2025: July 4 - 15
or Aug 4-15
300 km (186 miles)
$8,595 CAD + 5% gst
12 Days
Canoe
Novice to Intermediate
Norman Wells, NWT
Paddle the Begaadeé “Bay-gah-day” (Keele River) and discover breath-taking hikes, spectacular mountain views and some of the most memorable campsites you’ll find anywhere on this planet (wide-open gravel bars sporting dramatic vistas). From deep in the Mackenzie Mountains, you can fish along the shores of the Keele River for Bull-Trout and Arctic Grayling. You’ll have a chance to spot Grizzly bears, Dall Sheep, Mountain Goats and Mountain Caribou along it’s wild shores.
While boasting a strong current to whisk paddlers along for it’s entire length, the Keele River is action-packed, but not intimidating. Novice to intermediate paddlers will have fun in swift currents, rapids and aquamarine glacial water in a wilderness setting hundreds of kilometres from the nearest road. For the hiker, this trip offers stunning hikes on easy-to-access alpine routes.
In the near of the journey, you’ll be have a chance to explore the remote community of Tulita and Great Bear Rock on the Mackenzie River. This will be a unique opportunity to learn from Mountain Dene who have used this area since the last ice age.
Call us at 1 (867) 445 4512 for more information about our guided Keele River canoe adventures through the Mackenzie Mountains in Canada!
Looking for a longer expedition with more challenging whitewater? Check out our Natla River trip as a way to extend your adventure!
This was due to the terrific organization and skill of Jackpine Paddle. We would travel anywhere with them.
Get out your camera because it's going to be an hour-long, jaw-dropping flight deep into the remote wilderness of the Mackenzie Mountains. In the morning our float plane takes us from Norman Wells to the Keele River, about 3 km below the confluence with the Natla River.
Moving to a new campsite each night, we'll paddle through broad valleys to a beautiful, broad gravel bar where the Ekwi River joins the Keele. It's one of those unforgettable places backed by mountain scenery and crystal clear creek. We'll spend the next day hiking the grassy slopes for a stunning view, or taking the day of to relax in camp. Your choice!
Every day will bring adventure and exploration on the Keele cuts its way down the spectacular Redstone and Canyon Ranges. As we paddle on, the Keele is deflected east around the Tigonankweine Range by the towering Mount Eduni Massif. Eventually we'll leave the mountains behind as the river braids and merges with the Mackenzie River (known locally as Deh Cho or "Big River").
We'll be picked up by powerboat and shuttled down the Mackenzie River to Norman Wells. En route we'll pass on of the most mythological and iconic cultural sites in the Northwest Territories, Great Bear Rock.
– Charter flight from Norman Wells to the Keele River
– One night accommodation in Norman Wells (double occupancy – extra fee for single)
– Boat shuttle from the Keele River to Norman Wells
– Shuttles from the airport when in Norman Wells, NWT
– Certified guides with a maximum ratio of 5:1
– Expedition canoes with spray decks and knee pads
– Paddle, lifejacket, and paddling helmet.
– 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 in Yellowknife or Edmonton
– Commercial flights to and from Norman Wells
– Personal gear including drybag, sleeping bag, sleeping pad (avaliable for rent)
– Meals in Norman Wells before and after the trip (Day 1 Breakfast and Day 12 Dinner)
– Gratuity for guides
– Wine or spirits
– Insurance including evacuation, medical and trip cancellation
– Northwest Territories fishing licence available online
While whitewater experience is an asset, this trip is suitable for beginners – with the support of our experienced guides.
“Our guide was always thinking, keeping the abilities of his clients in the forefront” – Kim M, USA
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
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.
You bet!
We are proud show off our local fresh fish recipes while on trip. The Keele River has excellent fishing for arctic grayling and bull trout.
Jackpine Paddle is excited to offer Barren Ground Coffee on all of our paddling tours. Barren Ground Coffee locally-roasts fair trade and organic speciality 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.
Age is a mindset, and canoeing is an activity that is truly for everyone. Age is not important. What counts is your spirit and that you are reasonably fit for your age. 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!
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62°09’N 111°52’W
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62°59’N 129°01’W
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