This is a wildlife lover's quintessential arctic canoe expedition. The Horton is the farthest north river on the North American continent, flowing from northerly boreal forest lands, across rolling tundra, and through fascinating badlands where we encounter the Smoking Hills, ancient alluvial hills full of sulphur and other combustible materials, that have been burning for centuries. The river spills out of the Cape Bathurst Peninsula, a great thumb-shaped point reaching into the Beaufort Sea.

The river offers few obstacles, save the wind, but there are a few stretches of whitewater through a series of rock canyons. We'll scout and run, or scout and portage, depending upon water levels.

Swift and clear, the river offers exceptional opportunities for seeing arctic wildlife, birds and flowers. The 50,000-strong Bluenose caribou herd migrates north and west through the lower half of the river. Muskoxen, grizzly bears, arctic foxes--all thrive in this remote wild area. Among the outstanding waterfowl and birds we may see are peregrine falcons, rough-legged hawks, snowy owls, bald and golden eagles, four species of loons, jaegers, black brant, and three species of geese. Arctic grayling, lake trout and burbot thrive in the river.