2026: July 7-18
2027: July 6-17
120 km (75 miles)
$8,995 CAD + 5% GST
12 days
Canoe
Novice to Intermediate
Yellowknife, NWT
If you’re picturing a typical lake canoe trip, think again. Great Slave Lake is the deepest lake in North America and one of the largest in the world. Its East Arm is a place of extremes — ancient cliffs dropping 180 metres straight into dark, cold water, towering island cliffs, and a vastness that feels more like open ocean than anything you’ve encountered on a lake in southern Canada. This isn’t cottage country. This is the subarctic.
The landscape around Red Cliff Island sits at the edge of Thaidene Nëné — “The Lands of the Ancestors” — one of Canada’s newest national parks. The geology here is billions of years old. The water is impossibly clear. The campsites are perched on granite ridges of the Canadian Shield, and you’ll likely have every single one of them to yourself.
This 12-day guided canoe trip launches from Frontier Lodge, a 50-minute charter flight from Yellowknife. The lodge is owned by the Łutsël K’é Dene First Nation and sits across a small channel from Łutsël K’é — “Place of the Cisco Fish.” It’s the perfect starting point for a bucket-list paddle through some of the most spectacular and rarely visited country in northern Canada.
Mid-trip, we’ll take a rest day and be joined by Ron Desjarlais, a Łutsël K’é Dene Elder and owner of Red Cliff Adventures. Ron will host a traditional shore lunch, lead a hike, and share his deep knowledge of Dënesųłıné culture and the thousands of years the Dene have thrived on this land.
There’s no shortage of things to do beyond paddling: hiking granite ridges with views that stretch to the horizon, observing magnificent muskox, or simply sitting with the silence of an enormous northern landscape.
This is our top fishing trip, and it’s not even close. The East Arm of Great Slave Lake is legendary among anglers for a reason: Lake Trout here grow enormous in the deep, cold water, and Arctic Grayling rise eagerly in the shallower bays and tributary streams. You don’t need to be an expert — the fish are abundant and aggressive. If you are a serious angler, this is the trip to prioritize.
No whitewater experience is required — your guides will lead you safely through big, open water in a remote and powerful landscape. The towering islands and sweeping bays give us flexibility with distances, averaging around 120 km total with room to adjust based on weather, wind, and the group interest.
Rivers get all the glory in northern paddling, and for good reason. But this trip offers something a river can’t: the freedom to explore in every direction, rest days that feel earned, and a connection not just to pristine water and rugged landscapes but to the cultures and traditions of the Dënesųłıné people who have called this place home since time immemorial.
Call us at (867) 445-4512 for more information about our guided Great Slave Lake canoe adventure.
To venture beyond Great Slave Lake on another great lake trip in the same region- check out our alternative guided canoe trip in Thaidene Nene National Park.
The beauty of this rugged untamed wilderness is something that has to be experienced to be understood. Venturing out into the vastness of the Great Slave wilderness by canoe imparted a humbling sense of vulnerability as I found myself at the mercy of the Lake, taking safe passage only when it is offered and seeking shelter a shore when it is not. In this modern age of high speed internet and digital connectivity, it is grounding to be placed in a situation where mother nature sets the pace. The trip provided a perfect blend of adventure, excitement, and camaraderie. Among the souvenirs from taken from the trip were several new friendships made along the way with both fellow guests and guide staff. No trip testimonial would be complete without mentioning the Lake Trout fishing which was just phenomenal. While they didn't technically jump in to the boat, one did actually beach itself while chasing my lure to the shore. I can't wait to return.
On the morning of your flight, your guides will pick you up at your hotel and bring you to the Air Tindi float base. Your 50-minute flight will be by a chartered twin engine float plane directly to the community of Lutsel K’e and Frontier Lodge, where you will be welcomed by local hosts.
Heading out on your canoe expedition, you'll leave Frontier Lodge behind and experience the grandeur, serenity and freedom of this unspoiled, wide-open region of Great Slave Lake – along with the incredible fishing. You'll discover why the East Arm is known as a world-class scenic and geological wonder.
You'll be joined by Ron Desjarlais - to experience not only the rugged landscape and crystal clear waters - but the vibrant Dënesųłıné culture in this area. Ron is an expert on this land and water, and his understanding of local wildlife will make this day exceptional.
Continuing on your canoe expedition, you'll follow your experienced guides and cross over from Red Cliff Island to the mainland, taking time to observe herds of muskoxen and stoic moose seen grazing along the shore. You'll overnight at Frontier Lodge on Day 11, and in the morning get packed up for the final, spectacular float plane flight back to Yellowknife.
– Air charter from Yellowknife to Red Cliff Island, return
– Shuttles from the airport when in Yellowknife
– Certified guides with a maximum ratio of 5:1
– Expedition canoes
– Werner paddles & PFDs
– 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 tents (double occupancy, extra fees for solo)
– Hearty and nutritious meals including snacks while on trip
– Group will be limited to 10 participants + 2 guides
– In-town accommodations in Yellowknife
– Commercial flights to Yellowknife
– Personal gear including drybag, sleeping bag, sleeping pad (avaliable for rent)
– Meals in Yellowknife 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
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!
We are proud show off our local fresh fish recipes while on trip. The trout fishing is world-class on the East Arm so we’ll be supplementing our meals with freshly caught lake 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.
Paddling experience in a canoe is required – as well as experience on over-night multi-day canoe trips.
This is a flat water canoe trip that is relatively sheltered, but at times there are exposed crossings and the possibility of strong winds throughout the trip.
If you are unsure of your suitability for this trip – please contact our office.
“Our guide was always thinking, keeping the abilities of his clients in the forefront” – Kim M, USA
It’s easy to fly to the Northwest Territories. There are direct jet flights to Yellowknife from Calgary (2 hours), Edmonton (1.5 hours), Ottawa (4 hours) and Whitehorse (1.5 hours).
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.
Age is a mindset, and kayaking is an activity that is truly for everyone. Age is not important. What counts is 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.
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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