Canada offers a wealth of opportunity for canoeing and in particular wilderness tripping. It is hard to imagine a better way to explore the backcountry.
Tour Highlight:
A journey along the route of the Gold Rush Heritage Trail
Spectacular mountain scenery
Boat plane ride over coastal mountains and glaciers into remote wilderness
Unique wilderness canoeing in an alpine setting
Hunlen Falls the sixth highest in North America
Great wildlife viewing opportunities in remote wilderness
The chance of seeing Grizzlies in the wild
A unique Native Indian cultural tour to 5000 year old native rock carvings
Pristine alpine wilderness
A visit to salmon spawning grounds with a local biologist
Ancient temperate rainforest interpretive trails
Your Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival + Welcome
Vancouver Jericho Beach. Welcome, orientation, review of the itinerary, questions, personal kit, medical forms. HI Jericho is a very comfortable hostel with private rooms with the perfect location next to Jericho beach and great views across Vancouver. There is an excellent bar at the sailing club on the beach with outstanding views.
Day 2: Gold Rush Heritage Trail
Chilcotin Plateau. Up to a 7 hour drive with stops as needed. A very scenic journey. Early departure by passenger vehicle along the Sea to Sky highway to Whistler and then follow the Gold Rush Heritage Trail north to the Chilcotin Plateau.
Day 3: Fly into Turner Lake Camp A scenic flight over the coastal mountains to the
Turner Lake chain. The group will organize the first camp with a discussion about bear awareness and camp ethics.
Day 4: Canoe Turner Lake Turner Lake is the longest of the lakes.
Once the canoes have been collected there will be a brief about paddling and packing the canoes. The lakes can be paddled in three to five days.Allowing five days means each day should be a leisurely paddle with time for photo stops, swims and options for some hiking.
Day 5: Canoe Junker Lake Canoe and portage across Cutthroat and Vista
Lake to Junker Lake. There is a sandy beach campsite at the south end of the lake.
Day 6: Canoe Kidney Lake Portage to Widgeon Lake and continue to Kidney Lake.
There is a trail into Sunshine Lake for those that want to stretch their legs and explore further. The views are spectacular across to Talchako Mountain a dominating 3000m peak.
Day 7: Canoe Widgeon Lake Canoe and portage to Widgeon Lake.
Day 8: Canoe Hunlen Falls. Canoe to the north end of Turner Lake and hike to the spectacular Hunlen Falls.
Camping while canoeing the lake chain. There will be a comprehensive menu to please all appetites and tastes. The guide(s)will prepare and cook all meals although the group will need to lend a hand in the kitchen on occasion. Breakfast will be at a flexible time depending on the days itinerary. Lunch will either be prepared in the morning or en-route depending on weather. Dinner will be once camp has been set up when there is still enough daylight.
Day 9: Hike into Bella Coola Valley
Typically a hike down the Hunlen Falls trail down to the Atnarko River and Bella Coola Valley. The river provides critical spawning ground for salmon and steelhead. Look out for Grizzly as this is a
high Grizzly population feeding ground.
Day 10: Native Indian Cultural Tour to Petroglyphs (ancient rock carvings). Salmon Adventure/ Snorkeling with Salmon
In the morning there will be a unique Rock Carvings tour by local native guides. The group will then be shuttled an hour up the valley to the Atnarko River for a river drift/snorkel with local biologist guides, for an interpretive look at the salmon spawning area where you may see Grizzlies fishing for salmon.
Day 11: Estuary Tour
The group will be taken to the docks for a day to explore the estuary and local fjords.
Day 12: Vancouver
A long day on the road back to Vancouver * option to fly back to Vancouver (by demand)
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Included in the price:
- Tour guide services
- Local guide services
- All in-country transport
- Comfortable B+B accommodation
- Camping fees
- Meals during activities
- Equipment where necessary
- Park fees
Excluded:
- International flight
- Personal travel insurance
- Items of a personal nature, souvenirs, drinks etc.
- Some evening meals
- Personal kit
Also see tour packages in:
Canada
British Columbia
Canoeing/Kayaking/Rafting
Wildlife Viewing
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