Fly-in tundra canoe trips east of Great Slave Lake on the Thelon River and surrounding region. All trips guided by Alex Hall, wildlife biologist and the Canadian Arctic’s first and most experienced canoeing guide. Photograph muskoxen, caribou, wolves (our specialty), grizzlies, moose and a plethora of birds. Since 1974 we have operated the most remote canoe trips in the world, hundreds of miles from the nearest road or community. Visit our website to see our 7 minute video, over 150 photos in our photo galleries, and for full details on our canoe trips.

Sea to Sky Expeditions is proud of our commitment to sustainability, professionalism, learning, and cooperation with local communities. Our commitment to these principles has won us recognition as one of the top adventure companies in the world by National Geographic. Sea To Sky Expeditions has been providing quality wilderness experiences for our customers since 1988. We invite you to explore Arctic Canada on one of our 8 to 19 day canoe expeditions along the Nahanni, Yukon, Teslin, Wind or Pelly Rivers. All of our canoe expeditions feature certified guides, excellent meals, and top of the line equipment. We look forward to providing you with the adventure of a lifetime.

Sea To Sky Arctic Canoeing Expeditions:

• Canoeing Nahanni River
• Canoeing Yukon’s Wind River – Photo Essay
• Canoeing Yukon’s Rivers – Photo Essay

Canoeing in Canada

The Nahanni, the Tatshenshini, the Bowron Lake Circuit, and the Mackenzie River that connects Great Bear Lake and Great Slave Lake offer the best northern wilderness canoeing in the world whether your love is seeing  see a grizzly roaming freely, thousands of caribou on the move, or watching a bald eagle or Peregrine Falcon soaring high in the sky. Each of them offers unique opportunities to fall in love with the wilderness and some of the most experienced outfitters and guides in the world! These devoted wilderness enthusiasts have well learned canoeing, kayaking and rafting skills, emergency first aid training and  wilderness survival knowledge They know the folklore and history of the area. They can tell you where to catch a fish at every cast while watching a moose go by, or drift by a fishing hole frequented by grizzlies They can show you which fishing fly will work best in a given location or give you the adrenalin rush of facing down a giant brown bear with only a camera in your hands and a stun gun on your belt in case something goes wrong. Whether you want to kayak among the glaciers, photograph Dall sheep or white water raft down heart pounding rapids as they swirl through painted canyons you can find the perfect trip on the great rivers and lakes of Canada.

Saint Elias Lake, Kluane National Park - Photo courtesy of Adventure Tours Yukon Wild Ltd.

The Nahanni and Tatshenshini are two of the most breathlessly beautiful wilderness paddling and kayaking rivers in all of Canada. Whether you are inspired by the spectacular and ever changing northern lights, giant glaciers wrapped around alpine peaks or you want to stand on top of a mountain at the great divide and not see another soul for hundreds of miles, you can find the perfect trip for you.

The Nahanni was one of the world’s first four natural UNESCO World Heritage sites named in 1979 for the spectacular glacier and icefield landscapes as well as for the importance of grizzly bears, caribou and Dall Sheep habitat. It is also a Canadian Heritage river and was also a favourite of Pierre Elliot Trudeau, an accomplished wilderness paddler, an early environmentalist, and one of Canada’s most loved prime ministers.

Tatshenshini River, Alsek/Tatshenshini Provincial Park - Photo courtesy of Canadian River Expeditions

The Tatshenshini is rated as one of the top ten paddling and rafting rivers in the world and is  located in the largest contiguous preserve in the world (and we thought they were all in Africa)  which consists of Glacier Bay National Park,  Tatshenshini Provincial Park, Kluane National Park and the Yukon Game Preserve. It is also part of the largest non- polar ice field in the world and runs through an iceberg filled lake with spectacular calving glacier photo opportunities Alsek Lake. As recently as 1852, Alsek lake was 100 kilometres long and about 100 metres deep as a result of a giant glacier blocking it runoff, making it larger than Kluane Lake. When the ice dam finally broke, it sent a gigantic wall of water down the Alsek River drowning the communities along its shore. The glaciers last major surge was in 1997 and 1998

The Great Mackenzie River is Canada’s longest river from the headwaters of the Peace and Athabasca, through Great Slave lake and north to Great Bear lake at the edge of the arctic circle then on to the Arctic Ocean which flows into the Beaufort Sea. Along the way, it scrapes the rocks and then deposits its heavy load of sand and silt into the channels further north. Millions of migrating birds swoop down its valleys where it starts in the south and many follow its comparatively warm waters to the north where seals, otters and porpoises abound and it feeds its nutrients into the ocean to support the flora and fauna that supports the arctic char, salmon and krill eaten by the Orcas, grey whales and humpback whales.  Its watershed is1.8 million square kilometres in size and drains one-fifth of Canada’s land mass yet few Canadians have ever seen the Mackenzie. Even today, as its inhabitants, the Dene, Métis, Inuvialuit (Inuit) and non-aboriginal inhabitants contemplate their river’s future, the Mackenzie remains one of the most undeveloped, sparsely populated, and intriguing rivers.

In contrast the Bowron river circuit in northern BC is famous for its challenging canoe circuit, which encompasses a 116-km chain of lakes, waterways and connecting portages where you can test your white water skills and endurance. from mid-May to early October, depending on ice and snow conditions.

Wilderness and fishing lodges can be found throughout British Columbia, the Yukon and the Northwest Territories and offer great canoeing, kayaking and white water rafting excursions with plenty of salmon, arctic char and wildlife everywhere. It is hard to communicate the thrill of paddling pods of Grey whales, Orcas, porpoises, seals and countless sea birds and viewing some of the most spectacular glaciers in the world. There is something for every level of expertise with the relatively easy paddling of the Mackenzie where the water is wide, flat and protected, to the class five white water channels where there is also no shortage of adrenalin rushes for even the  most experienced paddler to experience a once in a lifetime memory.

Generally, lakes in the region are ice-free from May through November. From May through June, the water is high, fast and travel is easy. Mountains are usually still snow capped, making for beautiful photo opportunities. Daylight hours are long. July can be the wettest month of the paddling season and is usually the buggiest. In August, the bugs are usually gone and the water is low, revealing lakeside beaches and good swimming opportunities. Daytime temperatures remain warm, but evenings are cooler.

By September, most canoe routes are quiet. There is less traffic, no bugs, and the fall colours are a spectacular sight. The Northern lights are best at the spring and fall equinox.

Resources

Complete listings of canoeing and kayaking  outfitters across Canada:

Canoeing in Northern Canada, Canoeing in Western Canada, Canoeing in Central Canada, Canoeing in Eastern Canada, Kayaking in Northern Canada, Kayaking in Western Canada, Kayaking in Central Canada, Kayaking in Eastern Canada, Canoeing & Kayaking in Canada

Offering high quality guided canoe trips throughout Northern Canada. Canoe trips for a variety of skill levels in Northern Ontario & Quebec, Nunavut, NWT and the Yukon. Paddle stunning mountain rivers in the Yukon & western NWT. Canoe the remote wilderness of Nunavut & Baffin Island’s vast tundra barren lands. Travel along historic James and Hudson Bay rivers or paddle the classic Canadian Shield trips country of Ontario and Quebec’s near north. Scheduled and private trips available! For more information, check out our website.

With Taiga Journeys you head out to paddle the Dease River, located in Northern British Columbia, adjacent to the Stikine drainage, close to the Yukon border. The Dease River flows north through the Cassiar Mountains and is an easy river paddle with stunning mountain views, great fishing and good wildlife viewing opportunities. There will be time for swimming, fishing, and enjoying wilderness tent camps every night. The river has a steady flow and we have to stay alert for sweepers and undercurrents. The two rapids, a whirlpool and some splashes will spice up our ride.

Long or short, challenging or tranquil, we offer an array of river trips down several of the Yukon’s most beautiful rivers. Ranging anywhere between seven and 22 days, our guides will take you on rivers that have been an integral part of the culture and history of the Yukon for centuries. Ruby Range Adventure has been guiding visitors to the Yukon and Alaska for many years. We bring unmatched experience and a genuine love of the North to every trip we lead. Our guides are qualified to lead you into the deepest wilderness.

Discover the beauty of the Yukon by paddling pristine rivers, hiking remote trails or joining our van tours beyond the Arctic Circle to the Arctic Ocean. Our guided trips are not just a journey from one place to another but an experience of a lifetime! Our qualified and experienced guides make sure you’ll enjoy a safe adventure. Nature Tours of Yukon is the one-stop address for the self-directed traveler: canoe rentals, satellite phones, outdoor equipment and transportation all come with our expertise and friendly advice. Custom trips available.

Five northern rivers – Wind, Big Salmon, Pelly, Teslin and Yukon. A boreal wilderness spanning eleven mountain ranges highlight the natural ecosystems of these great rivers. Opportunities to experience black and grizzly bear, moose, wolf, eagles and falcons, waterfowl, songbirds and much more. Natural and human history combined for a learning adventure of life in the North. Chestnut canoes in 18’ Prospectors and 22’ Freighters.

CANOE EXPEDITING: NWT and Nunavut. Wilderness travel service; with one call, plan your entire trip. We can supply canoes, spray decks, all accessories, plus air transport. Over 30 years of northern experience in tourism. Custom quotes: let us know the size of group, where you want to go, and approximate dates. Packages available from Yellowknife and Edmonton.

Canoeing on a Yukon River is an experience of a lifetime .We are specialized in a selection of canoe, hiking and combination trips with very small groups for all levels of expertise.We provide professional guiding for your safety in the wilderness, for interpretation and teching technical skills. The Teslin, Big Salmon, Wind River, or Kluane National Park are some of our destinations. We also rent canoes and organize individual Tours.

The best river expeditions from Alaska to Nunavut. Knowledgable, qualified and friendly guides, superior guide/participant ratio & itineraries, excellent food and attention to detail. Nahanni, Tatshenshini, Alsek, Stikine, Firth, Wind, Snake, Mountain, Coppermine, Burnside, Soper, Babine, Chilko, Chicotin, Fraser and more. Canoe and raft options allow us to accommodate all skill levels on all rivers. We have helped thousands of northern dreams come true over the decades. Most of our guests return over the years to travel several rivers with us.

Since 1971 – Canada’s most experienced outdoor adventure company with the largest choice of great expeditions in the arctic: paddle the Nahanni River, Mountain, Natla-Keele, Coppermine, Hood, Burnside, Horton, and more. Trips from 10-21 days for all skill levels.

Experiencing the Nahanni is like passing into heaven.

Its beauty leaves you breathless. I would get up in the morning and just stand there listening to the water and soaking in the unbelievably magnificent views. It inspires me. It lifts my heart and leaves me in awe of its sheer magnificence. It makes me passionate to share its beauty with my family and those friends I’ve paddled and hiked with in other wilderness settings. I have hardly ever been on a trip that makes me appreciate my life as much as the Nahanni with its spectacular Virginia Falls which are taller than the more well known Niagara falls located a thousand miles south in the urban heart of Ontario’s wine country.

Nahanni River - Virginia Falls (Photo Credit: Neil Hartling)

Nahanni River - Tufa Mounds (Photo Credit: Canadian River Expeditions)

I have travelled the world and seen many beautiful landscapes but the high terraces of soft calcium known as “Tufa Mounds” are uniquely special formed by sulphurous hot springs that gurgle to the surface both summer and winter and leave large, delicately featured calcium deposits as large as a meadow and as intricate as a Japanese garden, that have built up over millenniums.

The Nahanni is a life altering adventure that everyone should experience. It makes you think differently and find peace in your soul and courage in your heart.  It inspired Pierre Burton and launched his career as a writer and so affected Canada’s favourite Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau that he convinced Canada’s parliament to protect it by having it named a National Heritage site and a National Park Reserve. Subsequent leaders have expanded the Park to cover the entire watershed, increasing Nahanni to the sixth largest park in the world!

The Nahanni is unique. It has an unforgettable magic. It is incredibly powerful yet inviting with an abundance of nimble footed Dall Sheep, spectacular Grizzlies, Black Bears, and Caribou.

Fortunately with digital photography you can snap and snap and snap and not worry whether you take fifty or a hundred photos each day. Just when you think you have taken your best photo, your viewfinder discovers another one even more beautiful.  The experience reminds me of my favourite niece, she and I would go out into the woods near our home and spend hours snapping pictures. She would take three for every one that I took, some weren’t terrific but many were just plain better, more artfully composed and more insightful.

I was now experiencing this all over again. There was no shortage of great views and more fascinating subject matter than I ever thought possible, so I merrily snapped away experiencing one great view after the next thinking no one could capture the beauty better than I could. Then I met Neil Hartling, he has been travelling these rivers for more than thirty years and has seen more of the nooks and crannies, the eddies and islands than anyone I know.  He is intimately familiar with the wild life and the history.

Although to my eye it is uninhibited wilderness, humans have dwelt in these regions for thousands of years and they captured and shared their experiences with the animals and the river through stories shared at the campfire. The story tellers of the North can recite their stories for hours talking about the layers of meaning each one has. The First Nations people that heard these stories generations ago carefully passed them down from generation to generation and Neil has heard more of them than most. He gave me an appreciation of the area the camera alone could not capture.  He added history and humanity giving my understanding a depth and nuance the pictures alone could not capture with details picked up over thirty years of careful listening.

Nahanni River - Musk Ox (Photo Credit: Terry Parker)

Neil has a good friend that has been photographing the rivers in Canada’s northwest for over thirty years, his name is Terry Parker and like my niece his photographs of Dall Sheep, caribou herds, Peregrine Falcons and Musk Ox put mine to shame.   The link above will take you to some of his best work.

Painted canyon begins at the base of Virginia falls. This is where the raft expeditions begin, enjoying the rapids and taking advantage of the fast water and avoiding the slower sections above. This is one of the four canyons that add to the visual drama. The final canyon is one of the deepest river canyons on the continent with arguably one of the most spectacular campsites in the world. The canyon is over 3,400 feet tall and at one point there is a beautiful sandy beach almost a mile long. This area also boasts the largest, most complex “Karst system” in the world with an amazing number of linked sinkholes, caves, and underground streams

If you haven’t rafted, canoed or kayaked in Alaska and northern Canada, seen the Northern Lights or paddled under a midnight sun, then put this region on your list of “must do” trips in your lifetime.  With migrating herds of caribou and birds, waterfalls twice the height of Niagara, and Canada’s deepest river canyons, hot springs and glaciers, a rich history of Klondike pioneers, and a thriving First Nation culture, this is a vibrant world which will fascinate you. Of the many spectacular northern rivers, Nahanni is the most diverse and celebrated.

If my description of the Nahanni or Terry’s pictures  have sparked your imagination you couldn’t go wrong by contacting Neil Hartling. He operates Nahanni River Adventures out of Whitehorse. He is a keen ambassador for the Yukon and the acclaimed author of Alaska to Nunavut. Terry Parker can be reached at www.terryparkerphoto.com

Live well and if you have a minute let me know of some of the spectacular places you have visited.

Nahanni Resources

Northwest Territories Tourism

Explorer and vacation guides, hotel and B&B listings, local communities.

Website: www.spectacularnwt.com