Reviews of Jackpine Paddle (Travel Agency)

Ariel Greenblat

I did both of Jackpine's whitewater courses! I had excellent, knowledgeable guides, had a super fun time and most importantly felt very safe! I feel more confident (and humbled) in white water now. Looking forward to an intermediate Paddle Canada course with Jackpine in the near future!

Casey Wong

My partner and I had only lake canoeing experience prior to this course. We joined for the 2 day whitewater canoeing course and couldn't have been more impressed with what Jackpine Paddle had to offer! The instructors were incredibly knowledgeable and provided excellent guidance even helping us correct some of the bad habits/deficiencies we'd developed over our lake canoeing years. I can't say enough about how positive this experience was as our first foray into the whitewater paddling world. At the end of it we felt comfortable with exploring similar rapids with at least one other canoe team but without any guides. Highly recommended!

Jacqueline Ho

Dan lead us down the Kakisa River safely and encouraged us to challenge ourselves. We learned skills that will prepare us for future mountain river trips. Most importantly, we had a lot of fun. Thank you Dan.

Richard Harvey

Very professional team with a great deal of knowledge and experience to share. The guides catered to the learning requirements of the group and safety was always the first priority during the course.

Aimee Guile

I have taken a course in lake paddling, whitewater, and whitewater expeditions with Jackpine Paddle. I have left them all feeling more confident in my skills. I now use those skills to further enjoy all that the NWT have to offer, from day trips on lakes around Yellowknife to mutli-week river excursions. If you're looking to gain confidence in a canoe and you've come to the right place.

Kay Turner

Absolutely fantastic company! We did a 5 day trip up the north arm of GSL and cannot recommend them enough!

Sabrina F

My partner and I took the Jackpine Paddle intro to lake canoeing course this past Sunday. We had been on a few short paddles on lakes and rivers before but we knew we didn't have the skills necessary to go on longer trips. For this reason, we ended up signing up for the course at Jackpine paddle and will 100% go back for more. The course was super informative and I learned so much about canoeing - Canoeing is way more involved than I thought! There were some really important tips on how to use your body the right way so to not get injured, as well as safety/rescue measures. I think the best part of the lesson was how fun it was. The different drills/exercises and games that Dan incorporated in the lesson were fantastic. We look forward to returning for the white water lesson and hopefully one day doing a longer trip! Thanks Dan!

Rogine Olayvar

Recently took an Intro to Lake Canoe course, and I highly recommend taking it with Jack Pine paddle! Instructors were incredibly knowledgable and it quite obvious how passionate they were about paddling and enjoying the outdoors. Would definitely do another course with them!

Jennifer Escandon

We did the Canoe Tripping experience and it was great, with lots of learning opportunities, great leadership and an awesome landscape. I will definitely recommend this company, plus it is always great to support a company who is passionate and has the local knowledge.

Alison Tomczynski

Excellently trained staff, who were able to share their knowledge during our weekend Moving Water Course in a clear and meaningful way. Accommodating both personally and also to protect the group's safety; using the high wind conditions to further explain the required concepts of the course.

Sarah Frey

Great workshops! Whether you've just moved to YK, and looking to get into paddling, or want to hone your technique, you'll have a fun and informative time with Jack Pine Paddle.

Emily Shek

Dan is so knowledgeable and friendly, you will definately feel safe and have fun on his summer tours, it's located inside the Sundog cabin and their iced cream waffles r the best I had ever had in my life! It's so crispy and sugary and the fresh ice cream is so creamy and smooth, I love it. Serves amazing brunch too

James Smillie

Great if you want to do a 4 hour trip in 3 days

Angela Danielle

I have been in a canoe no more than 5 times in my life. I have never been comfortable in one, and I have never been useful or able to help steer or effectively assist in the operation. After the 2 day intro course, I feel much more confident in my ability to steer and assist. I learned that you can steer from the front of the canoe, something I didnt know, because I was always told to sit in the front so the back person could steer. I felt confident giving instruction to my tandem buddy while sitting it the back, and when we capsized ( on purpose and by accident) I was confident enough in the instruction given that I would be able to return to my canoe and continue on. The instructors were professional and fun. The course balanced the skills needed with fun practice and games to increase skill and comfort. I am very pleased with the outcomes of this course, and am not confident I will be able to hold my own if asked to go out with friends or purchase my own canoe in the future. I will definitely be looking for future trips with JackPine Paddle as I now feel comfortable and confident that I will be able to manage effectively!

Brandon Gregg

Incredible! We took the canoe expedition course on the kakisa river. Dan and PB from Jackpine Paddle are a wealth of knowledge and experience. They are able to expertly share what they know to make you better paddlers all while having an absolute blast! After only 2 days I feel exponentially more comfortable maneuvering in moving water, scouting and running rapids, and rescuing myself and others. Impressively, they consider everyone's individual goals(i.e. preparing for a specific river trip) circumstances and skill levels to cater instruction to help them meet those goals. Could not recommend this course and company more !

Stephen Verhaeghe

Great education for the "retail camper" to help move to the "wilderness camper" level in the Canoe Tripping Course in the Cameron River system. Jackpine's competent guides covered mapping and navigation, gear review and suggestions, basic camping first aid, food prep and cleanup, leave no trace camping, canoe paddling and portaging tips, and technical water (rapids) analysis. There's a bunch more they covered, but there were many highlights in 3 days. Thanks, Jackpine!

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Dann B

I was fortunate enough to have spent 3 consecutive days learning about Lake canoeing and an introduction to white water canoeing with Jackpine Paddle in early August. Dan, along with his two staff were extremely knowledgeable, patient and personable with our group, many of which had minimal experience in canoes. Their method of instruction was easy to follow and they were consistantly keeping a vigilant eye on our strokes, body movement and overall safety. Day 1 my canoeing partner and i couldn't go 10 M in a straight line through a lake; by the end of day 3 we were happily confident to attempt a ferry across rapids and go down tartan rapids each taking a swing at steering. Thanks guys, lots of fun.

Sean McGee

My boys had such an incredible time on their Youth Paddle Trip. The staff were enthusiastic, flexible and highly professional. I grew up going on and then guiding trips for kids in grade school and middle school, I'm ecstatic someone is doing this again so another generation of kids can learn to love the water and this beautiful landscape.

Stacey Lymer

We had an amazing trip with jackpine. We did a three day canoe trip and loved every second. We learned so much. The instructors were amazing. I would do it again for sure.

Tara Scott

Was closed

rie ishida

(Translated) We participated in Intro to Lake Canoe. The party I attended was on the lake about 15 minutes by car from downtown. The scenery is beautiful, and the instructors are very friendly and will teach each one politely. Recommended for beginners! I would love to join other courses. (Original) Intro to Lake Canoeに参加しました。私が参加した会はダウンタウンから車で１５分くらいの湖でやりました。景色も綺麗で、インストラクターの方はとてもフレンドリーで一人一人丁寧に教えてくれます。ビギナーの方におすすめ！他のコースもぜひ参加してみたいです。

Rhiana

Incredible kayaking trip to the East Arm and Etthen Island. Very professional group with incredible food and quality gear provided.

Donny boake

Being true students to the Northern land, Dan and his fellow local guides provide a unique experience rich in Northern history. This type of experience can only come from a lifetime immersion in the North. Carrying his personal knowledge of the the North, a deep curiosity in the indigenous way of life, and the knowledge of his late mentor the great Alex Hall, Dan and his team at Jack Pine paddle deliver the finest Arctic adventures in the industry.

Richard and Lynda Zieba Yonge

We took the intro to moving water weekend course in preparation for an independent river trip and it was fantastic. The instructors were great, the equipment is top notch, and I always felt safe as we were encouraged to challenge ourselves with new whitewater maneuvers. At the end of the weekend I felt much more confident in our ability to safely tackle our river trip. AND we had a lot of fun! Highly recommend this course and this company.

Cheryl Bradley

Complex logistics to travel to and through remote NWT wildlands were expertly managed Cheerful and competent guides were attentive to our interests and needs. The food was great. We appreciate the opportunity to support a local business based in the NWT.

Julian Morse

I did Jackpine's Expedition Canoe Course and had a great experience. The instructors were knowledgeable and professional, and I learned a lot during the course. Definitely recommend this course if you're looking to brush up on your whitewater canoeing skills and gain the knowledge to head out on a whitewater trip with confidence!

Julien Schroder

Highly recommended! Awesome experience. My partner and I got the chance to join the Whitewater Paddling Courses, we had 4 instructors (two highly experienced guides :Sean and Dan, and two young but highly skilled helpers - Rae and Luke) which was pretty awesome as we could get personalized advice on how to improve our skills. At the end of the two days course, We feel comfortable scouting and running rapids and learn a lot on various topic, plus we met awesome people so... Yeah highly recommended In the photo, two of our instructors show us how to god down rapids and how to have fun while doing so!

Ian Flood

Definitely a rewarding experience which combined daily exercise (paddling) with a great remote, off the grid camping experience. Add to this two great guides who were hardworking, knowledgeable, about the environment, fishing as well as experienced kayakers and you have a once-in-a-lifetime adventure.

Paul F

Great fun and learned a lot on Canoe Tripping course. Knowledgeable and conscientious instructors. Great food! Why did I wait so long to get outside with Jackpine?

Abby A

Dan led my family and I on a four day canoe trip out to the North Arm of Great Slave Lake. I would not call us strong paddlers, but Dan made sure we felt safe and comfortable the whole time. The trip was tailored perfectly to us, with a mix of adventure and relaxation. Camp meals far exceeded expectations, and I would do this trip again just for the food. Jackpine really took care of us and thought of everything, so booking and prepping for the trip was stress-free. These great vibes continued once we got on the water, and I felt renewed even after four days of paddling. We couldn’t have asked for a better trip, and we will definitely be booking with Jackpine again. Thanks Dan!

Peter Sullivan

Very accommodating, well-organized, amazing guides!

Ian William McCrea

My wife and I just took the introductory sea kayaking course. The instructors are great, and inclusive, particularly with we seniors who had some challenges with mobility and flexibility. The pace of the course was good and sufficient time was dedicated to practice each of our new skills. Thank you Dan and Evan for a great experience