Northern Canadian Canoeing at its best: Rae River (Nunavut): Rising north of Great Bear Lake beyond the arctic circle at about 68 degrees north latitude the river flows swiftly east about 160km to the Arctic Ocean and Coronation Gulf ending just west of the town of Kugluktuk (Coppermine)).   This unique northern canoe trip river is 100percent north of the treeline and was named after the famous 19^th century arctic explorer and traveler John Rae.  It's a remarkable and pristine wilderness canoeing river that is almost never paddled. 

The river starts as a small stream high in the rocky ‘barren' hills of the Mellville range (elevation 270m/875ft).  It is a land of rock, water and eskers.  The river descends quickly at first through shallow rocky rapids, as it descends it drops into scenic river valley.  There are two stunning canyon/deep valley sections along the way.  The first around the mid point of the trip continues for about 10km, the second near the mouth of the river is about 24km in length.  There is one definite short portage around a water falls, and depending on water levels possibly another couple of short portages around rocky steep drops.   The rapids in general are technical ...

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Northern Canadian Canoeing at its best: Rae River (Nunavut): Rising north of Great Bear Lake beyond the arctic circle at about 68 degrees north latitude the river flows swiftly east about 160km to the Arctic Ocean and Coronation Gulf ending just west of the town of Kugluktuk (Coppermine)).   This unique northern canoe trip river is 100percent north of the treeline and was named after the famous 19^th century arctic explorer and traveler John Rae.  It's a remarkable and pristine wilderness canoeing river that is almost never paddled. 

The river starts as a small stream high in the rocky ‘barren' hills of the Mellville range (elevation 270m/875ft).  It is a land of rock, water and eskers.  The river descends quickly at first through shallow rocky rapids, as it descends it drops into scenic river valley.  There are two stunning canyon/deep valley sections along the way.  The first around the mid point of the trip continues for about 10km, the second near the mouth of the river is about 24km in length.  There is one definite short portage around a water falls, and depending on water levels possibly another couple of short portages around rocky steep drops.   The rapids in general are technical class 2, not pushy, but sometimes requiring quick maneuvering.  The current is decent for the whole river, some sections contain fairly continuous technical class 1 & 2 rapids, other sections are easy flat river paddling with gentle current.  At the mouth it is a 24km paddle along the coast of the Coronation Gulf to the Inuit village of Kugluktuk (Coppermine) where the trip ends.  Our 2010 scouting trip saw Caribou, Musx Ox, wolves, Bear and Seals on the Ocean paddle.  Fishing was great and hiking spectacular.  Paddlers should be experience campers and be comfortable paddling class 2 rapids.

Suggested Itinerary:

no scheduled trips for 2013, custom trips available, min #4

See our scheduled Nanook River for a similar trip

Day 0:  Meet in Yellowknife

Day 1 :  We'll make the 1.5 to 2hr bush plane flight into one of several small lakes at about 67.5 N near the headwaters of the south branch of the Rae.  If we reach the lake in good time (remember there is 22hr daylight) we'll embark via a small creek to reach the river itself.  Here we will set up camp. 

Day 2-13:  On the Rae River. The upper river is shallow with small technical rapids and good current.  We'll take our time in this section of river, spending some time to hike and explore the surrounding country.  Hiking is excellent, fishing is good and the river paddling, while technical is fairly fast.  After this upper section the river drops into a valley for much of the rest of the trip.  The river is bigger here, but still rapids are of a technical class 2 nature.  The rapids are sometimes long and consistent at other times short quick drops.  There are also a number of sections of fast easy calm paddling.  There is one definite portage around a falls and likely a couple of other short ones around large rocky rapids.

Layover/Hike Days:  We've planned 3 days for relaxation, hiking, exploring fishing.  These will be taken over the course of the 1^st 13 days as weather, conditions and group interest dictate.

Day 14:  It is 24km to Kugluktuk, we've planned two days for this paddle, but if the weather is good we'll likely try and get quite close the first day.

Day 15:  On Coronation Gulf, Kugluktuk

Total:  about 150km from put in location to Mouth + 24 to Kugluktuk = 174km

(you are responsible for your own scheduled flights to and from the trip meeting and trip end location.

(you are responsible for your own scheduled flights to and from the trip meeting and trip end locaton.