Our 65 mile long canoe trip in Thaidene Nene National Park lies a short distance past the treeline (edge of the forest) in the Barren Lands, west of the Thelon River headwaters. Although tundra predominates, we are technically within the “transition zone” between the boreal forest and the tundra where large stands of spruce trees occur at lower elevations and along parts of the lake shores. Our route lies within the boundaries of Thaidene Nene National Park (Canada’s newest national park) stretching all the way from the East Arm of Great Slave lake to the Thelon Wildlife Sanctuary. Thaidene Nene translates to “Land of our Ancestors”.

After 1930, a few Dene trappers still inhabited this general area in winter. Today, Thaidene Nene National Park is uninhabited and remains of the most remote areas of pristine wilderness left in the world. The nearest towns and villages lie hundreds of miles away in every direction. Chances of seeing anyone else on our route are extremely remote. We have never seen anyone else canoe down this route in many years of operation. At many of our campsites, we’ll come across a lot of archaeological material – primarily arrowheads, spearpoints, and stone knives, some of which may be thousands of years old.

A major attraction of Thaidene Nene National Park is the wildlife. We’ll undoubtedly see muskox. Up to 50 muskoxen were spotted on this trip in 2019, in 4 herds, 2 of which practically wandering into our camp! The timing of the trip is at the height of the breeding season for them. They utter low, grumbling roars that carry for miles if it isn’t very windy.

There are also possibilities to spot moose, grizzlies, black bears, and tundra wolves. Most tundra wolves are white in colour so they are easy to spot this time of year in the green and red tundra colours. Fall colours peak a week or more after our trip dates, but there will be considerable colour on the tundra by the end of the trip – crimson reds, oranges, yellows and muted reds. There is decent fishing almost everywhere on this trip, and in a few places it’s really good. Arctic Grayling, Lake Trout and Northern Pike are available!

This is a top trip for spectacular campsites and world-class hiking opportunities in a very remote tundra wilderness.