In 2019, a group of CNA guides pioneered a new paddling route starting only a few km from the headwaters of the Upper Keele River, revealing an incredibly beautiful and thrilling experience.
This section offers a new take on a classic river adventure and, at 7-8 days in length and with Class 2-3 whitewater, it is a trip that we hope to offer sometime soon in the future!
Connor Furneaux is a Canoe North Adventures Guide and Expedition Photographer. This video features Go Pro, Drone and Video footage all shot by Connor in 2019.
CNA is Awarded a License to Operate in Nahanni and Naats’ihch’oh National Parks-
We are extremely proud to announce that beginning in 2021, Canoe North Adventures will be offering guided canoe and raft trips on the legendary Nahanni River and the lesser-known Broken Skull River. Our guides can’t wait to share their enthusiasm with you in exploring these epic and iconic wilderness rivers – check out the announcement below!
Parks Canada recently granted Canoe North Adventures an Outfitter License to guide canoe and raft trips on the South Nahanni River in Nahanni National Park. This is the first new Outfitters License issued in 43 years! Parks Canada also granted Canoe North Adventures an Outfitter License in Naats’ihch’oh National Park – the younger sister of Nahanni National Park, so that we can offer spectacular canoe trips on the Broken Skull River. After reviewing our comprehensive application, Parks Canada recognized Canoe North Adventures extensive experience and 30-year legacy operating safe, multi-day canoe trips in the Mackenzie Mountains. They also recognized our considerable investment in building a world-class Outfitting Centre and Lodge in Norman Wells, NWT and our commitment to meaningful engagement with Indigenous communities and cultural tourism initiatives. To support our new trips in Nahanni and Naats’ihch’oh National Parks, Canoe North Adventures will establish a satellite operations base in Fort Simpson and we look forward to getting to know the local community and working with Parks Canada and other local operators to delivering world-class raft and canoe expeditions on Canada’s most iconic wilderness trip, the Nahanni River. Check out our first offerings for Nahanni and Broken Skull River Trips for the 2021 season.
Over the last several months, coronavirus has impacted all our lives in unimaginable ways. Given the realities of travel restrictions during this time, all of our 2020 expeditions have been cancelled. Though it is heartbreaking to not be exploring northern rivers this summer, the pandemic has given us time to pause, reflect and re-imagine what future adventures might be like.
Canoe North Adventures has always taken great pride in our attention to detail around preparedness for launching canoe expeditions into the wild. There are some inherent risks associated with wilderness travel or paddling remote northern rivers, and successfully mitigating these risks is an integral part of our company’s ethos. That has not changed in the face of the pandemic. Covid-19 is another risk that we will need to manage moving forward, though we believe that by next summer the situation will hopefully be under control in Canada.
We are currently in the early stages of developing our strategy on how our next season will unfold. We are consulting with other industry peers and professional organizations to build new precautionary health and safety policies that will be comprehensive, thorough and world class. In these rapidly changing times, our promise to you is that we will be prepared for any outcome. We will continue to monitor the situation monthly and plan to implement the most up-to-date protocols necessary to keep our guests, staff, and northern communities as safe as possible in 2021.
Our love for the rivers of the north, our guests and the communities in the Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut remains steadfast. We believe the world needs to experience wilderness travel now more than ever. The magic of the north is alive, but the land is still and quiet, patiently waiting for our return. There is so much passion and joy to be shared in the north and we hope, despite any trepidation that you may have, that you will consider joining us on an expedition in the future.
We have just released the dates and rates of our 2021 trips on our website. You may notice a few changes this year. We are proud and excited to announce that we have been recently awarded one of three licences for operating expeditions in Nahanni National Park and Nááts’įhch’oh National Park. We cannot wait to explore the beautiful and legendary Nahanni River and its sister river the Broken Skull with you!
We are also excited to be running our first ever rafting expeditions down the Nahanni River next year. Rafts are a relaxed and wonderful way to experience the wilderness and allow for pretty much anyone over the age of 12 to join in the adventure – no matter if this is their first-time camping or if they have 35 years of tripping under their belt.
To book a trip or to learn more about our approach to addressing issues regarding the pandemic, please contact us by phone or email or click this link for more information.
Stay Well & Happy Trails,
Lin Ward, Al Pace, Taylor Pace, and the Team at Canoe North Adventures
We have been monitoring the situation caused by the pandemic over the last few months gathering information from Federal, Territorial and Municipal governments. In this unprecedented time, taking care of our paddlers, staff and northern communities has been of primary concern. Our company’s values have been based on holding all of these people in our hearts respecting their feelings, needs and ideas.
In the past, when we faced challenges, we were quick to decide and act to resolve any issues. If anything, the pandemic has taught us a great deal about patience. Thank you to everyone for being understanding. We have been touched by the support we have received from our alumni, our 2020 paddlers and our friends. It is indeed an honour for us to experience the level of graciousness of spirit that we have been offered by everyone.
It is with a heavy heart that we must announce the cancellation of our 2020 expedition season in the Northwest Territories and Yukon. In an effort to protect the remote, Indigenous communities where we operate, the Government of the Northwest Territories recently announced that health restrictions will remain in place for June, July and August of 2020. These restrictions include a requirement for any travellers to isolate in Yellowknife for 14 days before entering any community including Norman Wells; allowable group size of 10 people; and, social distancing constraints. Under these conditions, we can no longer think about taking our paddlers to the territory. The situation is similar in Yukon Territory.
It is hard for us to imagine a summer of not visiting our pristine northern rivers with our intrepid paddle-mates and sharing tall tales, laughter, tears and deep emotion under the warm glow of the midnight sun.
We have always believed it is an extreme privilege to explore our free-flowing rivers in northern Canada. The authentic experience of a shared river journey in the face of pristine beauty reaches deep into your soul and changes you – forever. We sure you feel as we do – that when we come through the other side of the pandemic, time spent experiencing the natural world will remain a top priority. We are looking ahead to the 2021 expedition season with optimism.
During recent weeks we have all become acutely aware of the incredible sacrifices made by our frontline workers. At Canoe North Adventures, we are fortunate to have Dr. Aaron Orkin serve as our Medical Director. Dr. Orkin has been working tirelessly in the emergency department at Mount Sinai Hospital during the outbreak. One of our guides, Keiran Rankin, compiled an inspirational video recognizing Dr. Orkin’s dedication and personal sacrifice during these troubling times. Please take a moment to experience this touching tribute as Aaron is also a keen canoe-tripper and is looking forward to his next northern adventure.
