Pelly River

Pelly River at Pelly Crossing

The Pelly River is a river in Canada, and is a headstream of the Yukon River. The river originates west of the Mackenzie Mountains flows 530 km long through the south central Yukon. The Pelly has two main tributaries, the Ross and Macmillan rivers.

The Yukon communities of Ross River, Faro and Pelly Crossing are all on the Pelly River. There are bridges across the Pelly in Pelly Crossing (where it crosses the Klondike Highway) and in Faro, as well as a cable ferry at Ross River on the Canol Road. The restored Hudson's Bay Company trading post of Fort Selkirk is at the juncture of the Pelly and Yukon Rivers.

The river was named in honour of Sir John Henry Pelly, governor of the Hudson's Bay Company by Robert Campbell.

Hazards

Volcanoes near the Pelly River, such as Volcano Mountain, may have once partly blocked or at least altered the Pelly River. Any future activity in this area could disrupt the course of the river and could have a serious impacts on people living or working downstream.