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Jewel of the far northern rockies
August 4-15, 2026
Join us for a first guided descent for Elements Adventure Company – this time down the Gataga and Kechika rivers – a 310 km journey through the Rocky Mountain trench – a vast valley in the northern Rockies. This route traces the the footsteps of the Kaska Dena, as well as large wildlife and migratory birds, who have traveled this corridor since the last of the glaciers receded 12,000 years ago.
The Gataga river boasts the best views of the dramatic Northern Rocky Mountains and is partly protected by several BC Parks and the Muskwa-Kechika Management Area. This historic and awe-inspiring route is appropriate for canoeists with intermediate moving water canoeing experience and rescue skills. It is possible to see a lot of wildlife on this trip: elk, moose, wolves, stone sheep, grizzly bears, wolverine, mountain goats, and a plethora of bird life.
This guided expedition comes with 50% off any 2-day whitewater canoeing course in advance of the expedition at Elements Adventure Co. canoeing 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.
Looking for a custom trip down the Gataga for your private group? Please contact us for a custom quote.
Trip Dates
August 4-15, 2026
BOOK HERE
Trip Duration
12 Days in the wilderness
Cost
Introductory price $6,100 + GST plus charter flight cost.
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
In the words of Laurel Archer – renowned river guide, master canoeing instructor and author – the Gataga/Kechika river is “the most scenic boreal river in northern BC”. You can view both the Kechika Range of the Cassiar mountains to the west, and the Muskwa Ranges of the Northern Rockies to the east – at the same time – as you travel through the Rocky Mountain Trench – a 45-million year-old geological feature that you can see from space!
Flying in from Muncho Lake, along the Alaska highway – one of the most scenic flights of any northern canoe trip – into the headwater lakes. After a 750m portage to the river, intermediate-level paddlers will find this river an appropriate challenge to navigate this fast-flowing river and its corners, wood debris, gravel bars and braids. There are a few named rapids on this route, but no waterfalls to portage along this incredibly scenic route. The river valley widens considerably once you enter the Kechika river with its silty water and fun swifts and easy rapids, until finally it spills into the mighty Liard river – and soon the take-out on the Alaska highway once more.
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 (intermediate)
Competent intermediate paddling skills and outdoor adventure experience is required. Like any backcountry adventure, this trip requires a positive attitude, and a tolerance for adversity and uncertainty. Participants will need to get out paddling prior to the trip to shake off the rust, and are encouraged to join a whitewater skills course in the spring for a 50% off tuition.
WHAT WILL WE BE DOING (OTHER THAN PADDLING)?
- exploring, 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 definitely be cooking and eating delicious food!
Itinerary (12 Days)
- Not including travel to and from Muncho Lake, BC
Please note: this itinerary can be subject to change due to weather, river levels, and many other unforeseen factors. A true adventure!
- Day -2+: Guests arrive in Fort Nelson, BC via commercial airline or personal vehicle.
- Day-1: Guides pick up guests in Fort Nelson, drive to Muncho and camp.
- Day 1: charter flight from Muncho Lake into the Gataga headwaters
- Day 2: portage to the river and begin paddling the Gataga
- Day 3-4: River paddling, explore, camp
- Day 5: Rest day (fish, explore, read, relax)
- Day 7-11: River paddling, explore, camp
- Day 12: last morning of river paddling, arrive at the take-out along the Alaska highway by noon, soak in Liard River hot springs and camp
- Day 13: Arrive in Fort Nelson by noon. Bid farewell to the group
- Day 14+: Guests travel back home via commercial flight or personal vehicle. We recommend planning in some flexibility to account for delays
Commercial Flight Scheduling
We recommend booking commercial flights with flexible travel dates on either side of the canoe trip to allow for potential itinerary changes, weather delays, or other unforseen circumstances.
We recommend booking commercial flights with flexible travel dates on either side of the canoe trip to allow for potential itinerary changes, weather delays, or other unforseen circumstances.
Central Mountain Air provides service to and from Fort Nelson via Prince George, with flights typically operating three times per week (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday).
- From Calgary or Edmonton: Flights typically operate Monday, Wednesday and Friday
- From Vancouver: Flights typically operate on Monday only
Alternatively, you can book another carrier to Prince George and connect to Fort Nelson with Central Mountain Air. Please note that Central Mountain Air publishes its flight schedule approximately four months in advance, so be sure to mark your calendar and confirm schedules and booking as your trip date approaches.
INCLUDED IN PRICE:
- Guiding and safety
- Paddle instruction
- Full catering (all meals starting as soon as you are in the back country)
- Camping fees on the drives, including a night camping at Liard Hot Springs on the last night.
- High-end paddling equipment: Royalex/T-Formex canoes, Werner paddles, PFD’s, large dry-bag, small dry-bag, safety equipment
- BONUS: 50% off tuition on a 2-day river-canoeing course near Vernon BC, taught by a certified instructor in advance of the expedition. 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). We guarantee the charter flight cost not to exceed $1750 per person including tax.
- Front-country meals – which includes meals on the road if you are traveling with the Elements van.
- Transportation to and from Fort Nelson, Prince George, or any other point along route where you will get picked up by the Elements van.
- Personal camping gear, tent, sleeping bag, thermarest – available to rent if you don’t have your own.
- Drysuit – available to rent.
Other important details:
- Minimum age 18, or with guide’s consent
- Maximum 11 participants
- Early-bird pricing available before December 1 – 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 $1,600 deposit is required to hold your reservation. The balance is due 90 days prior to departure. See our full cancellation policy here.
- See Gataga River Expedition Policies and Procedures here.
Explore More Adventures
If the dates or details for the Gataga River canoeing trip don’t quite fit your plans, please explore our other canoe adventures ranging from refreshing 4-day getaways to epic 14-day expeditions.
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 has been 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 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.
