The Nahanni River is the most iconic river in Canada’s North. Flowing 550 Km in total, it snakes past the tallest peaks in the Mackenzie Mountains then plunges almost 100 m over Virginia Falls. It then passes through 4 towering and spectacular canyons before its waters merge with the Liard River, destined for the Arctic Ocean. Surrounded by a National Park in 1974 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978, the Nahanni’s incredible scenery, indigenous history and relatively easy whitewater paddling have made this Canada’s canoeing mecca. This 14 day expedition begins upstream of Virginia Falls at Rabbitkettle Lake and provides an opportunity to experience almost everything that Nahanni National Park and the river have to offer including the tufamounds and the incredible canyons of the Nahanni River.
Your journey begins in the small but busy village of Ft. Simpson, where you will meet guides and the rest of your group for a quick orientation. After double checking all the gear, its time to head off to the river. The flight over the spectacular Mackenzie mountains is an absolute highlight of the trip. Beautiful but nameless mountains, creeks and valleys stretch off over the horizon, and thought that you are truly in the wilderness now becomes very real. After a spectacular flyby of Virginia Falls, the float plane zips another 100km upstream to the glacial Rabbitkettle Lake.
After setting up camp and enjoying the incredible view, a Nahanni Parks Staff will lead us on a hike to Rabbitkettle Tufa Mounds. This geological marvel is a terraced limestone feature created by the hot spring here over thousands of years. The next day, we complete a short portage to the river and set off on our Journey downstream! Over the next 14 days, you will have the opportunity to see best of what Nahanni has to offer, from the towering Virginia Falls, to the towering canyons, to the big skies and braided channels of the lower river. Our certified and professional guides will make every effort to make this experience the trip of a lifetime.
Nahanni River / Broken Skull Webinar
