As Seen In

2023 Trip Guide

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As Seen In

2023 Trip Guide

rapid media magazine

View now

Jackpine Paddle is 100% northern-owned. Explore the Canadian North on a guided expedition trip. Rent a canoe or kayak for a trip of your own. We would be happy to assist you in finding the trip of a lifetime whether it be herds of muskox, northern lights, true wilderness, or all of the above. Remember, Life is Better Outside!

Overview

The fabled East Arm of Great Slave Lake has a spectacular reputation among locals, and for good reason. This trip on the East Arm of Great Slave Lake features deep, clear water with abundant islands, narrow channels with tall red cliffs, and world-class fishing.
With craggy cliffs and rocky islands, the islands of the East Arm support bald eagles, terns and gulls. Breathtaking cliffs are built from rock as old as 2.7-billion years (the oldest in the world), making for some of the most epic campsites you’ll ever experience. If fishing is your thing, you’ll definitely want to bring a fishing rod to enjoy the seemingly bottomless depths surrounding these islands. They are swarming with trophy-sized lake trout. And because the lake is clean and cold, fish keep near the surface in summer, making for plenty fishing opportunities from a kayak and from camp. To add an element of magic to these expeditions, we’ve picked dates to take advantage of autumn Aurora season. As you tip your head back in awe to catch the glittering lights dancing across the sky, we’ll show you the best of our spectacular Aurora. Great Slave Lake lies directly in the magnetic “Aurora Belt”.
Starting at
$2982 USD
$4450 CAD
Per Person

Trip Highlights

  • Northern Lights
  • Spectacular Cliffs
  • World-Class Fishing
  • Remote Northern Wilderness
  • Small Group Sizes

Jackpine Paddle is 100% northern-owned. Explore the Canadian North on a guided expedition trip. Rent a canoe or kayak for a trip of your own. We would be happy to assist you in finding the trip of a lifetime whether it be herds of muskox, northern lights, true wilderness, or all of the above. Remember, Life is Better Outside!

Quick Facts

Paddlesport

  • Kayaking

Activity

  • Recreation
  • Fishing
  • Expedition
  • Sea Kayaking & Touring

Experience/Service

  • Paddling Trip

Waterway

  • Big Lakes

Destination

  • North America

Length

  • 9 Days

Accomodation

  • Wilderness Camping

Guided

  • Yes

Outfitted

  • Fully

Special Interest

  • Family
  • Women
  • Youth
  • Students
  • Photography
  • Wildlife Viewing
  • Beginner
  • Intermediate
  • Advanced

Adventure Level

Easier Challenging

Itinerary

Meeting Place

Jackpine Paddle Base

Yellowknife, Northwest Territories

If the North has been on your bucket list for ages, the majestic East Arm offers a place like no others: unspoiled, remote, and iconic.

Day 1:

In the morning, we board our boat shuttle to the East Arm. As our fast and comfortable boat powers out of Yellowknife Bay, we get a great view of the spectacular Canadian Shield as we travel deeper into remote wilderness.

Day 2:

Once at camp on a majestic rocky island, we take in our new surroundings: pristine air and clear deep water. It doesn't take long to reel in our first lake trout. Fish fry for dinner?

Day 3:

We spend our days moving to a new location each day, setting up camp on beautiful natural sites on the subarctic shield.

Day 4:

As we work our way to the North end of Etthen Island, the scenery grows bolder.

Day 5:

Spectacular granite cliffs rise along the shore. We are treated to Aurora that dances in the sky above our tents. The fishing is non-stop, and world-class. If the weather permits, we cross over to Utsingi Point for a day trip to hike and explore this stunning peninsula.

Day 6:

We paddle around the North end of Etthen Island and are treated to spectacular granite cliffs rising along the shore. It's a breath-taking and stunning scene that few will ever experience.

Day 7:

We continue to paddle South, enjoying some of the most unique and beautiful campsites in the Northwest Territories.

Day 8:

Perfect paddling on the profound blue depths off Etthen island will offer exciting days. Often, we spot wildlife such as moose or bears. Eventually, we are back to our original campsite having successfully completed our 70 km circumnavigation of Etthen Island.

Day 9:

One last chance to pick our fill of wild berries before the boat shuttle roars in to whisk us 200 km back to the nearest civilization of Yellowknife. After hot showers we meet up in town for cold celebratory beers and final farewells!

Dates & Packages

East Arm | Great Slave Lake

– Boat shuttle from Yellowknife to the East Arm of Great Slave Lake, return – Shuttles from the airport when in Yellowknife – Certified guides with a maximum ratio of 5:1 – Seaward expedition kayaks – Werner paddles & PFDs – Group gear for each expedition (tarp, kitchen equipment, utensils, water filtration, etc) – Expedition first aid kit and canoe repair kit – Emergency satellite phone, two-way radios for guide staff – Expedition tents – Hearty and nutritious meals including snacks while on trip – Group will be limited to 8 participants + 2 guides
August 6-14, 2023 August 22-30, 2023

What Guests Are Saying

We were promised the trip of a lifetime and that is exactly what was delivered. The beauty of this rugged untamed wilderness is something that has to be experienced to be understood. Venturing out into the vastness of the Great Slave wilderness by kayak imparted a humbling sense of vulnerability.

- Luke Schubert, Canada | East Arm Expedition
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Company Overview

By choosing to join a trip with us, you are supporting the local economy of the Northwest Territories. As the only northern-owned paddling outfitter offering arctic wilderness expeditions, we appreciate your support.

Learn More
Company Overview

By choosing to join a trip with us, you are supporting the local economy of the Northwest Territories. As the only northern-owned paddling outfitter offering arctic wilderness expeditions, we appreciate your support.

Learn More
Our Team

The North is a spectacular place to explore, so why not discover it with Northerners? We employ experienced guides who live in the Northwest Territories, with deep roots on our rivers and lakes. Based out of Yellowknife, NT, we know that when it comes to the North, there is no other place like it.

Learn More
Our Team

The North is a spectacular place to explore, so why not discover it with Northerners? We employ experienced guides who live in the Northwest Territories, with deep roots on our rivers and lakes. Based out of Yellowknife, NT, we know that when it comes to the North, there is no other place like it.

Learn More
Our Services

We offer: - Fully Guided Expeditions - Rentals & Shuttles - Paddle Canada Courses - Youth Paddle Camps!

Learn More
Our Services

We offer: - Fully Guided Expeditions - Rentals & Shuttles - Paddle Canada Courses - Youth Paddle Camps!

Learn More
Company History

On March 2, 2019, after an eleven month battle with cancer, Alex Hall passed away peacefully at home in Fort Smith. Before Alex passed away, he handed the reins of Canoe Arctic Inc. to fellow northerner Dan Wong. For 2020 and beyond, Jackpine Paddle will proudly carry on the legacy of Canoe Arctic Inc. on the Thelon River and its major tributaries.

Learn More
Company History

On March 2, 2019, after an eleven month battle with cancer, Alex Hall passed away peacefully at home in Fort Smith. Before Alex passed away, he handed the reins of Canoe Arctic Inc. to fellow northerner Dan Wong. For 2020 and beyond, Jackpine Paddle will proudly carry on the legacy of Canoe Arctic Inc. on the Thelon River and its major tributaries.

Learn More