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One of great salmon rivers of the Pacific, the Stikine River drains a vast tract of Canada’s undeveloped wilderness in the heart of Tahltan and Tlingit Indigenous Territory. The icy scenery of the glacier-blanketed Coast Mountains along this route are reason enough to paddle this great mother river.
If paddling to the ocean on a no-portage trip with gourmet camp cuisine, eye-popping glacier views, hot springs, and abundant wildlife is your cup of tea, then this trip is for you!
This guided expedition comes with 50% off any 2-day whitewater canoeing course at Elements Adventure Co. paddling school near Vernon, BC.
August 12-23, 2024
BOOK HERE
12 Days on the river
$6,350 + GST plus jet boat charter cost. Early-bird pricing ends Feb. 15, 2024 (save $500).
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.
This Lower Stikine route begins just downstream of the Grand Canyon of the Stikine, at Telegraph Creek. You’ll be able to catch glimpses of this impressive canyon on the narrow road that leads you to Telegraph Creek. Once you’re on the river, you’ll appreciate how wide and fast it is, as it carries you across the Tahltan Highland, a huge, gently rolling landscape dotted with mini-canyons, high cliffs, and fun, easy rapids – and onward to the Boundary Ranges of the Coast Mountains.
Once in the Coast Mountains, the river gathers a plethora of glacier-fed streams that descend from the snow and icefields that creep ever so slowly towards the river.
There are several opportunities for short side trips on this route, including into Glacier Lake to paddle among icebergs, and into Chief Shakes Hot Springs for a chance to soak those sore paddling muscles.
The river delta is a massive 27km wide, braided, tidal rivermouth, teeming spawning salmon, eagles, bears, and an incredible diversity of migrating birds.
One of the most unique aspects of this canoeing route, is it spans two different countries, ending in Alaska, and it follows a mother river all the way to the ocean – which is an incredible experience in of itself.
At the end of the paddling route, you’ll have a chance to check out the colorful town of Wrangell AK.
This paddling route requires some basic moving water canoe skills. Although the route is fairly simple, the river is very wide and fast with strong converging currents around obstacles and islands, braided channels, and sections with significant wood hazards and standing waves to be avoided. Our guides are also skilled instructors and can teach a lot along the way, but we highly recommend taking at least a Level 1 River Canoeing course and practice self-rescue technique. Having outdoor adventure experience is also a bonus, as is a positive attitude, and a healthy tolerance for adversity and uncertainty are always good attributes for a wilderness adventure.
Not including driving to and from Telegraph Creek, BC
Please note: this itinerary is subject to change due to weather, river levels, tides, and many other unforeseen factors. That’s what makes it an adventure!
Pickup available in Vernon, Kamloops, Prince George, Smithers, or Dease Lake, BC.
Day +1: begin the journey from Telegraph Creek/Dease Lake back home. Transfer to en-route airports available.
Customer Reviews
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.
Elements Adventure Company is an equal opportunity provider.
