2025: July 21 - 30
175 km
$6,875 CAD + 5% gst
10 days
Canoe
Novice-Intermediate
Deline, NWT
The boreal forests that grace the shores of the Sahtu de (Great Bear River) offer spectacular views of the Mackenzie lowlands. The current on this river often reaches speeds of 10 to 12 km per hour with icy-cold, crystal clear water.
The Great Bear River is one of the world-class fishing areas of the North, offering ample opportunities to vie for lake-trout and arctic grayling from rugged campsites located at the confluence of numerous side creeks (Porcupine River, Stick Creek, Mount St. Charles and Brackett River). Fishing is certain to be a memorable highlight of this trip – either on spinning or fly rod.
At Mount St. Charles we’ll get a chance to explore on foot in a rewarding layover day in the area early explorers used to access Great Bear Lake and the arctic barrenlands. Downstream of Mount St. Charles we’ll take care when working our way through Class II rapids, the only real whitewater on the trip.
Hiking at Bear Rock affords views of the Mackenzie Mountains and our final section on the Mackenzie River from the Dene community of Tulita to Norman Wells – where we’ll celebrate the end of a successful expedition.
Call us at 1 (867) 445-4512 for more information about our guided Great Bear River canoe adventure through the Mackenzie Lowlands in northern Canada!
Looking for a kayak trip around the same time instead? Check out our East Arm Kayak Adventure!
We are not the most experienced paddlers. Sean has gave us some tips. And it's not just his knowledge of the water, it's his knowledge of the land and the areas we have travelled through. He's been extremely knowledgeable.
The river is spectacular. Crystal clear doesn't fairly describe it. The ability to go up Mount St Charles and up Bear Mountain, opens up the land, as well as the river itself.
Waking up on the shore of Great Bear Lake in the remote community of Deline, you launch canoes and take your first paddle strokes towards the nearby Great Bear river. Trophy-sized lake trout flash in the clear waters under your canoe. Get ready - some of the best trout fishing in the world is at the source of the river.
Camping at scenic creeks flowing into the Great Bear River, you spend a layover day hiking the Mount St. Charles for a stunning vista of the region (and great fishing for Arctic Grayling). The swift current and easy rapids whisk you along during the relaxing days, bringing you 100 km to the base of Great Bear Rock and the traditional community of Tulita.
The Great Bear River joins the Mackenzie River - Canada's longest river! The landscape opens up to scenic views and you have an opportunity to learn about the rich cultural history of the area from your knowledgeable guides.
Arriving in Norman Wells, you've made it! You have an opportunity to view & purchase unique northern art in the quaint local museum and explore the hub of the Sahtu region. After hot showers in your hotel, you meet with your fellow paddlers and new friends to share stories and one last meal before your flight to Yellowknife and back home the next day.
– Certified guides with a maximum ratio of 5:1
– one night of accommodation in Norman Wells (double occupancy – extra fee for solo)
– Air Charter flight to Great Bear River, from Norman Wells
– Expedition canoes
– Paddles & lifejacket.
– 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 tent (double occupancy – extra fee for solo)
– hearty and nutritious meals including snacks while on trip
– Group will be limited to 10 participants + 2 guides
– Off-river accommodations
– Commercial flights to Norman Wells
– Personal gear including drybag, sleeping bag, sleeping pad (avaliable for rent)
– Meals in town before and after the trip (Day 1 Breakfast and Day 10 Dinner)
– Gratuity for guides
– Wine or spirits
– Insurance including evacuation, medical and trip cancellation
– Northwest Territories fishing licence available online
Really good. We’ve fine-tuned a delicious, nutritious and well-balanced backcountry menu of unique and tasty dishes from years of expedition tripping – and look forward to sharing it with you. Our flexible menu can accommodate vegetarian and gluten-free preferences, and will be tailored in advance for participants on each trip. Guests are always welcome to join guides in cooking and learn to cook our authentic, backcountry recipes.
Breakfast will include fresh fruit and a main course, like eggs and bacon or blueberry pancakes. Lunch features locally-smoked sausages, fruit, hummus, salads, breads and naan with a spread of cheese, jams, and a variety of nut butters. Dinner will offer an hors d’oeuvres, main course, and dessert! Snacking will take place throughout the day.
“Five-star campsites, with gourmet meals included” – Dave S, USA
You bet!
For trips in the Northwest Territories, we are proud show off our local fresh fish recipes.
Jackpine Paddle is excited to offer Barren Ground Coffee on all of our paddling tours. Barren Ground Coffee locally-roasts fair trade and organic specialty coffee, 5 kilos at a time, on a beautiful craft roaster in Old Town, Yellowknife. Thanks to our partners at Barren Ground Coffee, we look forward to serving you the freshest roasted coffee in the Northwest Territories.
“We picked wild blueberries to top of the cheesecake” – Sophia D, Canada.
There is only one Class II rapid requiring technical paddling on the Great Bear River, so this trip is suitable for novice whitewater paddlers.
A detailed personal clothing and gear checklist , specific to your trip,
will be emailed to you in a registration email.
Check out the Youtube videos below with our tips and advice for packing your gear and personal clothes:
Essential Gear – Packing Tips for a Canoe or Kayak Trip
Clothes & Outwear – Packing Tips for a Canoe or Kayak Trip
Before you register for an expedition, please ensure each participant for whom you will be submitting a deposit payment (including yourself) has carefully reviewed the following:
– our Safety & Risk Awareness webpage
– information on your trip webpage (inclusions, exclusions, dates, etc)
– our Liability Waiver
Once you have reviewed the information above and you are comfortable with proceeding, we require a 10% deposit of the trip fee and online booking form completed, done through the “Book Now” button on the trip webpage.
Your trip deposit is fully refundable up to 90 days prior to your expedition start date. On this date, your remaining trip fees are due and all payments become non-refundable.
Once your expedition is within 90 days of departure we are unable to offer a refund for any reason if you cancel your participation.
Please read carefully: Should your expedition departure have to be cancelled, postponed or altered by a force majeure (including but not limited to: weather, poor visibility, or mechanical breakdown causing delayed or cancelled charter flights or helicopter journeys, fire, flood, pandemic, highway closures, community evacuations, ongoing or newly introduced travel ban or government statement), Jackpine Paddle and its partner operators are not obligated to provide a refund or offer alternative travel services.
We strongly encourage you to purchase:
1) Emergency Medical/Evacuation Insurance,
2) Trip Interruption Insurance and
3) Trip Cancellation Insurance – so that you are covered in the event of an unexpected change of plans.
To review our complete Terms & Conditions for Booking, Payment, and Cancellation – please click here.
Deline & Norman Wells are served with direct flights from Yellowknife. Yellowknife is easily accessed via Westjet and Air Canada from major Canadian hubs.
Age is a mindset, and canoeing is an activity that is truly for everyone. Age is not important. What counts are your spirit and that you are reasonably fit. We have had people paddle with us in their early nineties.
If you are a single paddler, you are more than welcome to join us on one of our trips.
There are additional fees if you opt for a solo tent, or local accommodations when provided – as these are based on double-occupancy.
Our trips typically have 2-3 guests who are traveling alone, so you will have the opportunity to meet and paddle with other like-minded individuals. Our guides are skilled at organizing paddling partners based on skill level and personality, ensuring that each trip is safe and enjoyable for all.
One of the best parts of our guided trips is the chance to meet and get to know other paddlers. We hope to see you on one of our trips soon.
If you have questions, we are happy to answer them!
You can get in touch with us at the bottom of this page, or at info@jackpinepaddle.com.
To check out our detailed Getting Started trip planning resource, click here!
62°52’N 105°31’W
It’s better in the Barrenlands – a remote and otherworldly zone of glacial eskers, rock-ribbed hills, and artifacts from the Chipewyan and Caribou Inuit cultures. You’ll find a treeless expanse legendary for paddling, fishing and wildlife viewing.
62°09’N 111°52’W
The fabled East Arm is perhaps the most grandiose region of Great Slake Lake, and for good reason. It features clear waters, deep bays with tall, stark red cliffs, and world-class fishing.
69°51’N 126°56’W
The Arctic Circle is a line of lore and legend – and the Western Arctic is one of the few places in Canada where you can reach it by river. You can watch the sun spin itself dizzy in the sky, never falling below the horizon. You’ve now crossed into the true polar zone, a mythic region only a fraction of the travellers on Earth have ever entered.
62°59’N 129°01’W
The Mackenzie Mountains may offer the greatest whitewater canoeing left on Earth – an endless oasis of remote, rugged uplands, cut through by glacial rivers and bustling with mountain sheep, caribou, moose and other creatures untouched by the modern age.
