Paddling near Fort Smith, Northwest Territories

Fort Smith sits on the Slave River at the NWT–Alberta border, and that geography defines its paddling identity. The river's 25-kilometre whitewater corridor between Fort Fitzgerald and Fort Smith — anchored by Cassette, Pelican, Mountain-Portage, and Rapids of the Drowned — draws big-water kayakers from around the world, while the drop-pool character of the rapids means flatwater stretches exist between the major ledges for less experienced paddlers. The Fort Smith Paddling Club has been the hub of this community for over 25 years, and the annual Slave River Paddlefest each summer brings clinics, races, and guided trips to the river.