night and experience a truly Northern accommodation, head across the river and talk to Dieter. You...

We have stayed at Dieter's hostel 3 times in the last 6 years. This time we canoed from Whitehorse to Dawson and hauled our numerous bags to the other side of the Yukon River by ferry and by using one of the hostel's canoe trailers. We rented two cabins and are always amazed how nice smelling and clean they are. There is no electricity at the hostel (except for plugs outside the office to recharge cell phones), but in early August in Dawson we did not miss it. The bath houses are a wonderful experience and the washing up areas are well-kept and offer plenty of water from the creek. Because of the mostly good weather and the amenities of Dawson itself, we did not spend any time in the communal cabin which boasts games and shelves and shelves of books and magazines, as well as a large wood stove. As mentioned in other reviews, the outhouses are well-maintained, too, complete with posters and other articles from everything about forest fire safety to how to recognize diseases such as mumps and German measles. The hostel store is stocked with a host of food items of interest to campers, a few luxuries and more books and maps. Once again, we met several people at the communal kitchen and shared our stories. I can't wait to go and stay with Dieter again. It's a true taste of the North, both...