Information on Peace River

Ft. Dunvegan to Ft. Vermilion

The following was obtained as photocopied information from the Alberta Recreational Canoe Association (arca@abcanoekayak.org). It appears it is from 'Canoe Alberta, A guide to Alberta's Rivers' published in 1978 and currently out of print.

Duration of Tour 10-12 days
Total Distance 506 km (316 miles)
Average Gradient 0.2 m per km (1' per mile)
Classification 1. Overall River: Grade 1
2. Rapids: Class 1
3. Skill of Paddler: Novice Open Canadian
Start Dunvegan Provencial Campsite at northern end of Highway #2 bridge
Finish Fort Vermilioin Recreational Area at the Highway #67 bridge
Access Points 1. Kilometer 99 (Mile 62) Town of Peace River
2. Kilometer 190 (Mile 119) Secondary road west of North Star
3. Kilometer 254 (Mile 159) Secondary road #692 to Hawk Hills (6 km downstreat of the Notikewin River at a pipeline crossing).
4. Kilometer 381 (Mile 238) Ferry on Highway #697 to Paddle Prairie
Maps Required N.T.S 1:250,000 scale
83 M Grande Prairie (Note: Original document stated 83 N.)
83 N Winagami
84 C Peace River
84 K Mount Watt
84 F Bison Lake

Provincial Access Maps
83M/L; 83N/K; 84 F/C; 84 N/K
Dunvegan Bridge, the only highway suspension bridge in Alberta, is the starting point of the tour. Nearby is the site of Fort Dunvegan, built early in the 19th Century by the North West Company. The museum complex situated close to the campsite is well worth a visit. The Peace River in this reach is flanked by hills rising to 275 m (900'); the north-facing slopes covered with aspen and the south-facing slopes with open grassland. Many excellent natural campsites abound along the river, especially on islands. Insects usually are few, driftwood for campsites plentiful and sandy beaches offer easy landing and good swimming. The Northern Lights can be spectacular. However it has been reported by one unfortunate party, that the water level rose considerably overnight as the Bennett Dam released water. Their camp was flooded and their belongings swept away -- so choose your island carefully.

The town of Peace River at Kilometer 99 (Mile 62) is an interesting stop-over. It is one of the earliest settlements in the province, having some eighty inhabitants when Alexander Mackenzie wintered here at Fort Forks in 1792, after ascending the river from Lake Athabasca. There are two campsites in the town, the provincial site being on the east bank. One of the interesting places to visit is the grave of "Twelve Foot" Davis, an old prospector who made a fortune in gold by mining a claim only twelve feet wide.

Downstream of Peace River, the river flows through farmland but the valley sides remain relatively unaltered from their natural state. Walleye, goldeye and ling are said to be plentiful at the mouths of tributary streams. The 1973 Canoe Alberta crew saw two black bears and numerous deer, moose and wolf tracks along the river banks. The river water is not clean enough to drink without purification because the tributaries drain famland, but clear cold springs can be found by the watchfull paddler.

Since the building of the Bennett Dam on the upper Peace, the volume of water in the lower reaches has been reduced and that, together with the river's natural tendency to slow down in the mature stage, has produced many exposed sand and gravel bars. Many of the former channels around islands now exist only at extremely high water. It is important to check the relevant N.T.S. map for the channel with the fewest marked gravel bars, in order to avoid long portages along channels which have degenerated into a maze of sand bars.

Although Highway #35 from Peace River to High Level parallels the river on the west, it does so at a distance of 30 km (20 miles). The three most convenient access points are #3, 4 and 5.

The recommended pull-out point is the Provencial Recreation Area at the Highway #67 bridge, 6.5 km (4 miles) west of the settlement of Fort Vermilion which lies on the right bank.


Intro, Equipment, Route, Personal Equipment, History, Menus
Exit Peace River Canoe Trip

Last updated: February 14, 2002