Itinerary
The following is a tentative agenda and has been designed with much thought to capitalize on the most scenic and exciting parts of the river while making time on other sections. Your guides will adjust the schedule to make the best use of river and weather conditions.
Day o Whitehorse
Your journey north from your home will be a refreshing departure. You will fly over the largest expanse of wilderness in the world with stunning views on cloudless days, pass through quieter and friendlier airports, and generally begin to immerse yourself in the wilderness experience that is about to unfold. This is the arrival day and is the first day listed for your trip.
You might opt to arrive one day earlier to spend time discovering all that Whitehorse has to offer. If you arrive on this date ensure you arrive by 12pm to attend a pre-departure meeting at 1pm where you will repack into your river bags.
There will be a chance for last minute questions concerning clothing, gear, packing and other details. After the meeting you will depart Whitehorse via charter flight to Inconnu Lodge on McEvoy Lake. Dinner will be provided with expansive views of the lake and you will enjoy an evening getting to know your Trip Leader and your river companions. We will enjoy one last night sleeping under a roof in the cozy cabins at Inconnu Lodge.
Please note that the charter flight to McEvoy Lake/Inconnu Lodge is not included and is approximately $400 per person. This is the first date listed for your trip.
Day 1
After breakfast at Inconnu Lodge (included) we begin one of the major highlights of the adventure– the flight into the South Nahanni watershed. You will fly over the majestic Vampire Peaks and the Ragged Range, home to the world renowned Cirque of the Unclimables and the highest peaks in the NWT. You want to be sure to have your camera on your lap as a visually stunning panorama unfolds in front of our eyes.. Past participants have stepped off the plane declaring that “if the trip finished now, I would have my money’s worth!” The afternoon will be spent, hiking, enjoying the gorgeous alpine setting of Mount Naats’ihch’oh. The lake also provides an excellent venue to review canoeing skills with your guides who are certified canoe instructors.
We will enjoy the peace and beauty of our alpine setting as we toast our arrival into the Naats’ihch’oh National Park Reserve and its stunning wilderness.
Days 2 Mount Naats’ihch’oh & Down river travel
We will greet another stunning day as we further settle into life out of reach of e-mail, phones and the stresses of everyday life. Your guides will orient you to loading and securing gear in your canoe and provide an orientation to down river travel. When our preparations are complete, we embark on the Nahanni and camp in the vicinity of Initiation Rapids.
Days 3 – 6 Rock Gardens
We encounter spectacular whitewater comprised of continuous Grade II and III rapids known as the Rock Gardens. This continues until close to the junction of the South and Little Nahanni Rivers. 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 river.
Days 7 & 8 Ragged Range
Here the river flattens out. Moores’ Cabin and Hot Springs are points of interest. The Vampire Peaks loom large as the clear water of the Broken Skull swirls into the Nahanni’s grey green waters. We will enjoy views 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. Camp will be near or at Rabbitkettle Lake.
Day 9 Rabbitkettle Hotsprings (GAHNĮHTHAH MĮE)
We will enjoy a lay over day at Rabbitkettle Lake while more delicious food and supplies are delivered to us for the second half of our journey! Additional group members may join at this time. The lake is beautiful, with warm waters, views of the highest peaks in the NWT and some great hiking opportunities. All of these make the day a highlight for many of our guests. We will enjoy an interpretive hike, guided by Nahanni National Park personnel (subject to availability of Park staff) to view the Rabbitkettle Hot Spring and Tufa Mounds.
Days 10 & 11 Mountain Peaks
We begin paddling down river towards Virginia Falls.
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. Along the way we will camp beside beautiful creeks such as Hell Roaring Creek and Flood creek and will feast our eyes on Rabbitkettle Mountain, a myriad of alpine ridges and the Sunblood range.
Day 12 Virginia Falls
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. Virginia Falls is a fascinating place to discover!
Day 13 Hiking
This is a day for exploring and photographing the area around Virginia Falls, nearly twice the height of Niagara. The vast expanse of the Falls captivates photographers and hikers with a tireless display of powerful drama. Keen and fit hikers may undertake an all-day expedition to the top of Sunblood Mountain for an excellent view of the surrounding area. Others can enjoy exploring the expansive area overlooking the brink of the falls.
Day 14 Painted Canyon
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 its brightly coloured walls, you will experience the thrill and excitement of this whitewater section. Camp is made for the evening below Wrigley Creek.
Day 15 The Gate
We enter Third Canyon, the walls of which rise 1200 metre over the river. Keen eyes may spot woodland caribou, moose and Dall sheep. Stopping at The Gate and Pulpit Rock for lunch, we will hike to the top of the canyon for a bird’s eye view of the narrow gorge below and the expanse of the canyon walls. Camp will be downstream of Pulpit Rock and The Gate.
Days 16 & 17 Deadmen Valley
Paddling through the Big Bend and Second Canyon and past Headless Creek we will find ourselves camped in the vicinity of Deadmen Valley. The view includes the Tlogotsho Plateau and Dry Canyon Creek. It was here, on the shores of Headless Creek, that the bodies of the Mcleod brothers were found in 1905 and the legend of the Headless Valley was born. Downriver at Sheaf Creek, R. M. Patterson and his partner, Gordon Mathews, wintered over in 1928. Patterson later wrote Dangerous River, one of the most eloquent accounts of the early days on the river. Around the campfire we will read from his book.
Day 18 & 19 Canyon Kingdom
The highlights will include First Canyon, Canada’s deepest river canyon at a depth of 1300 metre, George’s and Lafferty’s Riffles and White Spray Springs. After stopping at Kraus’ Hot Springs for a soak in the 37°C natural springs we leave the canyons and carry on to camp in the area known as The Splits. Here the river braids and twists into many channels.
Day 20 Liard River
Following breakfast, we will continue on to the Naha Dene village of Nahanni Butte. (Pop. approx. 120) After lunch we will board a small aircraft for a flight down the Liard River to Fort Simpson. The awaiting shuttle van will take you to your accommodation. Your group will have a celebratory final evening recounting memories that will last a lifetime (accommodation and restaurant meal not included).
Day 21 Homeward Bound
Today is the last date listed for your trip. You can begin travelling home any time. You’ll be sure to have an abundance of meaningful memories that will last a lifetime!
PLEASE NOTE
The above is a tentative agenda and has been designed with much thought to capitalize on the most scenic and exciting parts of the river while making time on other sections. Your guides will adjust the schedule to make the best use of river and weather conditions. We adhere to the departure regulation system of the Park which works to ensure that all river travellers have the same wilderness experience.
Under certain conditions (weather, forest fire, plane availability and upriver conditions), it may be necessary to make our upriver flight soon after arrival. On the other hand, we have occasionally found ourselves waiting for safe flying conditions. In the event of a delay, we will enjoy the stunning scenery of McEvoy Lake and the comforts of Inconnu Lodge until we are able to safely depart for the river. Meals and snacks are included from arrival at Inconnu Lodge until lunch on the final river day.
