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Our Upper Stikine River canoeing expedition will have you spend 13 exciting days exploring the remote and beautiful Upper Stikine River as it begins its rapid descent from the high alpine lakes of the Spatsizi Wilderness Plateau, winds through endless wilderness with 5 distinct river characteristics, and completes the journey just before it plunges in to Canada’s grand canyon of the Stikine. A 300 km river expedition of class 1-3 whitewater will surprise and delight beginner-intermediate canoeists who are looking for a chance to experience BC’s true rugged beauty.
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.
July 24-August 5, 2026
BOOK HERE
13 Days on the river
$6,650 + GST and charter flight cost. Early-bird pricing ends December 1 (save $500)
50% savings on a 2-day river-canoeing course taught by a certified instructor in advance of an expedition.
Spending two whole weeks being completely removed from the people, things, and activities that we think make us who we are, provides a rare opportunity to recharge and reconnect with ourselves. The nature of this river combined with the pace we set, makes for the perfect environment for exploring, learning new river-tripping skills, and adventure!
Our guides have diverse backgrounds and extensive river-guiding and teaching experience, and will make this trip rich in culture and adventure. They are genuine, open, gentle, and skilled communicators.
The Stikine River begins high up in the Spatsizi Plateau Wilderness Park (the traditional land of the Tahltan First Nation) and descends 2000m through the Cassiar Mountains, the Spatsizi Plateau, the Stikine Mountains and finally into the Pacific Ocean, near Wrangell, Alaska. At the river’s source high up in the alpine, a series of lakes gather to form a fast-flowing river with exciting ledges, canyons, wave-trains, and boulder rapids, with options to portage around the class II and class III rapids.
The best hiking can be done at the very beginning of the river, where access to endless alpine wandering is a short hike through the small fir, spruce, and birch brush.
The Upper Stikine is known for its high density of wildlife. You can expect to see some of Canada’s most iconic animals, including Wolves, Black Bear, Grizzly Bear, Mountain Goats, Dall Sheep, Moose, Stone Sheep, Lynx, and Caribou from BC’s largest herd of Woodland caribou that roam in this region.
For a deeper look at the stunning beauty and the vulnerability of this region, check out this video narrated by Wade Davis making the case against mineral exploration in the Sacred Headwaters.
Please note: this itinerary is suggested and highly subject to change due to weather, river levels, and many other unforeseen factors. A true adventure!
Pickup available in Smithers, BC.
Customer Reviews
Disconnecting from our usual routines and surroundings for a full two weeks offers a rare opportunity for self-renewal and self-discovery. The unique characteristics of the river and the pace we maintain create an ideal environment for not only adventure, but also for acquiring new river-tripping skills.
Our guides, with their diverse backgrounds and extensive experience in river guiding and teaching, infuse this journey with rich cultural insights and a spirit of adventure. They embody qualities of authenticity, openness, gentleness, and effective communication, ensuring a fulfilling and enriching experience for all participants.
Got questions? We’d love to hear from you! Contact us here to chat.
