Pls inquire for 2024
10 Days
$8,899 CAD + 5% gst
80 km (50 miles)
Canoe
Novice to Intermediate
Yellowknife, NWT
Your 50 mile long canoe route on the upper Taltson River (Northwest Territories) is located at the treeline with elements of both the tundra and the open boreal forest present. You’ll experience the “transition zone” between forest and tundra. The hills, especially the higher ones, are bare of trees and the lower elevations along the river are forested. During the trip you can climb into the hills in most places along our route where you can see great sweeps of open tundra. There are pristine sand beaches everywhere – miles of them in some places.
While paddling experience is an asset, this trip is suitable for beginners – with the support of our experienced guides. The Upper Taltson River along our canoe route is largely a series of river widenings which in effect are long narrow lakes. There is flowing river in many places, but in all there are only five short rapids, none of which require portaging.
This trip is a birder’s paradise, where you’ll take advantage of the end of the spring migration. There are many birds passing through this area that are migrating further north into more distant arctic regions. Birds of note include scoters, jaegers, merlins, bald eagles, osprey, many species of ducks, large numbers of molting Canada geese, and several species of loons.
In recent years, we have seen muskoxen on the Taltson River. In fact, we have seen up to 75 muskoxen on a trip. The muskoxen are encountered in small herds or as solitary bulls and they are easy to get close to. It’s typical to spot moose (up to a dozen) and sometimes a wolf, or more. Blacks bears are often seen and occasionally a wolverine.
The fishing on this trip is nothing short of fabulous! You’ll have regular opportunities to try for lake trout and northern pike are abundant and range in size from 4 to 30 lbs.
Very few people have ever canoed the Taltson River and we don’t expect to see anyone else on this trip. Due to it’s extreme remoteness, this area was not explored by Europeans until the 1930s when aircraft entered the North. The whole region around your canoe route is completely uninhabited and remains on the most remote areas of raw wilderness on the North American continent.
Looking for a canoe trip later in the summer? Check out our Thaidene Nene National Park trip!
We have two cold days at the start then spring happened. We had no head winds, no insects, perfect campsites, warm weather, great interaction among all those on the trip. We ate lots of fish. Saw at least 54 species of birds and only two large mammals. Learned everyday about the barrenlands and the Northwest Territory. My wife and I have been doing out door adventures for 56 years and this was our most memorable trip. This was due to the terrific organization and skill of Jackpine Paddle. We would travel anywhere with them.
We'll start this canoe trip on the Taltson River just north of Dymond Lake, where we will land in our float plane from Yellowknife 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. During this evening and others on this trip, participants will have plenty of time to pursue their interests whether they be photography, fishing, hiking, birding, swimming or just taking a nap.
Our route along the Taltson River is incredibly beautiful hilly country with crystal-clear water, sand beaches everywhere, and open spruce forest with no underbrush and tundra hills. We are on the Canadian Shield with lakes in every depression, but the upper Taltson is very sandy country. We'll have different campsites fronted by big sand beaches every night. The campsites are beautiful and pristine beyond imagination.
Only at the end of our route do we enter the open boreal forest. The forested and semi-forested areas along the Taltson River valley bottom are simply exquisite. Try to put the conventional idea of a forest out of your mind. Picture widely-spaced, conical white spruce growing on a fluffy carpet of lichen with no underbrush. You can see a long way through such a sparse forest. Caribou trails are everywhere. Along the water are great sweeps of white and beaches and if you walk uphill very far you emerge from the trees onto bare tundra hills.
Our float plane arrives around noon to take us back to Yellowknife. We say goodbye to this highly unique place of pristine white sand beaches and crystal-clear water. Back in Yellowknife, we meet up for a farewell dinner and cold beers (after hot showers)!
Here is the list of birds spotting during our 10-day trip on the Taltson River in June 2019:
*List is organized by date viewed from first to last.
• Common Loon
• Sandhill Crane
• Green-winged Teal
• Northern Pintail
• Black Scoter
• Semipalmated Plover
• Red-necked Phalarope
• Short-billed Dowitcher
• Stilt Sandpiper
• Western Sandpiper
• Herring Gull
• Franklin Gull
• Arctic Tern
• American robin
• American Pipit
• Brewer Blackbird
• Gray Jay
• Dark-eyed Junco
• Canada Goose
• Bald Eagle
• Lesser Scaup
• Harris Sparrow
• Pine Grosbeak
• Lapland Longspur
• Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon)
• Mew Gull
• American Tree Sparrow
• Yellow Warbler
• Blackpoll Warbler
• Common Redpoll
• Chestnut-sided Warbler
• Common Merganser
• Ruby-crowned Kinglet
• Surf Scoter
• Pacific Loon
• Least Sandpiper
• Lesser Yellowlegs
• Common Raven
• Olive-sided Flycatcher
• Parasitic Jaeger
• Boreal Chickadee
• Ring-necked Duck
• American Widgeon
• Osprey
• Tree Swallow
• Bald Eagle
• Bohemian Waxwing
• Swainson Thrush
• Common Yellowthroat
• Red-breasted Nuthatch
• Gray-cheeked Thrush
• Greater Yellowlegs
• Long-tailed Jaeger
• Common Snipe
• White Pelican
– Charter flight from Yellowknife to the Taltson River, return
– Shuttles from the airport when in Yellowknife, NWT
– Certified guides with a maximum ratio of 5:1
– Expedition canoes
– Paddle & lifejacket
– Group gear for each expedition (tarp, kitchen equipment, utensils, water filtration, etc)
– Throw bags and safety gear
– 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 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 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.
While paddling experience is an asset, this trip is suitable for beginners – with the support of our experienced guides. The Taltson River along our canoe route is largely a series of river widenings which in effect are long narrow lakes. There is flowing river in many places, but in all there are only five short rapids, none of which require portaging. Because of the possibility of winds, experience in flat-water canoeing will be important for some members of our group who will be paddling stern.
“Our guide was always thinking, keeping the abilities of his clients in the forefront” – Kim M, 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.
Yellowknife is served by direct flights from southern hubs such as Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver with Air Canada, Westjet and Canadian North.
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. 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
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62°09’N 111°52’W
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69°51’N 126°56’W
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62°59’N 129°01’W
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