Nunavut
North of the Arctic Circle, the first 100 km of the Hood flows through a series of long narrow lakes which can be ice choked until the middle of July. It then drops through a dramatic rapid called Skull Rapids and maintains its river status until it reaches the Arctic Ocean at Arctic Sound. Through this 200 km stretch the current is swift with many rapids and two major waterfalls. Kingaunmiut is the first with a 25 metre fall. The second is the famous and spectacular Wilberforce Falls with a drop of 50 metres.
The Bathurst herd of Caribou can be seen on the river during the summer as they return to the treeline from their calving grounds to the north and east. Muskox too are plentiful along the river banks during the short summer months and wolves and Barren Ground Ground Grizzlies can on occasion be sighted.
For more information on the Hood River, click on the links below.
George Drought & Barbara Burton
Wilderness Bound Home Page