Crafted for those who are looking for a shorter holiday or who have already paddled the South Nahanni River, our 12 day Broken Skull adventure allows paddlers the full Broken Skull experience with a fly out option at Rabbitkettle Lake. This trip maximizes time spent in the high alpine that makes the Broken Skull a ‘must do’ northern river.
This unique and remote tributary of the Nahanni starts high in the mountains of one of Canada’s newest National Parks, Nááts’ihch’oh National Park Reserve.
Clear water, unforgettable views and an intimate wilderness experience, the Broken Skull offers all of this from its beginning high in the alpine to its mouth at the South Nahanni river. Not to mention the friendly, exciting whitewater that will have you hooting and hollering from the sheer joy of corner after corner of fun!
With exciting but approachable rapids, easy access to the alpine and hidden hot-springs, this wild river begs for exploration.
Those who paddle the Broken Skull river will enjoy the highest quality of wilderness experience including our famous Nahanni menu, our professional guides and our love for sharing wild places.
Skill Prerequisites
- Class II whitewater experience
Learn more about canoe trip skill prerequisites >
Trip Dates
July 26, 2024 - August 6, 2024
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8 Seats Available
July 25, 2025 - August 5, 2025
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11 Seats Available
Additional dates may be available, please inquire.
Itinerary
DAY 1
Rendezvous at the Fort Nelson airport upon arrival of the Central Mountain Air flight. Those who drove to Fort Nelson can leave their vehicles at the airport for the duration of the trip. Following introductions, we will load the van and begin our drive north. We will make a brief stop in Fort Nelson on our way to the Alaska Highway where we will shop for snacks for the drive. Our route to the headwaters of the Nahanni River takes us west through the northeast corner of the Rocky Mountains. The landscape has a rugged beauty all of its own. We will make sightseeing stops at Stone Mountain and Muncho Lake Provincial Parks. Guests in the past have lost count of the number of wildlife sightings on the first day alone. From the van we are sure to see stone sheep and mountain caribou along the way. We will camp for the night at Liard Hot Springs where we will enjoy a relaxing soak.
DAY 2
Back on the road we’ll drive to Watson Lake and walk through the historic Sign Post Forest. At Watson Lake, Yukon we drive north on the Robert Campbell Highway and then onto the Nahanni Range Road for our detour back into the Northwest Territories and the road to our flight base on Flat Lake. This remote road boasts incredible scenery and will give you a peak of the mountain ranges you will fly over on your way to Divide Lake. Weather permitting we will make the short flight to Divide Lake upon arriving at Flat Lake. We will enjoy the peace and beauty of this alpine lake as we toast our arrival into the Naat’sich’oh National Park Reserve and its stunning wilderness. There may be time for hiking near the lake. The lake also provides an excellent venue to practice canoeing skills before setting out the following morning.
DAY 3
After an introduction to preparing canoes for travel and river safety we will paddle from Divide Lake onto a crystal clear creek that will take us to Swallow Falls, named for the swallows that nest in the cliffs around the falls. A short portage through dwarf birch takes us around the falls to the start of a small canyon. Depending on water levels we will paddle or line this tight canyon and revel in the clear water pouring over boulders. We will camp at the exit of the canyon and watch the sun set over the canyon walls.
DAY 4
Shortly after setting out we will arrive at the Broken Skull River and get our first taste of it’s famous, friendly whitewater. We will weave our way through boulder fields enjoying class 1-2+ waves. As necessary, we will scout wave trains to identify the best line at our water level. The whitewater will last for most of the day but will lessen off in time to allow our gaze to shift to the incredible views on all sides. We will make camp in the heart of the mountains and enjoy delicious three course meals prepared over the fire. There is no shortage of daylight so you can linger around the fire watching the evening light play on the mountain ranges.
DAY 5-6
The thrills continue on the river with continual stretches of beautiful, friendly whitewater. Standing waves around every corner, perfectly spaced boulders to weave through and the occasional opportunity to ‘thread the needle’. Even the most restrained paddlers won’t be able to wipe the smile off their face. There are ample opportunities for hiking and exploration off the river. Your guides will make opportunities available based on the group interest, water levels and weather. A ‘must do’ is the Broken Skull hotsprings, a 2.5km hike up a small tributary of the Broken Skull river. The water temperatures will not disappoint and after a few days of paddling, the soak will be a welcome chance to revive tired muscles. For an intrepid few, a dunk in the nearby creek can be interspersed with soaking in the piping hot pools.
DAY 7-9
As the Broken Skull river grows it maintains its crystal clear water. At this point in the trip some groups have added grizzly bears, porcupines, moose, caribou and wolves to their list of wildlife sightings. The Broken Skull river is an active wildlife corridor where you will be sure to see tracks of many of these mammals. We will paddle through the ‘Mini Gate’, named for the Gate on the South Nahanni River. This smaller but equally photo worth geological feature provides an opportunity for photo shoots. We will enjoy drifting through the still pools of this special landmark before paddling on to more whitewater. As we paddle from the Naats’ich’oh Park into the Nahanni National Park Reserve we will get our first glimpses of the Ragged Range which includes the highest peaks in the Northwest territories. We will camp on a gravel bars with small, delicate rocks that will ensure we sleep soundly under the midnight sun.
DAY 10
Dwarf fireweed dots the river’s edge with its magenta blossoms as we paddle towards the confluence with the South Nahanni river. The Vampire Peaks loom large as the clear water of the Broken Skull swirls into the Nahanni’s grey green waters. Paddle ‘high fives’ will be passed amongst the group as you congratulate yourself on having paddled a river only a handful of groups experience each year. Now you can sit back and enjoy the quiet waters of the South Nahanni. Put your feet up and gaze into the Cirque of the Unclimbables, the renowned hiking and rock climbing area a two day trek from the South Nahanni river. The armchair glacier of Mount Edna is your first landmark for the impressive peaks of the Cirque. You may get to wave hello to a group departing from Britnell Creek to hike into the Cirque of the Unclimables, a gentle reminder that the outside world exists after likely not having seen another group since arriving on the river.
DAY 11
Savour your final moments in the Nahanni watershed while you await your float plane pick up. The trip is not over yet! Your flight will take you over the wonders of the Nahanni National Park Reserve as your follow the river valley south. Arriving in the small community of Fort Simpson dinner and a hot shower await. Guest services will help you book accommodation in Fort Simpson as well as commercial flights to Yellowknife and beyond for the following day.
DAY 12
Your journey home begins today. You will leave the north with a load of memories of the beauty and magic of the Broken Skull river.
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