Cirque of the Unclimbables and Nahanni River, NorthWest Territories
August 13, 2026
In May of 2026 I was planning to go to Pakistan for an exciting trek in the Baltoro and Masherbrum area. Due to factors outside my control the trip fell through. Coincidentally, a few of my friends were planning to packraft down the Nahanni River in Northwest Territories of Canada. I was interested in visiting the Cirque of the Unclimbables more than anything. It is a difficult to reach area in the Nahanni National Park, famous for the steep granite walls. It attracts top rock climbers from the world over. Luckily two of my fiends agreed to go early and visit the Cirque. And just like that the Nahanni project was born.
We would fly to Glacier Lake from Fort Simpson by a float plane and hike out with our water gear to the Nahanni River. After that, we would packraft to the Rabbitkettle Lake to meet the rest of the group and continue on the Nahanni. Since I am not such an avid packrafter, my plan was to fly out of Virginia Falls while others would compete the Nahanni descent, which took another 5 days.
The trip was close to cancelling due to extreme forest fires in the area. Fort Simpson was evacuated and the Park was almost closed. Thankfully, the week before our scheduled departure, the fires died down and the state of emergency was lifted. We showed up in Fort Simpson on July 26th for our flight to the Glacier Lake!
The location of the Nahanni National Park. It is almost 2000km north of Calgary.
Fairy Meadows was the location of our camp in the Cirque of the Unclimbables.
The mighty McKenzie River and the float plane terminal.
The endless expanse of the Northwest Territories.
The start of the MacKenzie Mountains and the North Nahanni River.
MacKenzie Mountains
The MacKenzie Mountains
Our first glimpse of the Nahanni River which we later paddled.
Rabbitkettle Lake
The river flowing from the Glacier Lake to the Nahanni. We had to hike thorough this forrest with 70lbs packs!
On the Glacier Lake.
The hike to the Cirque is a 900m climb with heavy packs up a steep trail.
Our spectacular campsite below Cathedral Mountain in the Fairy Meadows.
Our campsite and one of the valleys of the Cirque.
After two days of rain we were happy to welcome the warm weather and the mosquitos
Massive wall of Mt. Harrison Smith (Cathedral) next to our camp.
The view of the Nahanni River Valley from our camp. The second Glacier Lake is visible as is a section of the Nahanni River.
The Lotus Flower Tower
The middle valley of the Cirque with the lotus Flower Tower on the right.
The pillar of Mt. Harrison Smith. Out tiny campsite is visible on the left.
Lotus Flower Tower
Lotus Flower Tower
Mt. Harrision Smith
In the heart of the Cirque
This curious rock formation is called The Pinguin
Exploring the first (left) valley of the Cirque.
After almost a week in the Cirque, time to head back to Glacier Lake and start our river journey.
Beautiful Glacier Lake and the Nahanni River valley
Looking up the valley of the Glacier Lake with Britnell Glacier int he distance.
Tufa Mounds
Beautiful Glacier Lake with Mt. Harrision Smith in the background.
A Beaver airplane picking up a group of American climbers. Most climbers fly from the Yukon side of the park. They drive from Whitehorse to Watson Lake and then to a lake lodge that is the closest access point for the Cirque.
1953 Beaver. The engine has to be replaced every 1600 hours but the frame and body is original.
Glacier Lake cabin maintained by Parks Canada. It is a bare bones shelter very convenient for leaving gear behind.
Thankfully there was a spare canoe at the cabin that we could use to cross the Glacier Lake.
Half way through the Glacier Lake in a leaky canoe.
Once we reached the end of the Glacier Lake, we had to hike for 10km through a faint trail with 70lb packs.
Lower Glacier Lake
The almost non existent trail
Wild blueberries made up for the tediousness of the hike. They were everywhere!
Finally at the Nahanni River! Transfer the contents of the pack to the packraft.
Nahanni River
Looking back at the Cirque from the Nahanni River.
The Cirque is becoming a distant memory…
Rabbitkettle Lake and the Cirque in the distance.
Arrival of the rest of our group. We continued on the river for the next week.
Parks Canada cabin at Rabbitkettle Lake
Protection from the bears. Apparently they can be quite persistent…
Nahanni River
On the Nahanni River
Our camp on the sand bars of the Nahanni River.
Beautiful Nahanni River
The group ready for departure to tackle the canyons.
Virginia Falls
Virginia Falls - see the people on the left.
People dwarfed by the enormous Virginia Falls.
Virginia Falls
Virginia Falls
The spectacular Virginia Falls.
Nahanni River from the Sunblood Mountain.
Looking at the canyons of the Nahanni from the Sunblood Mountain.
Views from the Sunblood Mountain.
Nahanni River from our flight back to civilization.
Beautiful Nahanni
Ram Plateau of the Nahanni NP
Nasty fires close to Fort Simpson.
Approaching Fort Simpson with fires on the horizon.
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