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The Nahanni River (14 Days)
Nahanni River Raft Trips
Northwest Territories Guided Canoe Adventure
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Overview: Our canoe trips from Rabbitkettle Lake provide a thorough exploration of Nahanni National Park. These trips appeal to active people who enjoy the adventure of canoe tripping. Participants should be prepared for two weeks of wilderness camping which will require you to be in good health, reasonably physically fit and a confident swimmer. You should be able to portage personal and group gear for 2 km around Virginia Falls. Participants should be comfortable paddling tandem. Moving water experience is an asset. Once on the trip, our guides are excellent instructors and are able to assist you in developing your skills.
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Day 01
Individual arrival in Fort Simpson by air or road. Meet your guide and group in the morning to discuss the last details of the tour. Enjoy the charter flight to Rabbitkettle Lake or Gravel Bar. (weather permitting) This breathtaking flight takes us over the spectacular Nahanni ranges to Rabbitkettle Lake. The picturesque scenery provides a delightful venue for our first camp on the Nahanni River.
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Day 02 - 05
Planned activities include an interpretive hike, guided by a Nahanni National Park warden, to explore Rabbit Kettle Hot Springs and Tufa Mounds. We then begin down river canoeing to Virginia Falls. On the Nahanni River our trip continues with a few days of easy paddling which provides a good opportunity for refining canoeing skills. This section of the river is dominated by U -shaped valleys which were scoured out by advancing cordilleran glaciers thousands of years ago. We paddle 120 km (72 mi.) on the smooth flowing water to Virginia Falls where we arive on day 5.
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Day 06
Everyone will appreciate a rest day at Virginia Falls. At over 90 m (300 ft.) Virginia Falls is twice the height of Niagara, and is the spectacular centerpiece of Nahanni National Park. The options for these days are many - you can lounge in the group camp area, explore the Falls with your camera, or strike off on an invigorating hike to the grassy summit of Sunblood Mountain. Virginia Falls is a fascinating place to discover.
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Day 07
Following our layover day, we complete the 2 km portage around the Falls and reload our canoes. For the following week we will immerse ourselves in the spectacular scenery of the lower Nahanni River. The lower Nahanni is canyon country and is often described as the Grand Canyon of the North. Beginning with Painted Canyon, so named because of it’s brightly coloured walls, you will experience the thrill and excitement of this whitewater section. On this night we will camp in the vicinity of the confluence with the Flat River.
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Day 08
Downstream we enter Third Canyon with its imposing 1200 m walls formed as the Nahanni has carved its way through the Funeral Range. We will camp in the shadow of the Gate; where the river has sliced a narrow chasm on the apex of a hairpin meander. An optional hike to the top of the Gate presents magnificent views of the river valley with imposing Pulpit Rock 460 m below.
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Day 08
Downstream we enter Third Canyon with its imposing 1200 m walls formed as the Nahanni has carved its way through the Funeral Range. We will camp in the shadow of the Gate; where the river has sliced a narrow chasm on the apex of a hairpin meander. An optional hike to the top of the Gate presents magnificent views of the river valley with imposing Pulpit Rock 460 m below.
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Day 09-10
We start the morning with a run through the exhilarating waves of George's Riffle and on into First Canyon. The imposing walls of First Canyon reach heights of over 1400 m. Groups often drift the length of this magnificent 26 km canyon, immersed in its splendor. The canyon walls are dotted with hundreds of caves. Close to its exit we will camp for the night at Lafferty's Canyon, with good hiking opportunities.
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Day 11
Following breakfast, it's down to Kraus' Hot Spring for a soothing dip in its 32 C plus waters. From here we bid farewell to the canyons and make our way to the Nahanni’s Splits, a 70 km run through a maze of islands.
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Day 12
We reach the confluence of the Nahanni and the Liard Rivers and arive at the Native village of Nahanni Butte. (Pop. approx. 100) Remote, yet surprisingly modern, a stroll into town provides insight into a culture entering the technological age. Our final camp will be on the open sand flats of the Liard River.
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Day 13
Our final on water day is completed with a short paddle to Blackstone Landing and Lindberg’s Bed and Breakfast. Hot showers, delicious meals and the trip end celebration awaits. This night we will enjoy a bed in one of Lindberg’s rustic log cabins. .
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Day 14
After breakfast a van will return everyone to Fort Simpson to catch their flight home.
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