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. Surrounded by a National Park in 1974 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978, the Nahanni’s incredible scenery, indigenous history and legendary whitewater paddling have made this Canada’s canoeing mecca. This 14 day expedition begins 125km 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 views of the Cirque of the Unclimbables, the Rabbitkettle tufamounds and the incredible canyons of the Nahanni River.
Your journey begins in the bustling city of Whitehorse, the capital of the Yukon, where you will spend your first afternoon exploring this frontier town, and getting set up with CNA staff. The next morning, you head off on a beautiful drive along the fabled Alaska Highway to the small but quaint town of Watson Lake, where your float plane into the Nahanni awaits. The journey begins by taking a spectacular flight over the Mackenzie Mountains & Ragged Range- the tallest mountains in the NWT- into the heart of Nahanni National Park . It is an absolute highlight of the trip! Upon arrival, the glacial blue water of Rabbitkettle Lake is framed by nameless valleys stretching off over the horizon. The thought that you are truly in the wilderness now becomes very real.
After setting up camp and enjoying the incredible view, a Nahanni Parks Staff will lead a hike to Rabbitkettle Tufa Mounds. This geological marvel is a terraced limestone feature created by the warm 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 12 days, you will have the opportunity to see best of what Nahanni has to offer, from the towering Virginia Falls, to the deepest canyons in Canada, to hidden hotsprings and 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
