2025: July 19 - Aug 1
300 km (186 miles)
$13,350 CAD + 5% gst
14 Days
Canoe
Novice to Intermediate
Norman Wells, NWT
By Northwest Territories standards, the 300 km Upper Horton River journey is as remote a river trip as one is likely to find and enjoy in North America. Three outstanding features characterize the Horton River the wildlife (caribou, muskoxen, wolves, grizzly and various birds, including falcons and hawks in abundance), the scenery (rolling tundra and open valleys with scenic vistas), and the clear, swift-flowing waters that are generally easy to navigate.
Caribou are likely to be sighted throughout the journey. The timing of the migration varies from year to year, but it is almost certain that caribou will be seen on this river trip. The animals located along the Horton River are part of the Bluenose herd, whose population is estimated to be in the range of 68,000 animals. There is a sizeable population of muskoxen in the Horton River area and it is prime grizzly bear habitat. The bears here are slightly smaller (males average around 200 kg) than the bears of the west coast of Canada and Alaska. A number of arctic wolf packs work the Horton River Valley, many which follow the caribou migration.
Fish are plentiful along most of the river route. Arctic grayling and lake trout are the two most common species caught, although there is a char run in the summer for a short period.
The Upper Horton is a historic region where the ancestral hunting areas of the northern Inuit overlapped with the central Athapaskan Indians. We’ll leave any arrowheads, spearpoints, scrapers or other tools where we find them, and explore ancient fences used by the hunters to funnel the caribou into spearing zones.
Call us at (867) 445-4512 for more information about our guided Upper Horton River canoe adventure through the Canadian Arctic!
Ask us about discounted trip fees if you have interest in continuing on with our lower Horton River journey for a total 25 day, 600 km guided canoe expedition to the Arctic Ocean!
Scenery is fantastic and just enough Swift's and C1's to make it fun. Our trip was super well organized and the food was incredible, including our freshly caught trout and char dinners.
Departing from Norman Wells, fly northeast over the unique tundra ecosystem on a float plane air charter. See frost polygons from the air and will begin to get a feel for this diverse and solitary landscape. After landing at our first camp on Horton Lake (80 km north of Great Bear Lake), explore this area surrounded by vast, rolling tundra plains.
Paddle through the rolling tundra is dotted with dwarf spruce trees which define the northern limit of the tree line in Canada. Watch for the elusive snowy-owl in flight along with a myriad of other raptors nesting on cliffs and open tundra. This is big-sky country where the clouds paint dizzying patterns in wisps and streaks and the midnight sun barely dips below the horizon. Evening walks on the tundra are a nightly ritual and give you a sense of how small we really are in this vast, barren landscape.
As we descent the clear water towards our end destination at the confluence with the Whaleman River, the world-class fly-fishing is sure to produce catches of arctic grayling, lake trout and occasionally prized arctic char. We make time for guest interests, such as photo shoots along the river or during daily hikes on the vast and undulating tundra.
At the Whaleman River we meet our Aklak Air Twin Otter for the mesmerizing flight across the arctic tundra to Inuvik, NWT. At this point, some trippers may join the Lower Horton group and paddle all the way to the arctic coast.
– Charter flight from Norman Wells to the Horton River
– Charter flight from the Horton River to Inuvik
– One night of accommodation in Inuvik (double occupancy, extra fee for solo)
– Shuttles from the airport when in Norman Wells & Inuvik
– Certified guides with a maximum ratio of 5:1
– Expedition canoes
– Paddle, lifejacket, throw bags
– 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, Edmonton, Norman Wells
– Commercial flights to Norman Wells and back from Inuvik
– Personal gear including drybag, sleeping bag, sleeping pad (avaliable for rent)
– Meals in Norman Wells & Inuvik before and after the trip (Day 1 Breakfast and Day 14 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
This trip is suitable for beginners however paddlers must have sufficient strength to paddle up to 6 hours in strong headwinds that may develop on this trip. Experienced guides will assist novices to have a safe trip. Back-country camping experience is required as this is an extremely remote wilderness trip. If you are interested in this trip, but are unsure of your paddling abilities, please contact our office.
“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.
Norman Wells and Inuvik are served by flights from Yellowknife and Whitehorse (in the case of Inuvik), which are connected to major Canadian airports such Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver.
You bet!
We are proud show off our local fresh fish recipes, as the Horton River has excellent fishing.
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 guests paddle with us in their mid-eighties.
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.
