Lower Horton River

Day 3:

We'll have a chance to scout and run rapids in first and second canyons, and roll up our sleeves for a short 200m portage in the third canyon (the only one of the trip). The canyons offer a spectacular landscape featuring hawks and falcons nesting on the limestone rock cliffs.

Day 4:

Unique pillars and interesting rock formations are common in this part of the trip.

Day 5:

As you’ll be paddling in the remote Arctic, chances at spotting large animals such as caribou, arctic wolves, grizzly bears and muskoxen are excellent.

Day 6:

As your 300km trip progresses, we’ll exit the canyons and enter immense serpentine oxbows as the river winds through an open plain.

Day 7:

Stopping at creeks for a chance to fish for arctic grayling, lake trout or arctic char in the cold, clear water of canyons, we paddle our way into the Badland Region of the Smoking Hills.

Day 8:

With trees left behind us for good, you’ll paddle through the Horton Badlands and Smoking Hills area. There are dramatic colours in the hills.

Day 9:

The smoke is caused by burning shale and mudrock, when iron-sulphide pyrite (fool’s gold) is rapidly exposed to oxygen via coastal erosion. This oxidation of the pyrite creates heat and cooks the organic-rich bedrock, causing it to spontaneously ignite.

Day 10:

The area is believed to have been burning since ice retreated from the area at the end of the last glaciation (12,000 years ago).

Day 11:

During our final days, we paddle through this distinctive geological phenomenon at the end of the Horton River. We are surrounded by tall hills with steeply eroded conical shapes nearly devoid of vegetation.

Day 12:

From your last camp on the Horton River, we’ll have a chance to hike to the Arctic coast and dip in the Arctic Ocean (optional!). You’ll be treated to a sweeping, panoramic vista of Franklin Bay. If you are lucky, a pod of Beluga whales may swim by, as the bay is rich in marine life.

Day 13:

Our float plane arrives around noon to take us back to Inuvik. We say goodbye to this highly unique place of rich wildlife. Back in Inuvik, we meet up for a farewell dinner and cold beers (after hot showers)!