MRCE01: 10 Day Fort Providence to Fort Simpson

After a hearty breakfast, we head down to the docks to prepare for departure. We will do a last minute check of the canoes and the gear, hold a safety meeting and then we start our 275km journey on the Mackenzie River! Local residents and community leaders will come down to see us off. After a traditional prayer ceremony, we are on the river! For lunch we arrive at Telimia Culture Camp for a delicious lunch of local foods! After lunch back in our canoes and continue on to our first camping spot mid-afternoon where we will set up our tents and our camp. After dinner, our support boat and local Dene Elder will tell stories about the old days. A good sleep is needed tonight in order to be ready to tackle the “Big Monster” tomorrow.

The next 3 days and nights we continue our journey, the very same journey Sir Alexander Mackenzie and his men did 232 years ago! During these 3 days we come to where the river starts to narrow and the current gets faster. One of our camping spots we will be at Trout River and visit with a wonderful Elder, a wonderful host! Early morning breakfasts, lunch on river when we”raft” the canoes together and delicious dinner meals on the shore. Evenings are time to relax and reflect, gather around the campfire to share stories, enjoy your soothing chamomile tea, afterwards crawl into your tent for a good night’s sleep on the mighty Mackenzie River!

After 3 days of canoeing and camping on the river we arrive into the small Indigenous community of Jean Marie River. Arriving mid afternoon, we will set up our tents and then explore this tiny community of pop. 77. Walk around the community, meet local residents and community leaders.  A delicious traditional dinner and then enjoy enjoy a relaxing evening in this wonderful Indigenous community.

After a hearty breakfast and thanking the kind residents, we paddle 31kms in a northernly direction until we arrive at the traditional camping spot of Rabbitskin River. At Rabbitskin, we will take some time to go swimming (weather permitting), do a little fishing and just relax, let the muscles heal a bit and of course check our canoes and gear. Rabbitskin has a spectacular view of the river, to the south and to the west, take in this wonderful view, the same view that Sir Alexander Mackenzie and his men would have seen 232 years ago!

After a relaxing evening, we are back on the river for another 34kms to our destination, the community of Fort Simpson, first established as a fur trading post over 200yrs ago by the Hudson Bay Company, you made it! After checking into your hotel or B&B, enjoy an informative tour of this historic riverside community. Then for dinner enjoy a cookout meal at a local resident’s home, meet some of the local Indigenous people and hear more stories and learn more about our culture or go for a leisurely walk around this scenic community.

scenery of Canada’s north in our comfortable air conditioned tour vans on our way back to Yellowknife. Reminisce with the other guests about your trip along the way. After a few hours, we cross the Dehcho Bridge that spans the Mackenzie River, your river! On the other side we will stop for lunch and a quick visit into the picturesque community of Fort Providence. Soon we arrive back into Yellowknife, check into your hotel or B&B and enjoy a delicious wrap up dinner to reminisce some more. Thank you for choosing North Star Adventures!

After breakfast, it’s road trip time! Sit back and enjoy the scenery of Canada’s north in our comfortable air conditioned tour vans on our way back to Yellowknife. Reminisce with the other guests about your trip along the way. After a few hours, we cross the Dehcho Bridge that spans the Mackenzie River, your river! On the other side we will stop for lunch and a quick visit into the picturesque community of Fort Providence. Soon we arrive back into Yellowknife, check into your hotel or B&B and enjoy a delicious wrap up dinner to reminisce some more. Thank you for choosing North Star Adventures!