Nahanni Canyons from Virginia Falls - 7 Days
Whitewater Rafting in Canada with Canadian River Expeditions / Nahanni River Expeditions
Highlights
- Visit the world’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Nahanni River
- Experience majestic Virginia Falls, nearly twice the height of Niagara Falls
- Hard-working, well-trained, and knowledgeable wilderness and whitewater guides
Full Description
A Nahanni River rafting or canoeing experience is truly the "Trip of a Lifetime". For those with limited vacation time, this adventure allows you to experience the best of the Nahanni's "Grand Canyons", Virginia Falls and many of the iconic features for which the Nahanni River is renowned. We follow a 7-day Nahanni River river route traveling over 240 kilometres (150 miles) from Virginia Falls to Blackstone Landing. Over this course, the Nahanni River drops 396 m (1,300 ft) or almost 9 feet per mile.
On our Nahanni river rafting and canoeing trips, we use rafts as well as 2-person canoes (or Voyageur canoe combinations depending on your experience level) on selected departure dates. Our Nahanni whitewater rafting expeditions are designed for people of any skill level including novices. Some Nahanni raft trips offer canoeing as an option. In this case, the canoeing prerequisites apply and must be met.
Craft Description: Raft - Raft on all trips, On certain selected trips you may opt for 2-Person Canoe, or Voyageur canoe combination (please check prerequisites).
Prerequisites: Beginners - Our raft expeditions are designed for people of any skill level including novices. Some raft trips offer canoeing as an option. In this case, the canoeing prerequisites apply and must be met.
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 1: Majestic Mountain & Canyon Flight
This is the first day listed for your trip. 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.
Your Trip leader will meet you at the airport (if you arrive the day prior, please make your way to your accommodation). Those requiring our river bags will have time to transfer gear from their own bags. You can leave unrequired items at our base/warehouse. After loading our supplies and gear into the aircraft we begin one of the major highlights of the adventure-the upriver flight. Flying over the majestic Nahanni Range and Ram Plateau, a visually stunning panorama unfolds in front of our eyes. Past participants have stepped off the plane declaring that “if the trip finished now, I would have my moneys worth!”
Please note – Under certain conditions (weather, forest fire, plane availability and upriver conditions), it may be necessary to make our upriver flight soon after arrival. On the other hand, we have occasionally found ourselves waiting for safe flying conditions. In any event, we will have supper and find our selves camped in Ft. Simpson or on the shores of the Nahanni. (D)
Day 2: Virginia Falls
We will make the final portage around the falls. The trail is downhill and well defined. You need carry only what is comfortable for you. Everyone pitches in to carry what they can and we take as long as we need to complete the task. It is impossible to spend too much time at Virginia Falls! We will assemble the boats and, after a late shore lunch and briefing, we will embark in the late afternoon, on an exhilarating run through Painted Canyon, also known as Fourth Canyon. The final challenge for the day will be Figure 8 Rapids (Hell’s Gate). Camp is finally made for the evening below Wrigley Creek. (B/L/D)
Day 3: Canyons and Chasms
We drift past the confluence of the Flat River and enter Third Canyon, the walls of which loom 1200 m above the river. We camp halfway through this canyon near The Gate. (B/L/D)
Day 4: Deadmen Valley
Paddling through the Big Bend and Second Canyon and past Headless Creek we will find our selves camped in the vicinity of Deadmen Valley. The view includes the Tlogotsho Plateau and Prairie Creek Canyon. It was here, on the shores of Headless Creek, that the bodies of the Mcleod brothers were found in 1905 and the legend of the Headless Valley was born. Downriver at Sheaf Creek, R. M. Patterson and his partner, Gordon Mathews, wintered over in 1928. Patterson later wrote Dangerous River, one of the most eloquent accounts of the early days on the river. Around the campfire, we will read from his book. (B/L/D)
Day 5: Canyon Kindom
We start the day by challenging the big waves of George’s Riffle and enter First Canyon, the deepest of all the canyons. Camp will be made at Lafferty’s Riffle. (B/L/D)
Day 6: Kraus' Hot Springs
After the waves of Lafferty’s Riffle, we take a quick dip in Kraus’ Hotsprings before bidding farewell to the canyons and entering the braided channels of The Splits. Here a broad valley is revealed and the surrounding mountains, ridge piled upon ridge, form a dramatic contrast to the enclosure of the canyons. Lush boreal forest bordered by steep ridges form a “story book” setting. (B/L/D)
Day 7: The Great Dene Wall and Liard River Flight
Stopping in the village we will have an opportunity to see this traditional community. Here we board a charter plane for our flight down the Liard valley back to Fort Simpson. You will need to book accommodation for this final night in Fort Simpson. The group can meet for dinner at the Sub-Arctic Cafe for a final farewell meal and good-bye to your guides (accommodation and meal not included). (B/L)
Day 8: Homeward Bound
After a relaxing morning and time to look around the Village of Fort Simpson, you will board your homeward plane with a load of fond memories and a relaxed and renewed spirit!
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.