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Elements Adventure Company

Jennings River Canoeing expedition

Whitewater in the wilderness

please inquire for our next trip date

Join a group of adventurous folks for Elements Adventure Company’s exploratory first descent down the Jennings River. Described as one of the most remote and undeveloped watersheds in Northern BC, this 180km journey starts in the humble headwaters deep in the Cassiar Mountains, bouncing through many technical rapids, before finally spilling out into the vast expanse of Teslin lake.

How does a 5-km class 2+ rapid sound to you?  An 8-km class 2 section? How about 2 dedicated days of hiking in the headwaters? Does facing the many moods on Teslin Lake appeal to you?  This canoe expedition is one of the most diverse trips we offer.  It is for whitewater canoeists with solid intermediate to advanced paddling and rescue skills and a keen sense for adventure.

This guided expedition comes with 50% off any 2-day whitewater canoeing course in advance of the expedition at Elements Adventure Co. paddling school near Vernon, BC.

Through our partnership with Western Canoe and Kayak, you will also receive a 15% savings for in-store accessories to help you prepare for your trip.

Trip Dates

Please Inquire
BOOK HERE

Trip Duration

13 Days in the wilderness

Cost

Starting at $6,950 + GST plus charter flight cost. EARLY BIRD SPECIAL
save $500 before December 1

Policies & Procedures

Click here to see trip policies and procedures.

Bonus

50% savings on a 2-day river-canoeing course taught by a certified instructor in advance of an expedition.

Character of the River

The Jennings River is a fast, small-volume mountain river. We intend to spend 2 days hiking high in the Cassiar mountains before beginning the paddle.  The headwaters are known for their excellent moose habitat, where the river starts as a series of tiny ponds and creeks.  Soon the river’s gradient begins to increase, scattered with mid-stream rocks, ledges and gorges.  You’ll have views of some of the 2500m peaks of the Cassiar mountians before the river approaches the Nisutlin Plateau.  After a few distinct changes in landscape, you’ll finally feel like you’re in a river valley before the river reaches Teslin Lake where the delta provides important habitat for breeding and migrating birds. The last 2 full days of paddling are on Teslin lake – and can (depending on the weather) require patience and stamina.   The Jennings river includes multiple sections of 5+km long whitewater rapids (class 2/2+) and will keep you interested and on your toes.

Who is this trip for?

  • “I want to experience true wilderness and stunning scenery.”
  • “I want to challenge and grow my whitewater canoeing skills.”
  • “I am looking for the time and space to explore my true adventurous nature, make new lasting friendships, and reconnect with the natural world in a meaningful way.”
  • “In addition to being safely guided, I want to participate and actively learn new wilderness canoe-tripping skills from the certified instructors/guides.”

SKILL LEVEL REQUIRED: LEVEL 2 +  (strong intermediate – advanced)

Strong intermediate paddling skills and outdoor adventure experience is required.  An ordinary wilderness expedition requires a positive attitude, and a high tolerance for adversity and uncertainty.  These attributes are even more important on an exploratory trip of this nature – that potentially also has some challenging whitewater and portaging/lining to be done. Participants will need to be out paddling prior to the trip and are encouraged to join a whitewater skills course in the spring.

WHAT WILL WE BE DOING (OTHER THAN PADDLING)?

  • hiking, fishing, snoozing, reading
  • learning about local botany, geology, ecology
  • learning river canoeing skills such as scouting rapids, group management, choosing safe lines through rapids, making safe decisions, and more
  • stopping to play in a safe rapid
  • evening circle (debrief the day, review plan for tomorrow)
  • there will most likely be some singing……
  • there will most definitely be cooking and eating delicious food!

Itinerary (13 Days)

Not including travel to and from Whitehorse, BC Please note: this itinerary can be subject to change due to weather, river levels, and many other unforeseen factors.  A true adventure! Clients transport themselves to Whitehorse YT.
  • Day 0: Personal travel to Whitehorse YT.
  • Day 1: shuttle drive from Whitehorse to Daughney Lake BC, and charter flight into the Jennings headwaters.
  • Day 2 and 3: Hike, explore, fish
  • Day 4-6: River paddling, explore, camp
  • Day 7: Rest day (fish, hike, read, relax)
  • Day 8-10: River paddling, explore, camp
  • Day 11 : Rest day
  • Day 12-13: Paddle Teslin lake to the take-out on the Alaska Highway.
  • Day plus 1: shuttle back to Whitehorse by noon

INCLUDED IN PRICE:

  • Guiding and safety
  • Paddle instruction
  • Full catering (all meals starting as soon as you are in the back country)
  • Camping fees as required on the last night
  • High-end paddling equipment: Royalex/T-Formex canoes, Werner paddles, PFD’s, large dry-bag, small dry-bag, safety equipment
  • Transportation by shuttle bus from Whitehorse to our flight staging point at Daughney Lake, BC.
  • BONUS: 50% off tuition on a 2-day river-canoeing course near Vernon BC, taught by a certified instructor.  We offer this feature to support you to brush up on your canoeing skills before the big trip.

NOT INCLUDED IN THE PRICE:

  • Charter flight cost (is divided evenly between all clients and billed 2 weeks before the trip). Price to be determined. 
  • Front-country meals – which includes road-meals on Day 1 and Day 13
  • Transportation to and from Whitehorse. 
  • Personal camping gear, tent, sleeping bag, thermarest – available to rent if you don’t have your own.

Other important details:

  • Minimum age 18, or with guide’s consent
  • Maximum 9 participants
  • Early-bird pricing available – save $500
  • Early-bird pricing is always available for bookings of 4 or more participants
  • To help you prepare, you will be issued a detailed trip package upon receiving your registration.
  • A $1600 deposit is required to hold your reservation.  The balance is due 90 days prior to departure. See our full cancellation policy here.
  • See Jennings River Expedition Policies and Procedures here. 
 

Customer Reviews

What Others Say

Thank you for such an amazing trip. I still get a huge smile when I tell stories to my friends and family and everybody has commented that I “have a peacefulness about me” that wasn’t there before.
C. MacLeod, Kimberley, BC

Join Us to Explore the north

Since 2014, Elements Adventure Company is pioneering guided river canoe trips in Northern British Columbia – a vast wilderness region with hulking mountain ranges of the Coast, Cassiar, and Northern Rocky Mountains – and countless clear, fast, and continuous  rivers.  These dramatic, remote landscapes provide us with the solitude, natural beauty, and adventure that we are delighted to share with you.  We invite those people with a deep respect for our planet and a spark for adventure, to partner with us to explore these special places.

Our excellent canoeing school can help you build any prerequisite skills for our Northern paddling adventures, but what’s most important is to visit these wild places with the right people.

We choose our guides for their diverse backgrounds, extensive experience in river guiding and teaching, and their values – which infuse these journeys with rich cultural insights and a spirit of adventure. They embody qualities of authenticity, openness, gentleness, and effective communication, ensuring a safe and fulfilling experience for all participants.

Are you interested to join us? We’d love to hear from you! Contact us here to chat.