ACC Yukon and Nááts’ihch’oh National Park Reserve
Editor's note: With such a large and untapped backyard, the Yukon Section has had a busy summer this year. Check out our previous blog post about their Icefields Discovery Camp. This trip into Nááts’ihch’oh National Park Reserve is a continuation of their partnership with Parks Canada in 2014 when they helped explore the new boundaries of Nahanni National Park Reserve.
ACC Yukon Section explores Nááts’ihch’oh National Park Reserve
This summer, three members of the ACC Yukon Section, Wendy Shanks, Eddy Fast and Jenny George, had an amazing opportunity to assist Parks Canada scout out new hiking routes in one of Canada’s newest National Park Reserves: Nááts’ihch’oh National Park Reserve. Kudos to Parks Canada staff members: Lynn Elliot for pulling this initiative together, and Amy Tanner in Tulita for keeping us on the track.
Remote unnamed mountain and surrounding alpine basin in Nááts’ihch’oh National Park Reserve. Photo by Wendy Shanks.
Looking past the above unnamed mountain at a glacier lying between two peaks that beckons you forward. Photo by Wendy Shanks.
Destination #1
The trip can be easily summed up by saying, “put Nááts’ihch’oh National Park Reserve on your hiking bucket list”. In the 11 days our group hiked in the park we were in the alpine with fantastic views of colourful and dramatic mountain scenery. One could wander for over 50 km in alpine basins among glaciers, cascading waterfalls, wildflowers, alpine lakes and abundant migrating birds, and also experience a caribou sighting each day. Oh yes—and there were hot springs for hikers to soak in as well! Our group was exploring routes and passes so we were moving camp most days, but a hiking trip into the region could easily support a two-week time frame with some base camps for day excursions up ridges and peaks. Hiking in the park is within the Mackenzie Mountains, which is the northern extension of the Rocky Mountains. These impressive, rarely-hiked, rugged mountains run for 800 km northward from the British Columbia border along the Yukon/NWT border. Fantastic country to explore that will provide you with a window on your soul.
Wendy Shanks, Jenny George, Amy Tanner and Eddy Fast after some hard earned elevation. Photo by Wendy Shanks.
One of the many spectacular sights in Nááts’ihch’oh National Park Reserve, far to many to show. Photo by Wendy Shanks.
So much more to discover
The Park is in the traditional grounds of the Shu’htaat’in (Mountain Dene). The region is rich in cultural history and when combined with the Nahanni National Park Reserve, which is on the park’s southern boundary, the two parks make the region the third largest protected area in the Parks Canada system. The region is definitely worth a visit.
Want more information?
Check out the links below for more information on the Yukon Section and their adventures!
Nááts’ihch’oh National Park Reserve
Nahanni National Park Reserve - Lonely Lake Blog Post
Don't miss out on opportunities such as this that our sections across Canada host. Check out the 22 regional sections across Canada and join the one that suits you best. Or simply join for the other awesome benefits such as our national level trips, discounted hut nights, affordable guide books and maps etc.
Great people, great opportunities all lead to great memories. What's not to love?