Mountain River Canoe Adventure
Fun, thrills and action on this 5-day guided canoe tour down a Rocky Mountain river in Alberta, Canada
From the glaciers in the Rocky Mountains of Jasper National Park, the Athabasca River flows east into the vast forests of northern Alberta. Untamed and mostly uninhabited, collecting strength from countless tributaries, it finally ends after hundreds of miles in the Arctic Ocean. Once out of the mountains, the river slows down somewhat as it cuts through the vast boreal forest. The valley is studded with hundreds of island, wild and undisturbed.
On this overnight Rocky Mountain canoe tour in Alberta you learn to “read” the water and practice minimum impact wilderness camping. The selected stretch of the river can be mastered by novice paddlers, following the guide who knows the river. The current, some rapids, overhanging trees, driftwood and gravel bars demand constant vigilance and add excitement to this adventure. Experienced canoeists find plenty of challenge in this wilderness setting. There are no towns, no houses along the route, just the wide river, islands and forests.
Guided 5-day canoe tour in Alberta
Tour K5
Mountain River Canoe Adventure, canoe tour on the Athabasca River in Alberta.
For our fully outfitted Rocky Mountain canoe tour in Alberta we start with canoe training on a quiet lake in the foot hills, just east of Jasper National Park. The guide shows you the basic paddle strokes in a 2-person canoe to prepare you for the run down the wide Athabasca River.
Next morning a short drive to the river, where the 2-person canoes are loaded. Finally the start of the canoe tour down the 160 km (100 mi) stretch between the towns of Hinton and Whitecourt. The forested shores are uninhabited, rarely does one meet other humans, much more likely are you to see the local wildlife. You have three evenings to relax by the campfire and test your outdoor skills with primitive wilderness camping on islands in the river. A genuine Canadian outdoor adventure.
Edmonton
in 5 Days
CDN $1535.00/person
Single tent no charge
no mandatory single charge
guaranteed departures
minimum age: 12 years, accompanied by an adult, who is prepared to paddle with the child.
- Overview
- Itinerary
- Dates
- Map
What’s Included:
Transportation from and to Edmonton, Alberta, 4 nights accommodation in 2-pers. tents, welcome gift, all meals from lunch day 1 to lunch day 5, eating utensils, all camping equipment (except sleeping bag and self-inflating mattress), hard-foam mattress, camping fees, 2-pers. canoes, paddles, life vest, canoe bags in various sizes, canoe instructions, services of a knowledgeable Timberwolf Tours canoe guide.
Not included:
Alcoholic beverages, personal equipment, sleeping bag and Thermarest mattress.
Demands:
This guided multi day canoe trip with wilderness camping is suitable for novice paddlers with at least some very basic paddling skills. International classification of difficulty (1 is lowest, 5 is highest) rates this stretch of the Athabasca River as Class I overall with several Class I and II rapids & one Class III rapid. The river is wide enough so that larger waves can be avoided.
This is a wilderness canoe tour. The guide carries a satellite phone but, once started, it is difficult and expensive to interrupt the trip and will only be attempted in cases of emergency.
Extras:
Hotel in Edmonton before or after the trip: $130.00/night single or twin, including breakfast.
Building blocks:
The Best of Banff and Jasper Camping Tour – Tour P7, our popular 7-day camping trip with great day hikes in the Rocky Mountain National Parks, fits all departures.
Hiking & Canoe – Hotel & Camping – Tour PK, the 14-day combination of hikes and hotels in the Rockies and a canoe trip with camping on islands in the river.
You might also like:
Your private canoe trip, Tour L, your own island in the Athabasca River, we supply the tent and other camping equipment.
You meet your Timberwolf Tours guide early in the morning in EDMONTON. An alternate pick up point is in the town of HINTON (near Jasper). After a 3-hour drive towards the west you pitch your tent by a lake north of Hinton and east of Jasper, in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. During the canoe training you learn the basic paddle strokes, emergency procedures and signals. You receive advice regarding camping in the wilderness, personal equipment and work sharing of the crews. Tomorrow, on the river, training will continue. The selected river stretches can be mastered by less experienced paddlers, but the current, some rapids and gravel bars demand constant vigilance. The safety and comfort of the participants are the primary concerns of the guide. Tonight’s dinner is steak from the grill.
Not needed luggage stays safely with the bus. For the next three nights of your canoe trip you make camp on islands or comfortable spots along the shore. Your paddling speed depends a lot on the water level. The Athabasca River, fed by glaciers high in the Alberta Rockies, is full of power in the early season, clear and quiet by fall, when the glaciers in the mountains have stopped melting. The forested river valley is uninhabited. You have excellent chances to spot wild geese, beavers, eagles, elk, bear and moose. Five or six hours daily are spent paddling down the river, at times leisurely drifting downstream, alert to the next rapid or obstacle. Sometimes you might have to drag the boat over shallow spots. There is time for swimming, exploring, fishing and campfires under the northern lights.
It is actually easy and very satisfying to keep a clean camp. Minimum impact means that your group spends an afternoon and the night camping, cooking and playing on some island, not "improving" nature in any way, leaving no trace but footprints in the sand - which the next rain washes away.
This afternoon you come to the end of your 160 km (100 mi) canoe trip. The bus with the luggage you left behind is already waiting near the town of Whitecourt, the first human settlement since the start of your tour. Time for a celebration. Your canoe trip in Canada ends when you are back in Edmonton by late afternoon. If possible, plan to stay this night in Edmonton, don't make more travel plans for this evening.
- English
- Bilingual - English/French
- Bilingual - English/German
- Seats Available
- Almost Full
- Sold Out
Edmonton
in 5 Days
CDN $1535.00/person
Single tent no charge
no mandatory single charge
guaranteed departures
minimum age: 12 years, accompanied by an adult, who is prepared to paddle with the child.
Fun for novices to river paddling, but with enough thrills and challenges for advanced paddlers.
No portages during this Athabasca River tour.
Primitive wilderness camping with a small group.
Building block with other programs.
