It is short, but beautiful, and offers good one to five day trips with plenty of whitewater and wildlife. Many Baffin Island rivers require expert canoe skills, wetsuits, helmets and river rescue gear. The Nanook River begins south of the Shaler Mountains and flows northeast to Hadley Bay. If there is ice, a long and difficult portage is necessary. The last eight kilometers are very difficult with many rapids not marked on the maps.
Wildlife includes Peary caribou, muskox, and arctic foxes.
Hadley Bay is an important polar bear area, so caution is advised. The Kuujjua River flows about 350 kilometers from the Shaler Mountains into Minto Inlet. It requires about three weeks to canoe, and is navigable only in July, due to ice and water levels. It is difficult, and maps are very unreliable. It should be attempted only by canoeists with arctic experience.