The Sahtu: Gateway to Adventure
The wilderness regions of the Northwest Territories with its spectacular, pristine wilderness are ideal for outdoor adventure enthusiasts. The Sahtu, one of five regions of the NWT, is located in the central part of the territory encompassing the Mackenzie Mountains on the west and Great Bear Lake on the east. The Sahtu is of particular 
interest to discerning outdoor enthusiasts who seek remote wilderness adventure offering pristine rivers, majestic vistas and cultural experiences to canoeists, hikers and sightseers. The Sahtu has all the components of a significant global destination for adventure tourism delivering a high level of comfort and support to travellers that come to this region.
Norman Wells, located on “Deh Cho”, the mighty Mackenzie River in the heart of the region, is the place where most adventure tourism in the Sahtu originates. Norman Wells, a town of 800 inhabitants, has the critical infrastructure, historical background and First Nation culture necessary to turn your wilderness dreams into reality. The Mackenzie River served as a travel route for a few Klondike gold rushers and for Mountain Dene hunters who now live in Ross River or Tulita. There is also evidence that humans used this area 11,000 to 12,000 years ago at the end of the last ice age.
The Sahtu has ten river systems accessed through the North-Wright Airways Float Base in Norman Wells featuring eight rivers that are gaining a world-class reputation for canoeists including the Mackenzie, Mountain, Keele, Bonnet Plume, Snake, Anderson and Horton Rivers. The diversity of these rivers provides paddling opportunities for all levels of skill and interest, miles of runnable whitewater and few portages. The Mackenzie Mountains and the tundra regions offer significant canoeing opportunities. World-class hiking opportunities of exceptional beauty are available in the Mackenzie Mountains including the Canol Heritage Trail. The Sahtu is home to five communities including Norman Wells: Colville Lake, Fort Good Hope, Deline and Tulita. Authentic First Nation experiences are available in these communities. The Sahtu is supported by a strong group of outfitters and guides who offer a broad range of wilderness experience.
Learn more about the Sahtu Gateway:
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/canada/northwest-territories/sahtu
Featured Adventures
- Tischu River
Our exploratory trip on the Tischu River, a tributary of the Keele River
News & Events
- Fall Newsletter November 2011
We have just posted our 2012 Expedition Program and you will see that we have offered two new winter trips including an ice-road adventure to Norman Wells! We are very excited to be offering a Coppermine River Adventure – this was my first ever arctic canoe trip when I was just 18 years old! Other [...]
- Celebrate Sahtu
On July 23rd, The Town of Norman Wells, North-Wright Airways and Canoe North Adventures will host a celebration that will showcase the wilderness of the Sahtu Region and recognize the collaboration of effort to brand the Sahtu Region of the Northwest Territories as a tourism destination with national and international recognition. This event will highlight the [...]
- Great Bear River Exploration
This past summer, Lin Ward, Susan Casson, Matt Casson and Karl Schiefer checked out the Great Bear River. North-Wright Airways flew them into the First Nation community of Deline on Great Bear Lake. Once canoes were loaded they only paddled a short distance out to a camp right on Great Bear Lake. Karl and Matt [...]
- The 2010 Operator of the Year Award for the Northwest Territories
The award was presented to Al and Lin by the Minister of Tourism at the Northwest Territories Tourism Gala Dinner held in Inuvik on Thursday, November 25th…
- Our Outfitting Centre
It has been a long-standing dream of Canoe North Adventures …
- The Redstone River Exploratory Expedition
The Redstone River is unique in that…
- Canol Heritage Trail Exploratory Hike, 2009
At Canoe North, we are always intrigued with the prospect of a grand adventure…
- Ice Road
The trip took eight days and the last two days …
- Exploratory Trips
In 2009, we are planning two more exploratory trips…
- New Air Services and Canoeing Base for CNA, 2009
at the North-Wright Airways float base in Norman Wells…
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