Five Finger Rapids were a navigational hazard on the Yukon River itself for the many stampeders making their way up to Dawson City during the Klondike Gold Rush. The river is here split in five channels by four large islands, and only the eastern channel were safe to pass through. Thousands of prospectors navigated their home-made boats and rafts 1300 km from Bennett Lake to Dawson City and more than a few stampeders ended up in the water along with their belongings after choosing the wrong channel here.

The rapids are accessible from the Klondike Highway which forms an 808 km loop together with the Taylor and Top of the World Highways. On this stretch south of Dawson City it runs through some beautiful spruce covered terrain and gives the occasional panoramic view of the Yukon River.

The highway began as a trail first used by Natives, trappers and prospectors, and then by stampeders during the Klondike Gold Rush of 1896-1899. In 1960 the last of 3 steel bridges, crossing the Yukon, Pelly and Stewart Rivers, was completed. The only remaining ferry crossing is the Yukon River crossing at Dawson City.