Kayaking and Canoeing in Nunavut
The Inuit invented the kayak 4,000 years ago, and Nunavut remains one of the world's premier paddling destinations. From iceberg-dotted waters near Pond Inlet to the wild Soper Heritage River, Canada's Arctic territory offers extraordinary canoeing and kayaking through 28,000 miles of remote coastline—with polar bears, narwhals, and caribou as your companions.
This is the headline reality-check: Nunavut paddling is about ice, distance, and awe—helping readers self-select whether they want an Arctic expedition or a gentler trip elsewhere. Credit: Martin Gregus
Quick Summary
The Inuit invented the kayak 4,000 years ago, and Nunavut remains one of the world's premier paddling destinations. From iceberg-dotted waters near Pond Inlet to the wild Soper Heritage River, Canada's Arctic territory offers extraordinary canoeing and kayaking through 28,000 miles of remote coastline—with polar bears, narwhals, and caribou as your companions.
Quick Facts
- Destinations Covered: 5 paddling areas across Nunavut
- Region: Nunavut, Canada (Arctic)
- Coastline: 28,000 miles of remote Arctic coastline
- Best Season: Kayaking: July–August; Canoeing: Late spring
- Wildlife: Polar bears, narwhals, walrus, caribou, Arctic char, whales
Kayak Baffin Island North – Pond Inlet
For experienced kayakers, Baffin Island is it. Canada's largest and the world's fifth-biggest island, the Inuit's homeland is superlative—a place of steep fjords, towering glaciers, and untouched landscapes. On the northern tip near the fabled Northwest Passage, Inuit community Pond Inlet near the floe edge, marked by spectacular jagged mountains and hoodoos, is a prized spot. Paddle past migratory bird sanctuary Bylot Island to the north and around icebergs, looking for whales, walrus, and seals. The area is filled with archaeological sites from Inuit ancestors, the Dorset and Thule people. The Great Canadian Adventure Company's two-week adventure focuses on tracking narwhal, which frequent the area in sizable pods, while Polar Sea Adventures leads a kayak trip that includes hiking and fishing for Arctic char.
Kayak Baffin Island South – Kimmirut
On Baffin Island's southern-most peninsula is Kimmirut. A traditional Inuit hamlet of 400, it lies on Hudson Strait off Quebec, an area of rocky hills and wide-open tundra. Kayak the dramatically fluctuating tides—the second-highest on the planet. Then take a look at historic buildings like Baffin's first Hudson's Bay trading post, established in 1911, and the first RCMP outpost dating to 1915. Hike to waterfalls in Katannilik Territorial Park, with the island's only trees: 10-foot-tall Arctic willow. Pick up a local artist's serpentine stone carving, ivory scrimshaw, or Inuit jewelry made with gemstones from the area, including garnets, sapphires, and the rare lapis lazuli. Inukpak guides kayak trips and canoe excursions around the area.
Kayak Igloolik
The walrus image clarifies the ‘why Igloolik’ angle: you’re choosing this route for Arctic wildlife moments, not just paddling mileage or coastal views.
Find a guide through Canadian Northern Outfitting and venture off-the-beaten path in Igloolik. Here, you can tour the wildlife-hub ice floe and watch for whales, icebergs, walrus sunning themselves on ice chunks, and the Northern Lights. North of the Arctic Circle, Igloolik is on a small island between Canada's mainland and Baffin Island. Despite its remoteness, it's an artsy place with its own culture festival, Inuit circus troupe, called Artcirq, and a surprisingly large number of creatives. This spot was also the setting for the award-winning film, "Atanarjuat—The Fast Runner." Make time for a dog sled or snowmobile outing and to get to know the eclectic Inuit community of 1,500.
Canoe the Soper Heritage River
If you're ready for a serious challenge, it'd be hard to find a more otherworldly, pristine setting. You might paddle for 120 miles without a single portage in Nunavut and there's always plenty of whitewater and rapids. A favorite is the Soper Heritage River on southern Baffin Island near Kimmirut—a perfect Arctic 101 river for any level. The name is Inuktitut for "place of waterfalls." Paddle through the lush, sheltered river valley, a classic Arctic landscape of sloping tundra carpeted with wildflowers in summer, plateaus and ravines, and 1,000-foot-high glacier-carved cliff terraces. It's the ideal way to see Katannilik Territorial Park and the many creatures who live there: polar bear, wolves, ptarmigan, caribou, and in the water, char. Black Feather leads summertime inflatable canoe trips with class 1 and 2 whitewater.
Canoe the Dubawnt River
Wild and isolated, the fast-water Dubawnt near the Manitoba border is for the intrepid and advanced paddlers who want to forge their own adventure. The Dubawnt, and the Thelon which it joins, flow through the Thelon Wildlife Sanctuary—the largest and most remote on the continent, and some say, the world. See herds of caribou and muskoxen, plus wolverines, moose, and grizzlies, in this unaltered, biodiverse ecosystem, a treeless tundra of valleys and white sandstone cliffs. Come prepared with maps, supplies, and a personal locator beacon, ready to deal with any situation solo. A must is a covered canoe, because the water is very cold. Be sure to share your itinerary with the local RCMP before you depart and check current conditions. Afterwards, relax at your Baker Lake Lodge cabin and toast your accomplishment.
Planning Your Trip: Most trips to Nunavut begin and end in Iqaluit, Canada's northernmost capital. Canoe in late spring when the lakes and rivers begin to thaw, and kayak in July and August when the sea ice breaks up. If you can, catch spring's Toonik Tyme—a delightful local cultural celebration with dog sledding, igloo building, pond hockey games, Inuit throat singing, and "country food" like caribou stew. You'll want an experienced guide to lead you on a paddling expedition—then prepare for the experience of a lifetime. If you're headed to the Arctic, you're most likely going to get way out there, where few ever journey. But add a little culture and community to your adventure, stopping in for a concert, film, or storytelling session at the Alianait Arts Festival, a 10-day culture fest of everything Northern.
Prepare for your adventure at the Destination Nunavut website.
Follow-Up Questions
- What's the best time of year to kayak in Nunavut?
- Do I need previous paddling experience for Arctic kayaking?
- What wildlife might I see while kayaking near Pond Inlet?
- Are guided tours required for paddling in Nunavut?
- What cultural experiences can I combine with a Nunavut paddling trip?
Associated Entities
Nunavut, Baffin Island, Pond Inlet, Kimmirut, Igloolik, Iqaluit, Soper Heritage River, Dubawnt River, Thelon River, Thelon Wildlife Sanctuary, Katannilik Territorial Park, Bylot Island, Hudson Strait, Northwest Passage, Arctic Circle, Baker Lake, Inuit, Thule, Dorset, Toonik Tyme, Alianait Arts Festival, Artcirq, Atanarjuat, Black Feather, The Great Canadian Adventure Company, Polar Sea Adventures, Inukpak, Canadian Northern Outfitting, Nunavut Tourism, Destination Canada
Sources & Registry
- Destination Canada – Kayaking and canoeing in Nunavut: https://travel.destinationcanada.com/en-us/things-to-do/kayaking-and-canoeing-nunavut