The Nahanni River flows from the heart of the MacKenzie Mountains in Canada's Northwest Territories. It offers legend, stories and unsurpassed wilderness beauty to those who paddle in this region. "Canada's River of Gold has a world-wide reputation as a pristine wilderness river. The Nahanni offers its paddlers an abundance of natural treasures which include sprawling alpine meadows and the high peaks of the upper river, Virginia Falls and many canyons full of wildlife. The Nahanni has been preserved by the formation of the Nahanni National Park Reserve in 1974 and was honoured by UNESCO in 1979 as the first named World Heritage Site.
We access this river through Fort Simpson set on the banks of the MacKenzie River. Our float plane takes us north-by-northwest to our put in on Rabbit Kettle Lake. We camp overnight to ensure time for an interpretive hike into the Tufa Mounds. Some people even manage a dip in the cold but refreshing waters of the lake. A short portage takes us to the river the next morning.The river now meanders 120km to the Virginia Falls giving us time to practice our paddling strokes and our teamwork!. With a drop of 90m, the falls run through a torrential canyon before cascading and thundering to the river valley below. This is the start of the canyon section where roller coaster waves entice paddlers to see just how far they van go to the outside of the bends! For the next 60km, you drift through a canyon system with walls towering 1200m above the water.

The famous legends belong to the lower river. Landmarks such as the Funeral and Headless Ranges and Deadman's Valley remind us that this land was traveled by white men years before it became a river destination for paddlers. And of course, this land belonged to the Dene people for thousands of years.
Below First Canyon, Kraus' Hot Spring soothes sore muscles and warms a picnic lunch served not beside it but actually in it! Other landmarks such as Sunblood Mountain, Painted Canyon, and Pulpit Rock make the Nahanni truly unique.The river slows through a series of gravel bars and islands known as the Splits as we move toward the confluence with the Liard.The Nahanni region is home to All Sheep, caribou, moose, black bears, bald eagles and trumpeter swans. A stop of the native village of Nahanni Butte marks the final leg of the trip. We follow on down to the Liard River on our way to Blackstone Landing. Lindberg's Bed and Breakfast allows us to enjoy hot showers, our final dinner and an overnight. After breakfast the next day, we return to Fort Simpson by van for departure from Fort Simpson.