Horton River Canoeing
Canoeing in Canada with Canadian River Expeditions / Nahanni River Expeditions
Highlights
- Paddle the gentle Horton River as it flows through the tundra and winds northward to the Arctic coast
- Hike the dramatic Smoking Hills, exploring vents which issue billowing plums of natural sulphurous smoke
- A chance to see migrating groups of caribou from the Bluenose Caribou herd
Full Description
Mainland Canada's most northerly river, the Horton is a large but gentle waterway which flows through the tundra as it winds northward to the Arctic coast.
The Horton River is mainland Canada's most northerly river. This large but gentle river flows through the tundra as it winds northward to the Arctic coast. In addition to watching for caribou, muskox, wolves and grizzly, we will also see golden eagles, peregrine and gyrfalcons. You will hike the dramatic Smoking Hills, exploring the vents which issue billowing plums of natural sulphurous smoke, and scan the Arctic coast for seals and beluga whales amidst the ice flows.
We travel by Voyageur canoe (minimum 5 passengers) or in 2-person canoes over 12 river days and canoe a distance of 210 km (130 miles) with an elevation drop of 100 - 105 m (approx. 300 feet).
Craft Description: Canoe, Voyageur (minimum 5 passengers) or 2-person canoe
Prerequisites: Novice paddlers in the Voyageur Canoe and Class II moving water skills for the 2-Person Canoe.
Includes:
- Breakfast, lunch, and dinner as noted in the itinerary
- Top-quality tents, river gear or sea kayaks
- Kitchen and camping equipment
- Bush plane transportation
Excludes:
- Personal items such as sleeping bag, clothing, etc.
- River footwear, rain jacket and pants (available for rent)
Day by Day Itinerary
Day 0
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, meet friendlier and less harried service personnel and generally begin to immerse yourself in the wilderness experience that is about to unfold.
Arrive in Inuvik and make your way to your hotel.We will meet at the Arctic Chalet at 8 pm for the pre-trip meeting. Please note that hotel costs and meals while in Inuvik are not included in the trip fee. We will answer last-minute questions and prepare to depart the next day.
Day 1
We will meet in the hotel lobby at 8 a.m. following breakfast (not covered). Via Twin Otter, we will fly east over the unique tundra ecosystem. We may see frost polygons from the air and will begin to get a feel for this diverse and solitary landscape. We will assemble the canoes and prepare our campsite. This spot offers ideal hiking opportunities and a chance to catch a glimpse of the Horton River's canyons. (L/D)
Day 2
We embark on the river and the Horton's broad valley stretches out before us. Trees appear only in the very bottom of the valley and along the incoming tributaries. You are now truly immersed in the barrenlands. Our Inuvialuit guide will unfold the secrets of viewing the land in traditional ways. (B/L/D)
Days 3-4
Days will be spent exploring the river and the land. Icy veins in the river bank indicate the layer of permafrost that lies underneath the tundra. The treeless tundra offers ideal hiking. There have been active wolf dens here in thepast; with some luck they may be occupied again. The river valley is home to many raptors such as the golden eagle and the gyrfalcon. (B/L/D)
Days 5–8
In this section of classic rolling tundra, three of the four days will be spent paddling, while one will be a layover, giving opportunity for hiking and resting up.The Horton now flows north, parallel to Franklin Bay on the Arctic Ocean, which is about 30 km to the east.Often a cool wind blows off the ocean, which may require that you pull out that extra sweater. This section of the river provides opportunity to see grizzly bears, wolves, muskoxen and caribou. If we are lucky, migrating groups of caribou from the Bluenose Caribou herd can be seen (estimated population in 1983 was 50,000-80,000). Their annual migratory path takes them northward in the hills between the Horton and Franklin Bay. (B/L/D)
Day 9
The Horton River begins to slow in this section, as it nears the coast. The badlands and the geology of the Smoking Hills become evident, with a variety of colours and textures. These hills make for intriguing hikes. (B/L/D)
Day 10
Some large meanders in the river are navigated during today’s paddle, an indication that the Horton is an old river. We will likely find ourselves camped at the bottom of a large meander which puts us within a 3 km hike of the ocean. (B/L/D)
Day 11
This day we will hike from the river overland in search of active vents in the Smoking Hills. Also, with some luck we may be able to see Beluga whales in Franklin Bay. It is possible that Franklin Bay may be covered in pack ice even in early July. As always, we won't stop looking for the caribou on their migration north; they could be anywhere! (B/L/D)
Day 12
The aircraft will pick us up and return us to Inuvik. There may be time to explore the highlights of town after a shower. We will meet for a farewell supper (not included in the package) and reminisce of tundra memories. (B/L)
Day 13
Homeward bound.
About The Operator:
Canadian River Expeditions / Nahanni River Expeditions
Headquarters:
Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada
With over 30 unique canoeing, rafting, hiking and kayaking adventure travel trips-from 5 to 21 days-on 20 northern rivers, Nahanni River Adventures and Canadian River Expeditions have been the leaders in river adventure for northern Canada and Alaska since 1972.
An Alaska and Canada adventure vacation with Nahanni River Adventures and Canadian River Expeditions is much more than the typical river trip. Our Alaskan and Canadian wilderness expeditions are adventure travel explorations of entire regions, using the river as a conduit to travel through the land, taking time to hike, explore, learn and savor the beauty of these last wild places in North America.
A Unique Destination
We believe we offer you the opportunity to not only embrace adventure in a unique destination, but on a river trip which is truly of the highest quality in every respect, honed from our years of experience in the adventure travel business. We deliver our trips with an authenticity which mirrors the last natural, unspoiled wilderness we travel through in North America.
If you haven't rafted, canoed or kayaked in Alaska and northern Canada, seen the Northern Lights or paddled under a midnight sun, then put this on your list of "must do" trips in your lifetime. Northern Canada and Alaska are North America's last great wilderness rivaling Africa in its inspiring collage of nature, wildlife, ecosystems and adventure. With migrating herds of caribou and birds, waterfalls twice the height of Niagara and Canada's deepest river canyons, hotsprings and glaciers, a rich history of Klondike pioneers and a thriving First Nation culture, this is a vibrant world which will fascinate you.
An Experienced Leader
At Nahanni River Adventures and Canadian River Expeditions, we helped pioneer the sport of whitewater padding in the early seventies. From the iconic Nahanni River to the high Arctics' Soper, from Alaska to Nunavut, we know all of our 20 rivers well-from their campsites to their eddies to their rapids to their wildlife, geology and history. We have in depth knowledge guiding multi-day wilderness trips from contingency planning to operational logistics to how to bake cinnamon buns for breakfast over a camp fire. We make it a point to stay on the cutting edge of land and water use legislation to ensure that our river gear and equipment is of the highest quality and our guide skills incorporate the latest in whitewater safety standards. We have taken over 10,000 paddlers downriver since 1972 and our guest repeat rate of over 40% speaks for itself.
While others have left the business, we decided to stay the course ... it's that important to us. In 2006, we merged the two leading outfitters in the North, Nahanni River Adventures and Canadian River Expeditions and we continue our strong involvement at the national level to preserve our great northern rivers and further environmental protection of this important wilderness resource. Our memberships in the Wilderness Tourism Association of the Yukon (WTAY), Yukon Wild, Nahanni River Outfitters Association, Alsek Tatshenshini Outfitters Association, Tourism Association of Canada, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Association and participation in the Canadian Tourism Commission is testament to our longstanding commitment to protecting the environment in Northern Canada and Alaska.
Extraordinary Guides
We believe extraordinary guests should have extraordinary guides. We handpick our guides all of whom are unique individuals, empowered and encouraged to share their tremendous local knowledge with you. Their deep experience living, learning and teaching about regional geology, wildlife and history is matched only by their passion for adventure, technical whitewater skills and leadership acumen. We ensure a guest to guide ratio of four (maximum) on our trips so that you get lots of time to get to know these fun, friendly and fascinating folks!
A Premium Experience
You expect more on your adventure-and so do we. We give you ultimate choice-20 rivers and 30+ unique itineraries so that you can take on as much adventure or as much relaxation, as you like. The small groups on our trips accommodate much more personalized service and our attention to detail begins long before our rivers start running in the spring. We work with you closely to plan your holiday so that you get maximum adventure during your precious vacation time off. From the comfortable tents we use at night to your own private river bag for your personal gear, from fresh fish, baked goods, fruit and produce to that delicious lasagna accompanied by a fine red wine at dinner, our trips deliver quality every step of the way.
Authentically Us
We are heartened that being "green" is so in vogue ... although frankly, we've been green since 1972! Our longstanding commitment to the environment is one of our most important values and one which we are exceedingly proud of. You might hear talk of "ecotourism"...at Nahanni River Adventures and Canadian River Expeditions, you will find the very definition of this - in practice. We decided many years ago to make the environment a priority and have been an active political advocate in support of this objective. We donate hundreds of hours to environmental causes every year.