The rush's discoverer was Alexander "Buck" Choquette, who staked a claim at Choquette Bar in 1861, just downstream from the confluence of the Stikine and Anuk Rivers. Places to Paddle tm Canoeing - Kayaking - Rafting. The Grand Canyon of the Stikine will forever keep the secret, but Jeff was a passionate and prepared elite paddler, attempting something he had wanted for a long time that was well in his range. The Stikine River Birding Festival is a fun time to celebrate the arrival of spring and birds! Flexpeditions offers you the chance to explore the lower portion of the Stikine River on a 14-day canoe expedition. There are several to choose from as you continue towards Wrangell (you must book in advance). Don’t settle for the average river tour, come with us and experience the Stikine like a “local”! The story of Canadian River Expeditions & Nahanni River Adventures. Find answers to our most frequently asked questions. On an island out in the delta of the Stikine lies the small town of Wrangell, Alaska – formerly the site of a Tlingit village. The Stikine River /stɪˈkiːn/ (Tlingit: Shtaxʼhéen) is a river, historically also the Stickeen River, approximately 610 kilometres (380 mi) long, in northwestern British Columbia in Canada and in southeast Alaska in the United States. We’d love to hear from you. Traveling up the Stikine River with Alaska Waters Tours was a fantastic experience. One of the most diverse and dramatic canoeable rivers on the West Coast of the continent. So many of our guides and guests are doing incredible things. Four women and a pup paddle the Upper and Lower Stikine . Striking waterfalls can also be witnessed on the Stikine. Both a fishing and logging community and small a port, the community is charting its way through the challenges of the 21st century. It's light and buoyant in … This was the first death in the Stikine’s long history with whitewater kayaking and it is a reminder of the true grit and mystery of this river. These are wilderness canyons ending just north of the town of Green River. Our Raft/Canoe/Kayak combo trips make it possible for any skill level and interest to enjoy the Nahanni. These days there is much talk of glaciers. Route description: Tuaton Lake by float plane, Stikine River … Eighty kilometres of steep-walled canyon, composed of sedimentary and volcanic rock, has been carved … It is on the heavy side. Anyone can experience the remote north from the stability and comfort of our expedition rafts. (See Photo at right). An abandoned customs house stands at the U.S. – Canada border and serves as a reminder of the riverboat traffic at a time when the Stikine was a highway into the northern interior. I probably should have specified that the Stikine is a river runner/creek boat, not a rec boat like the sierra and the prodigy… not everyone would know that since it’s been long gone. Travel Trade | Privacy Policy | Sitemap. Learn what you can expect to experience on one of our river expeditions. Tuaton Lake to Hwy 37. Get a FREE full-colour print copy of our Adventure Package. Find the canoeing adventure of your dreams. While canoeing on Stikine’s waters, you’ll be … The latest news about our company, our people & the rivers we paddle. Perhaps the wildest and most visually spectacular river in North America. You 6-7 day float trip begins in Telegraph Creek, BC. On the U.S. side of the Stikine you might want to make a stop at Chief Shakes Hot Springs for a relaxing soak in the mineral water (no sulfur smell, thank heavens) (See Photo at right). Sign up for our monthly newsletter—full of northern stories, wild travel tips and must-know updates on the latest of what’s happening in our world. Inspiration and stories related to wilderness paddling & camping. Review our canoe skill prerequisites to help you choose the best river for your skillset. It was first settled by Russian traders in 1834 and called Fort Dionysius. 160 miles may seem like a lot of distance to cover but remember that the current is helping you along averaging 7-9 miles per hr. Widely known as one of the last genuine wild rivers in B.C. Aniol Serrasolses is a man on a mission, challenging the long-held notions of what is possible in whitewater kayaking. They always pointed out wildlife and special scenery as we traveled along the river. Learn how our guides set the standard for river experience and knowledge. Mr. West died Tuesday while kayaking alone in the Grand Canyon of the Stikine, in northern British Columbia, according to the British Columbia Coroners Service. Learn More. Camping on the river is one of the great joys of expedition rafting and canoeing. No experience needed. Our detailed checklist and helpful notes make it easy. Did the film serve as a wedge to create a divide between the “river people” and the mountain communities? Most people are surprised to learn the average age of our guests is 57. Mountain River Canoeing… The mysterious Stikine River, also called the Stickeen River is 610 km (379 mi) long. The Stikine River is pretty much 160 miles of pristine and virtually uninhabited river. Canoe Trips British Columbia, Wainbay Enterprises, Abbotsford (1994). Since 1972, we’ve been guiding adventure vacations on 20 of Canada and Alaska’s top rivers. Prime camp sites (See Photo below) can be pointed out on the way up stream or you can just pick any spot that hits your fancy when the time comes, (most all sites are undeveloped). River travellers receive a warm welcome, but it doesn’t take much to rouse a stirring debate among locals about the future as it relates to resource-based economies and the security of the community. Trip Length: 12 days Craft: Canoe Cost: $7,525 (CAD) The Stikine River is an exciting adventure for paddlers comfortable with Class II and III whitewater. — four diverse wild women seek to film canoeing both Upper and Lower Stikine river in rugged Northern BC 2020 . Find your adventure using our interactive map of Alaska and Canada. Route description: Happy Lake by float plane, Stikine River junction, Stikine River (Upper) features, Hwy 37. Since 1972, we’ve been leading premium class expedition style rafting and paddling trips on the top rivers in northern Canada and Alaska. To the uninitiated, paddling seems like a young person’s sport. Points to remember the Stikine is a high volume river, so one must be able to control your craft at all times. But as long as you are competent in your skills and well prepared, or choose to go with a competent guide, you will be rewarded with some awesome scenery and a very memorable experience. This makes them all the more a “trophy” experience! Learn why National Geographic named us one of the best adventure travel companies on earth! Learn about our many awards and accolades from over the years. Learn about our multi-day rafting & paddling expeditions in northern Canada and Alaska. Kayaker Jeff West has died on a solo attempt of the Grand Canyon of the Stikine River in British Columbia. It doesn't turn that sharp for catching small eddies. (See Photo below). GoPro Athlete Rafa Ortiz and Isaac Levinson tackle one of the most challenging big water runs on the planet, the Stikine. The Werner Stikine Carbon Foam Core Whitewater Kayak Paddle is the ultimate creek and river running design. Before emptying into the Pacific Ocean, the Stikine merges with its largest tributary, the Iskut River. There are many natural wonders along the river. Many have called the Stikine River the “gateway to the vast interior of northwest Canada,” making a canoeing adventure on this wilderness highway unforgettable. Your destination for learning more about the places we love to paddle. Not a canoeist? The Stikine River is one of the last great wilderness areas remaining in North America. 0 Video: Whitewater Kayaking the Stikine River, BC. He was 42. The first, from July 19 to 24, was through Desolation and Gray Canyons of the Green River in Utah. The Stikine River is pretty much 160 miles of pristine and virtually uninhabited river. If you have been introduced to northern rivers through the magic of the Nahanni, consider your next adventure on a coastal beauty – you won’t be disappointed! We paddled both the Spatsizi to the upper Stikine and the lower Stikine … Sisters of the Stikine. Most of these "side sloughs" can be navigated but one must be careful as there are logjams in some and the current is quite fast, so the main channel is the safer bet. At this point you can either continue to camp out or choose to rent one of the Forest Service Rec. The Stikine River is thought to be one of the most diverse and dramatic canoeable rivers … Find out how these areas are being protected and studied. Choquette traveled up the Stikine River… The name was changed to Fort Stikine in 1840 when the Alaska Panhandle was leased to the Hudson’s Bay Company. Went to the Shakes Glacier and went past huge icebergs. Nearly 60 tributaries swell the river as it reaches the edge of the plateau. Give us a call or send us an email. Not far downstream from the Grand Canyon lies the picturesque gold rush town of Telegraph Creek. When the Panhandle was sold to the United States in 1867, the name was changed to Fort Wrangell. The second trip was down the Lower Stikine River … Each day of your river journey will inspire stories to tell your friends for years to come. When we got to the Wall, I mantled out of my kayak on river left to take a look while Don looked after my kayak. Some of what past guests have said about us and our trips. Negotiated by only a handful of skilled kayakers each year, the canyon is home to about 400 mountain goats, whose white coats take on a red colour from the iron oxide dust in the rock. Sign up for our monthly newsletter—full of northern stories, wild travel tips and must-know updates on the latest of what’s happening in our world. Stay connected to the North. The mid size blade design is powerful and fits a variety of kayakers. For a shorter adventure, you may also paddle from Shakes Lakes to Wrangell AK, a 35 mile paddle. I do appreciate the responses though! Learn about our commitment to the environment. Expert whitewater paddlerscome here to conquer the renowned Grand Canyon of the Stikine, a legendary 45-mile (72 km) stretch of the river in British Columbia. The Stikine River is an exciting adventure for paddlers comfortable with Class II and III whitewater. Rapids include: Entry Falls, Wicked … Through an abrupt gash, the Stikine drops 300 metres (930 feet) into a narrow chasm – the Grand Canyon of the Stikine. Notes. West had paddled the 45-mile stretch of Class V-VI rapids with Todd … Here’s what I’m hearing is a stellar video by Fred Norquist and Evan Garcia of their whitewater kayaking trip down the Grand Canyon of the Stikine … Challenge yourself on some the world’s most famous wilderness rivers. Below the lake, the river flows toward the boundary of Alaska. The ‘Grand Canyon of the Stikine River… View the details you need to know to prepare for your trip. The places we paddle are rich in biodiversity. Learn about our world-class Canadian and Alaskan rivers. Join us on a canoeing adventure down the Stikine River in British Columbia – boasting vast glaciated mountains, icebergs, hot springs and native fish camps. You will be immersed in rugged and spectacular beauty throughout the day. A hidden jewel deep in Canada’s north. Some important notes for travelling, including our travel agent contact. We’re specialists in planning and operating customized adventure travel trips in remote wilderness regions. Existing in the Stikine River Provincial Park is a geological feature unparalleled in Canada. There is a large sealion haul out site at the mouth of the Stikine River … For centuries the river has provided a route for these two cultures to trade goods, including eulachon oil, herring eggs, dried salmon, copper and furs, as well as articles obtained from Russian traders on the coast. A journey to kayak the Stikine and protect the land By Carlo Alcos The Sacred Headwaters (Klabona) is the name given by the local indigenous Tahltan people to the remote and pristine valley where three of Canada’s most important salmon rivers are born: the Stikine… After approximately 60 miles you will witness the transformation of the Stikine River and surrounding terrain from the Cassiar high plateau region (See Photo below) to the Coastal Mountain range that borders between all of Southeast Alaska and British Columbia, at this point you will see many hanging glaciers on both sides of the river for the next 100 miles. The RPM max would be nice - it’s pretty much the same as the Stikine … How a dramatic boat rescue 30 years ago led to a career on the Nahanni. The Stikine Gold Rush was a minor but important gold rush in the Stikine Country of northwestern British Columbia, Canada. For many of our guests, fishing is the highlight of our river-based wilderness vacations. Almost anyone can enjoy one of our river journeys in Northern Canada & Alaska. 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 … Neil Hartling visits with PM Trudeau with whom he paddled the Nahanni as part of the campaign to expand the National Park boundary. Breakaway Adventures Day Tours: Stikine River Tour - See 171 traveler reviews, 69 candid photos, and great deals for Wrangell, AK, at Tripadvisor. I found the boat works fine on moderate creeks. The Stikine’s confluence with the Tahltan River is a traditional fishing ground of the Tahltan people and a trading site with the coastal Tlingit. There is little chance of immediate rescue if something goes wrong, so you must be able to handle emergencies on your own, there is no chance to "walk" out to roads. As the vegetation thickens to rainforest lushness, the valley glaciers grow in number and size. Experience the magic and mystery of a true Canadian wilderness river icon. Flowing through the Coast Range, the "great river," as it’s known by the local Tlingit, boasts vast glaciated mountains, icebergs, hot springs and First Nations fish camps. © 2019 Nahanni River Adventures & Canadian River Expeditions. The river maps are great but not quite good enough to serve in place of topo maps -- we had both. Experience tundra beauty, wildlife, wildflowers & hiking. The line looked different from what Don had described to me from his first run of the Stikine in 2014. Request your free adventure catalogue and start dreaming about your trip of a lifetime. Upper Stikine River Canoeing: Spatsizi Plateau Wilderness Park. There are other wildlife such as sealions, otter, bear and moose. Chiefly because, from Kilimanjaro to the Antarctic, they are shrinking. In 2017, he and Benny Marr did what was once unthinkable: A … As the first Chattooga River Festival — with an emphasis on the 40th anniversary of … Here are some of their stories. The Stikine is not a whitewater class river but it is a high volume, high current river not to be taken for granted. Many have called the Stikine River the “gateway to the vast interior of northwest Canada,” making a canoeing … The boat is designed for very big water--Stikine is a big water challenging river in Alaska. Thirty years ago, Idaho’s Rob Lesser led one of the more audacious whitewater feats of all time: the first descent of the Grand Canyon of the Stikine. The Stikine begins as a single channel river but soon develops into multiple channels. 160 miles may seem like a lot of distance to cover but remember that the current is helping you along averaging 7-9 miles … Stikine River, Upper. One of British Columbia's last great wilderness rivers. Join us on a canoeing adventure down the Stikine River in British Columbia – boasting vast glaciated mountains, icebergs, hot springs and native fish camps. The North is rich with some of the most abundant and diverse plant and wildlife anywhere in the world. The details you will want to know about making reservations. Tuaton Lake in the Spatsizi Plateau is the birthplace of the Stikine. Travel through the world’s largest non-polar icecap. In the Summer of 2006, I participated in two multi-day river trips. It has served as a Hudson’s Bay post, a mission, a starting point for more than 10,000 gold-rush stampeders and a Tahltan First Nations community. The adventure starts here: This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. A fourth generation Alaskan, with a lifetime of experience on the Stikine… Cabins. Those who portage their canoe the short distance across the old terminal moraine to the lake will be able to paddle among the massive icebergs calved from the face of the Great Glacier. Spend the night in the historic Stikine Riversong Lodge (See Photo at left), a Hudson bay trading post 100 years ago this is nicely appointed today, or start your trip and find a location to camp on the river. The first descent of the Grand Canyon of the Stikine River in 1981. There was a huge hole in the middle of the river… When you reach the International boundary you are 33 miles from Wrangell AK. Downriver, a stream on river right, signals the region of Great Glacier Lake. The river runs from northwestern British Columbia to Wrangell in southeast Alaska, where it empties into the Eastern Passage in the United States. See our list of guest-recommended lodging. Everything you’ve ever wanted to know about packing for a multi-day rafting or canoeing adventure in the North. Read the latest stories and news from our blog. These majestic ice sheets crawl toward the river. This summer, at the ripe age of 65, he’s … The kayak team was led by Rob Lesser with Don Banducci, Lars Holbek, Rick Fernald and John Wasson. Hopefully they’ll find a way to continue living in harmony with the Stikine – the great river. Source: Wainwright, Jack. The tributary valleys are rugged and active, with glacial activity sometimes blocking off stream flow and creating lakes. Use our online booking form to send us a reservation request. I used this guidebook to paddle the Stikine with a friend in August 2004. West of Telegraph Creek are the coastal mountains, foreshadowing the massive sprawling glaciers ahead. You can expect to eat as well or better than you do at home—and we do the cooking! 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