Miles Canyon and White Horse Rapids were among the most dangerous parts of the Yukon River between Lake Bennett and Dawson. In 1898, a five-mile tramway was built around these two obstacles, and travelers could ride around them in safety. The tramway operators charged 25 cents a pound to haul gold seekers' goods on horse-drawn flat bed cars. Many miners couldn't afford this and continued to go by boat.

In this photo, three Yukon River steamboats, the "Gleaner" (left), the "Australian" (middle) and the "Nora" (right), wait by the pier near the Miles Canyon tramway. The pier is loaded with goods to be transported downstream to Dawson. Several flat bed cars can be seen on the tracks. The pier, tracks, and cars are all built from tree trunks cut nearby.

Title from original inventory: Gleaner, Australian. Nora in background, on Yukon, 1899
SHS category: Alaska- Ships