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Canning River to the Arctic Coast- Trip Itinerary

a new and exciting trip for 2012!

Canoeing on the Canning River from the Brooks Range to the Arctic Coast- Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

• Dates: July 2nd to 11th, 2012
• Region: Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Mountains, foothills, coastal plain, and arctic coast.
• Cost: $4,600/ person from Fairbanks.

This trip can be combined with Arctic Coast Canoe trip July 11- 18. Discounts apply.

Sketch of the Canning River Canoe trip…

For the past several years, thousands of caribou have spent the first weeks of July at the Canning River delta. This years' Canning River canoe trip, aims to combine a world-class wilderness canoe trip with a once in a lifetime wildlife spectacle. The trip will start in the majestic Brooks Range and paddle north to the Arctic Coast. With any luck, caribou and other wildlife should be around every bend in the river.

The Canning River is the largest river in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and many claim it to be the most beautiful. The scenery is varied and enchanting. The river flows for over 130 miles through mountains and foothills, to the coastal plain, and finally to the arctic coast.

Its clear water begins amid some of the Brooks Range’s most jagged limestone mountains. The upper river is exceptionally rugged, and severely beautiful. As the Canning flows seaward, it bounds the west end of three sub ranges of the Brooks Range, the prosaically named “Third Range,” the "Shublik Mountains", and the "Sadlerochit Mountains".

Early July is a great time to paddle the Canning River. Days will be long and the weather likely warm (for the arctic) leaving us to watch the varied wildlife in peace. We should see grizzly bears, wolves, arctic and red fox, Dall sheep, moose, caribou, musk oxen, passerines, golden eagles, and an abundance of waterfowl. Fishing for grayling and arctic char can be good if the water levels are not too high. As we get towards the coast we can expect the temperatures to drop and the numbers of caribou to increase. Last July over 60,000 caribou aggregated on the Canning River delta for nearly a week.

The arctic coast is a rich and storied area. The Canning River delta is host to thousands of breeding bids each summer and there are numerous ancient and contemporary eskimo sites along the coast. If conditions are right we can even take a walk on the sea-ice.

We’ll paddle about 90 miles of the Canning. This is a moderately difficult trip, not a “float”. We will have to paddle to get where we’re going, even though the current is always swift. There is no whitewater on the stretch we will be canoeing, and your guide will provide canoe instruction, but some experience boating is helpful. As we approach the coast the weather will cool significantly and we may have to paddle against the wind.