Wood Buffalo Sightseeing Patrols

14 days through Wood Buffalo National Park – the way is the destination from Fort McMurray to Fort Smith or Fort Smith to Fort McMurray. Travel arrangements for trips is done by the individual client, either directly or through a travel agent.

Day 1
Arrive in Fort McMurray with transfer from airport to hotel.
Fort McMurray has a population of 38, 000 and is located on the confluence of the Athabasca and Clear water rivers. Fort McMurray has a gold rush feeling to it as the population has exploded from 5,000 to 38,000 in a short time as a result of oil tar sands development. After checking into the hotel you can experience the atmosphere of the town with a walk on its busy streets.

Day 2
Fort McMurray, Tar Sands, Heritage Park
Beside Fort McMurray is the Athabasca River running through the greatest oil reserve in the world; 320,000,000 cubic meters of oil. This oil was used for centuries by 1st Nation people to water proof canoes and boats.

All tours provide experienced guides who can show and explain the process used in extracting oil from the sands.

A little river called the Hangingstone River has the museum, Hill Drugstore and the old Royal Canadian Mounted Police outpost on its banks.

The night is spent back at the hotel.

Day 3
Fort McMurray - Athabasca tent/cabin camp - 120 km.
Today we leave civilization and travel on the Athabasca River, heading north. After 50 km, we come to Fort McKay and go beyond the edge of civilization and are now in the wilderness of Northern Alberta. Another 60 km takes us to our camp on a river island. Night is spent in camp around the campfire.

Day 4
Athabasca tent camp – Richardson Lake – 120 km.
With much time spent on the Athabasca, we leave the river for a good lunch and some campfire stories on an island. After lunch we continue on to Richardson Lake and Jackfish.

Jackfish is an old camp by the river channel. This was home for many years of local Dene trappers. It is an excellent spot for fishing for your evening meal.

However, all effort will be made to prepare a special meal for you even if you do not fish. Campfires and evenings in the cabin are very special at this time of year.

Day 5
Richardson Lake – Sweet Grass Prairie – 80 km.
We depart Richardson Lake and travel in the “Greatest Freshwater Delta in the World.” Through this labyrinth we will be amazed at the skills of the local guide to search out the route between willow islands, channels and sand bars. You will be surprised by the flora and fauna of this unique area. After crossing Lake Claire we arrive at the Sweet Grass Prairie landing site. After camp set up and an excellent meal, a walk in the evening will introduce you to the Sweet Grass situation with its abandoned buildings and historic atmosphere.

Day 6
Sweet Grass Station
Day trips onto the Sweet Grass Prairie and a walk around the Sweet Grass Station is optional to returning out on to the prairie to view and experience ancient prairie habitat, with its flora and fauna. The rolling land of the prairie offers the opportunity to view buffalo herds, wolves and birds. This prairie is a wide expanse from 15 – 80 km. in size around the lake. Sundown over Lake Claire is beyond belief with the world seeming to go on forever.

Hunting wolves, eagles, hawks and others can be actively viewed amongst the prairies. Wolves can be heard throughout the night. All this can also be viewed from a canoe at Sweet Grass Creek. Canoes are stored here for this service. Night is spent at Sweet Grass.

Day 7
Fort Chipewyan – 90 km.
This day is spent traveling across Lake Claire and through the Peace – Athabasca Delta to Fort Chipewyan, the oldest settlement in Alberta and once the richest fur trading post in North America.

Visiting a local trapper’s cabin for lunch at the halfway point is one of the day’s highlights.

Arriving at Fort Chipewyan we find that it is an isolated community on Lake Athabasca’s north shore. A beautiful spot with history to share, Fort Chipewyan’s museum can thrill your soul as a history buff, or as a neophyte. Time seems to stand still in ‘Fort Chip’. The hotel comforts are tops for tonight.

Day 8
Fort Chipewyan
The day is long and we have time to enjoy this town without the loud noise of traffic. Peace of mind can be experienced from the town overlooking the islands. The Homeland museum can take most of your day and you have the option of flying to the Athabasca Sand Dunes on the south shore of Lake Athabasca in Saskatchewan. This world class active sand dune has Sahara like features so unique to this natural phenomenon. Never will you forget the delta, prairies, sand dunes or the mighty Lake Athabasca.

Afternoon has time for you to try your luck on catching a big lake trout on the Lake Athabasca. Your interest also might be in seeing the original old trading post site and talking to local people.

Day 9
Fort Chipewyan – Rocky Point – 70 km.
Depart Fort Chipewyan to travel on the Rocher River to Peace River. Here you might be surprised by a bear, moose or eagle. Travel begins through the Canadian Shield edge where we find the oldest rocks in the world. On arriving at Little Rapid there is a portage assisted by a rail car over the hill. Civilization is again left behind. We come to the confluence of the Rocher and Peace River and travel up the river to the ancient 1st. Nation campsite called Rocky Point. High over the river is an old trapper’s camp site, with a view of the whole river. The old hunting trail leaves this spot for a wonderful hiking experience in river forest. At this point you will enjoy your rest with food and many photo opportunities. Night here is very peaceful.

Day 10
Rocky Point – Hay Camp – 80 km.
A morning hike on the old trail is much fun as is a chance to fish off the rocks. With morning chores done we depart down north towards the confluence of the Peace and Rocher Rivers and visit an ancient fossil site for variety, water levels permitting. This afternoon we move on to the Slave River which results from the two rivers uniting.

The Slave River carries us through the Canadian Shield country to Hay Camp. The river is 1 km to 3 km. wide with rocky islands. Bear, moose, buffalo and birds can be sighted along shores. Hay Camp is an old site where there was a large Park Ranger facility beside the Hay Camp, Spruce Island Prairie. This site is now a Dene reserve land of the Smith Landing 1st. Nation. Hiking in the evening will give you photo opportunity for the prairies and sundown.

Day 11
Hay Camp – Fort Smith – 80 km.
Traveling along the Slave River we will see rocky islands and scenic stretches of the river. We pass Caribou Island where once families lived on trap lines. At Fort Fitzgerald, Alberta’s northern most settlement we see the remains of a once thriving transportation and trading community. From Fort Fitzgerald, we travel 25 km. by vehicle to Fort Smith. In by gone years this road portaged people around the four large rapids on the Slave River, which is caused by flow over the oldest rocks in the world, the Canadian Shield. In the next days we will visit these rapids.

Day 12
Fort Smith
Fort Smith is an old 1874 trading post and was the main government centre in the north until 1967, Canada’s Centennial year. At that time the territorial capital was moved to Yellowknife. Fort Smith has a population of 2400 people with all services available including a beautiful 9 hole golf course.

Today we travel into the northern Karst lands of Wood Buffalo National Park. Underground rivers and sink holes dot the landscape. Pine Lake is a series of five collapsed sink holes combined to make our resting spot for lunch.

On the way back home we will travel Parson’s Lake Road to view the famous salt flats and Salt Plains overview. A short walk will take us to brine creek and the salt covered flats with zamfir and other salt tolerant plants. The walk on the salt in your bare feet will be an experience to remember.

Night time finds us back home in the Pelican Rapids Inn or Thebacha Bed and Breakfast.

Day 13
Fort Smith
Today we visit the Slave River Rapids where the most northern nesting colony of White Pelicans nests in the rapids on rocky islands.

In the afternoon there is free time to visit the Northern Life Museum and the Wood Buffalo National Park Visitor Centre Theatre and displays. Night is spent at accommodations.

Day 14
Travel day – Return Home

Included in Price:

1. 7 nights in a double room with breakfast and lunch. Meal 3 is the guests responsibility.
2. 3 meals provided while on-the-land.
3. Day tour to Salt Plains, Pine Lake and Slave River Rapids.
4. Transport by vehicle from Fort Fitzgerald to Fort Smith.
5. Boat tour includes guide and helper.
6. Aircraft flight to Athabasca Sand Dunes sight seeing trip.
7. Entrance to Northern Life Museum and Golf course.
8. Transportation in Fort McMurray Tar Sand visit.
9. Camping gear, lifejackets

Not Included:

1. Fishing licenses or gear.
2. Airline ticket or travel insurance.
3. Sleeping bag, rain gear and hiking gear.
4. Alcoholic drinks, tobacco products and gift items.
5. Insect repellent, sunscreen.
6. Rubber boots.

Note: We cannot control the weather. It is possible that schedules may vary where necessary to provide for health and safety and time constraints. Otherwise our itinerary is flexible to provide the best service overall. Guests are asked to limit luggage weight to 30 kilograms in weight. Guests should consider bringing sufficient personal medications and spare seeing glasses in case of loss or breakage.