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 TRIP
DETAILS
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Trip Highlights
| Day 1: |
| Arrival in Fort Simpson by air or road. Charter flight to Rabbit Kettle Lake or Gravel Bar (weather permitting). This breathtaking flight takes you over the spectacular Nahanni Ranges to Rabbit Kettle Lake. You will camp in the vicinity of the lake for the first night. |
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| Day 2 to 5: |
| The next four days are spent exploring Rabbit Kettle Lake, hot springs and tufa mounds. This will be an interpretive hike guided by a Nahanni National Park warden. Begin down river canoeing to Virginia Falls. On the Nahanni River your trip begins with a few days of easy paddling which provides good opportunity for refining canoeing skills. This section of the river is dominated by U-shaped valleys scoured out by advancing glaciers thousands of years ago. You paddle 120 km (72 mi) on the smooth flowing water to Virginia Falls where you arrive on day 5 |
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| Day 6: |
| Everyone will appreciate a rest day at Virginia Falls. At over 90 m (300 ft), Virginia Falls is twice the height of Niagara, and the spectacular center piece of Nahanni National Park. The options for these days are many - you can lounge in the group camp area, explore the falls with your camera, or strike off on an invigorating hike to the grassy summit of Sunblood Mountain. Virginia Falls is a fascinating place with many options for exploratory hikes. |
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| Day 7: |
| Following your layover day, you complete the 2 km portage around the falls on the morning of day 7 and reload your canoes. For the following week you will immerse yourselves in the spectacular scenery of the lower Nahanni River. The lower Nahanni is canyon country and is often described as the "Grand Canyon of the North'. Beginning with Painted Canyon, so named because of its brightly coloured walls, you will experience the thrill and excitement of this whitewater section. You will camp in the vicinity of the mouth of the Flat River. |
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| Day 8: |
| Downstream, you enter Third Canyon with its imposing 1200 m walls formed as the Nahanni carved its way through the Funeral Range. You will camp in the shadow of The Gate, where the river has sliced a narrow chasm on the apex of a hairpin meander. An optional hike to the top of The Gate presents magnificent views of the river valley with the imposing Pulpit Rock 460 m below. |
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| Day 9: |
| The following day finds you completing the 35 km Third Canyon and continuing through 2nd Canyon (15 km) and the Headless Range and into Deadmen Valley. This valley is known for its legend and mystery, made famous by the mysterious deaths of the McLeod Brothers. Here the vista is noticeably different, as the valley opens up, with distant views of the Tlgotsho Plateau. |
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| Day 10: |
| Deadmen Valley offers numerous exploratory options. The massive Prairie Creek alluvial fan provides excellent camping, hiking and wildlife observations. Some trips take rest days here. In the afternoon, you will put back on the river for the run through the exhilarating waves of George's Riffle and on into First Canyon. The imposing walls of First Canyon reach heights of over 1400 m. Groups often raft together and drift the length of this magnificent 26 km canyon, immersed in its splendor. The canyon walls are dotted with hundreds of caves. Close to its exit you will camp for the night at Lafferty's Canyon, with good hiking opportunities. |
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| Day 11: |
| Following breakfast, it is down to Kraus' Hot Springs for a soothing dip in its 32 C plus waters. From here we bid farewell to the canyons and make our way to the Nahanni's Splits, a 70 km run through a maze of delta-like islands. |
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| Day 12: |
| You reach the confluence of the Nahanni and the Liard Rivers and arrive at the Native village of Nahanni Butte. Remote, yet surprisingly modern, a stroll into town provides insight into a culture far removed from most of North America. Your final camp will be on the open sand flats of the Liard River. |
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| Day 13: |
| Your final on water day is completed with a short paddle to Blackstone Landing and Lindberg's Bed and Breakfast. Hot showers, delicious meals and the trip end celebration awaits. Accommodations will be in the Lindberg's log cabins. |
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| Day 14: |
| After breakfast you will be transferred by van back to Fort Simpson. |
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