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
Trip Highlights
- Lake Paddling with Whitewater Excitement
- Stunning Beach Camping
- Very Remote Adventure
- Superb Arctic Grayling Fishing
- Arctic Wildlife and Birds
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
- Canoeing
Activity
- Recreation
- Fishing
- Whitewater
- Expedition
- Lakewater Canoeing
- Canoe Tripping
Experience/Service
- Paddling Trip
Waterway
- Rivers and Streams (no whitewater)
- Whitewater Class I
- Whitewater Class II
Destination
- North America
Length
- 12 Days
Accomodation
- Wilderness Camping
Guided
- Yes
Outfitted
- Fully
Special Interest
- Family
- Women
- Youth
- Photography
- Wildlife Viewing
- Wilderness Gourmet
- Beginner
- Intermediate
- Advanced
Adventure Level
Itinerary
Meeting Place
Jackpine Paddle Base
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories
Be one of the lucky few to experience one of the most remote and spectacular tundra rivers in Canada, the Elk River!
Day 1:
Departing from Yellowknife, we'll start this canoe trip on the Elk River, where we will land in our float plane on Day 1. We will not likely travel far, if at all, on the first day of this trip. We'll set up camp and begin to take in our beautiful wilderness surroundings.
Day 2:
More than half of our campsites are likely to be on big eskers which present wonderful hiking opportunities.
Day 3:
Exquiste white, sandy beaches will front our campsites that are ideal for swimming.
Day 4:
The eskers along the Elk River are the most prominent topographical features in the region.
Day 5:
The scenery and vegetation along our route is varied and beautiful.
Day 6:
The landscape is hilly, dominated by eskers and keeps changing every day so that it's anything but repetitive.
Day 7:
And the water in the Elk River is crystal-clear, as pure as any water on Earth. There's nothing within hundreds of miles to pollute it.
Day 8:
The Elk is a small to medium-sized river on the Canadian Shield with scattered small lakes and river sections between these lakes. There's plenty of river paddling on this trip with about four dozen short, and short shallow, rapids.
Day 9:
These are all class 1 and 2 rapids except the five or six we'll portage. This is not a technical river but whitewater experience will be an asset. Good flat-water canoeing skills are a prerequisite for this river.
Day 10:
Although the Elk lies on the tundra well north of the treeline (edge of the forest), there are clumps and stands of spruce along its entire length. Spruce are most numerous in sandy areas, especially along the eskers, where they can reach three feet in diameter and be close to 1,000 years in age.
Day 11:
By the dates of this trip, it’s starting to get dark around 10 pm. And with the darkness may come some good displays of northern lights.
Day 12:
Our float plane arrives around noon to take us back to Yellowknife. We say goodbye to the Elk River and some of the largest and most beautiful eskers in the Barren Lands. Back in Yellowknife, we meet up for a farewell dinner and cold beers (after hot showers)!
Dates & Packages
Elk River
What Guests Are Saying
I enjoyed a great trip with Jackpine on the Elk River. Guiding and meals were top notch, and we saw a good number of muskox. Very memorable!
- Sheldon, Canada | Elk River ExpeditionLeave a review
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.jpg)
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 MoreOur 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 MoreOur 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 MoreCompany 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.jpg)
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