Paddling near Hay River, Northwest Territories

Hay River sits on the south shore of Great Slave Lake in the Northwest Territories, and the paddling here ranges from calm river day trips to multi-week expeditions. The Hay River itself flows into Great Slave Lake and is a local favourite for kayaking and canoeing, while the lake opens up vast flatwater touring. Hay River is also the closest town to the source of the Mackenzie River — one of the great canoe and kayak routes in Canada — making it a natural staging point for serious northern expeditions.