Why Choose Us?

The North is a spectacular place, why not discover it with Northerners?

We live in the North and understand that a trip up here is a big deal. You are looking for a once in a lifetime experience. That’s good – because we don’t do “typical trips”. We go where few ever will. As the leader in arctic paddling, our deep roots allow us to explore the North differently from everyone else. Nowhere else will you find a more experienced & passionate team of local guides. Working closely with northern communities means we can immerse you in the best an expedition has to offer. We are 100% local and it matters.

Deep Roots in The North

Based in Yellowknife, we are the only locally-owned canoe & kayak adventure company in the Northwest Territories. Jackpine Paddle owner Dan Wong was raised in the North. His parents moved to Yellowknife for work in the 1980s, and have been there ever since. It’s great up here!

In 2019 Alex Hall passed his adventure company Canoe Arctic Inc. over to us – which had operated in the North since 1973. Alex was the longest serving and first Arctic canoe guide in Canada. He spent 64 years paddling under big tundra skies, and sharing the barrenlands with over 2,000 guests.

Learn More

The Best Team

Our iconic wilderness trips are a dream-job for most paddling professionals, so we pick carefully from the best. You’ll join elite, northern guides trained to the highest standards in the industry. Some of whom have honed their arctic experience over more than 100 expeditions in their 20-plus-year career. Our maximum 1:5 wilderness guide to guest ratio means you’ll have the right amount of support & safety.

Learn more about our wilderness guides

Our Reputation

Above all, we are proud that more than 40% of our guests each season have paddled with us before or were referred by a past paddler. More than anything else this industry-leading return & referral rate speaks for itself.  We appreciate the strong reviews left by past guests on Tripadvisor (5 stars from 74 reviews), and Google (4.8 stars from 52 reviews).

In 2022 we earned the TripAdvisor Traveler’s Choice Award, offered to top businesses that are most consistent at delivering high-quality experiences as rated by their guests.

See our Tripadvisor Reviews

Our Backcountry Menu

Enjoy our hearty & delicious expedition meals honed over many years of wilderness tripping. And all made from scratch over an open fire. For those expecting freeze-dried, pre-packed camping meals, you’ll be surprised by the fresh fruits and vegetables, cheeses and specialty meats. We proudly offer locally-roasted coffee, smoked fish from Great Slave Lake, birch syrup, and more. Best of all – the menu changes daily & a vegetarian choice is always offered.

See our backcountry menu 

Focus on Safety

“Even by northern standards, Jackpine Paddle operates in the most remote wilderness areas on the planet, so safety is our highest priority”, said Dan Wong, Owner.

“That is why our guides are certified to the highest standards, and we have a detailed emergency plan”.

Learn more about our emergency planning

Charting New Adventures

As the leader in arctic paddling, we are the first and only adventure company to offer guided canoe trips in Thaidene Nene – Canada’s newest national Park.

Going where no one else can – or will – we are also the first and only to offer guided kayak trips on Great Slave Lake.

We have been pioneering new innovative itineraries with our local knowledge of the Northwest Territories since our inception.

Local Partnerships

The NWT tourism industry has long been dominated by outside interests and southern-owned companies.

We are committed to changing that. We believe that the benefits of tourism should be shared with northerners and northern communities. We work closely with fellow local operators and organizations.

To us, the North represents more than just a destination; it’s where we call home. By choosing to paddle with us, you can discover the North – like a local!

Help us create a healthier and more sustainable Northwest Territories.

Learn More About Our Partnerships