Photo:
Paul Gierszewski / CC BY-SA 4.0
Nááts’įhch’oh protects the wild headwaters of the South Nahanni River in the mountains of the far southwest Northwest Territories, the upstream companion to famous Nahanni. Named for a mountain sacred to the Shúhtaʼotʼįne (Mountain Dene), it is a remote realm of jagged peaks, whitewater rivers and abundant wildlife, protecting the source of one of the North’s great river journeys.
This is high, rugged Mackenzie Mountain country, sharp peaks, alpine tundra, boreal valleys and the clear, cold upper reaches of the South Nahanni and its tributaries. Grizzly and black bears, mountain caribou, Dall sheep, mountain goats and wolves range a landscape that sees only a handful of visitors a year, protecting critical habitat and a river of legend at its source.
The short northern summer, roughly June through September, is the only practical window, when the rivers are runnable and the high country is (briefly) mild, though cold, storms and snow are always possible. Outside summer the region is locked in deep cold and darkness.
There are no roads. Access is by floatplane, typically from Norman Wells or Fort Simpson, landing on a river or lake, and travel within is by canoe, raft or on foot. Trips are genuine expeditions, so most visitors either have strong wilderness experience or travel with a licensed outfitter.
Paddling and rafting the upper South Nahanni and its tributaries, often as part of a longer Nahanni journey, is the main draw, along with backpacking the alpine, wildlife and bird watching, and immersion in a rarely traveled mountain wilderness rich in Dene culture.
Come fully self-sufficient: carry a satellite communicator, file a plan, and be ready for cold rivers, whitewater, grizzlies and fast-changing mountain weather. The remoteness is total and rescue far off, so conservative decisions, solid skills, or a licensed outfitter are essential.
A Parks Canada pass and registration are required, and access is by charter air; most visitors travel with an outfitter or as an experienced party. This page is a general overview, not a live conditions report; always confirm current access, conditions and options with Parks Canada before your trip.
Set this declination on your compass, then align it to the map's north lines; it is the angle between true north and magnetic north, refreshed each year.
