Athabasca River Canoe Trip In Alberta, Canada

Meet you guide early in the morning in Edmonton. An alternate pick up point is in the town of Hinton (near Jasper). After a 3 to 4 hour drive towards the west you pitch your tent by a lake north of Hinton and east of Jasper, in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. During the canoe training  you learn the basic paddle strokes, emergency procedures and signals. You receive advice regarding camping in the wilderness, personal equipment and work sharing of the crews. Tomorrow, on the river, training will continue. The selected river stretches can be mastered by less experienced paddlers, but the current, some rapids and gravel bars demand constant vigilance. The safety and comfort of the participants are the primary concerns of the guide. Tonight’s dinner is steak from the grill.

Not needed luggage stays safely with the bus. For the next three nights of your canoe trip you pitch your tent on sandy islands or comfortable spots along the shore. Your paddling speed depends a lot on the water level. The Athabasca River, fed by glaciers high in the Alberta Rockies, is full of power in the early season, clear and quiet by fall when the glaciers in the mountains have stopped melting. The forested river valley is uninhabited. You have excellent chances to spot wild geese, beavers, eagles, elk, bear and moose. Five or six hours daily are spent on the river, at times leisurely drifting downstream, alert to the next rapid or obstacle. Sometimes you might have to drag the boat over shallow spots. There is time for swimming, exploring, fishing and big campfires under the northern lights.

This afternoon you come to the end of your 160 km (100 mi) canoe trip. The bus with the luggage you left behind is already waiting near the town of Whitecourt, the first human settlement since the start of your tour. Time for a celebration. You are back in Edmonton by late afternoon. If possible please don't make more travel plans for this evening.