Rivers are natural pathways into the wilderness. On a river, we move at nature's pace -- slowly, in a moving meditation, or swiftly -- the mind becoming one with the paddle, as we move through rapids and rocks. We float through spectacular scenery, and observe wildlife in its natural habitat.

On our Arctic paddling trips, we traverse huge wilderness, pausing along the water journey to explore on foot. We take full layover days to explore the mountains and tundra. Summer's constant light offers complete freedom of activity.

Our canoeing, rafting and kayaking trips in Canada and Alaska offer an opportunity to participate in a true expedition. We offer trips for beginners to advanced paddlers. Each year, we run some of our favorite rivers, and organize at least one new exploratory.

Brooks Range rivers and other arctic rivers are our favorites. The quality of light, wildlife, variety of watercourses and mountain scenery, all compel us to the north, like migrating birds. These trips begin with a spectacular flight over the Brooks Range, an adventure in itself. Our Canadian Arctic river trips begin in small towns in the Northwest Territories or Nunavut. Our Kuujuua River trip is rated on of the world's best adventures by both Outside Magazine and Canada's Explore magazine.

Equinox Wilderness Expeditions offers some of the best expertise in floating Alaska's rivers. Karen Jettmar is the author of The Alaska River Guide: Canoeing, Kayaking and Rafting in the Last Frontier.

Our trips are active; everyone helps paddle the boats. We have found that most people prefer not to sit idly, while the guide does all the rowing. On occasion, with children, and hard-core photographers, we will utilize an oar boat.

For the ultimate paddling experience, join us on a packrafting trip. Packrafting is the quintessential travel mode, a way to be completely self-supporting, with virtually no limits on where we can go. We carry less gear, use fewer plane flights. We travel light, thus eliminating the need to fly in with all the heavy rafting equipment normally required for a river expedition. We can take the ultimate leave-no-trace expedition. By using packrafts and traveling with backpacks, we get into country that would be difficult to reach without a means of crossing rivers, ocean bays, or lakes.

We use a variety of top-quality equipment to outfit our river trips, including inflatable rafts and canoes, and folding canoes and kayaks, depending upon the river and the experience of trip participants. We use watercraft made by Incept, Aire, Avon, Klepper, Innova, Ally, and SOAR. Let's face it; we love moving water, and the boats that carry us downriver! Intermediate and advanced paddlers may choose to paddle a canoe, while the rest of the group paddles by raft.

River trips are not just paddling; we spend lots of time on the land hiking, viewing wildlife, pursuing photography, and relaxing. Are you interested in Birds of the Arctic Refuge, or Mammals of the Arctic Refuge? Would you like to know where the caribou calve?

What about other wildlife species, such as the Peary caribou of the High Arctic, the polar bear, or the peregrine falcon?

Boats, boots, and binoculars: Come explore the North's wild rivers with us.

Ask us if it's not in the schedule. Copper, Nizina, Tokositna, Chilikadrotna, Okokmilaga, Ivishak, Soper, Koyukuk -- you name it. We'd love to take you there.