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Another 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 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.
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custom trip
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13 Days in the wilderness
Introductory price $5,800 + GST plus charter flight cost. Save $500 before Jan 25, 2025
Click here to see trip policies and procedures.
50% savings on a 2-day river-canoeing course taught by a certified instructor in advance of an expedition.
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.
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.
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!
Customer Reviews
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.
