Where the Falcon Flies

A 3,400 Kilometre Odyssey From My Doorstep to the Arctic

By: Adam Shoalts

Narrated by: Adam Shoalts

#1 NATIONAL BESTSELLER
WINNER OF THE 2024 NATIONAL OUTBOOK AWARD FOR JOURNEYS
SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2024 SPEAKER'S BOOK AWARD
FINALIST FOR THE BANFF MOUNTAIN BOOK COMPETITION FOR ADVENTURE TRAVEL

From Canada’s most accomplished adventurer and storyteller comes a gripping journey into the vastness of Canada’s landscape and history.

Looking out his porch window one spring morning, Adam Shoalts spotted a majestic peregrine falcon flying across the neighbouring fields near Lake Erie. Each spring, falcons migrate from southernmost Canada to remote arctic mountains. Grabbing his backpack and canoe, Shoalts resolved to follow the falcon’s route north on an astonishing 3,400-kilometre journey to the Arctic.

Along the way, he faces a huge variety of challenges and obstacles, including storms on the Great Lakes, finding campsites in the urban wilderness of Toronto and Montreal, avoiding busy commercial freighter traffic, gale force winds, massive hydroelectric dams, bushwhacking without trails, dealing with hunger, multiple bear encounters, and navigating white-water rapids on icy northern rivers far from any help.

In his signature style, Shoalts roams as much across space as he does time, winding his way through a stunning diversity of landscapes ranging from lush Carolinian forests to lonely windswept mountains, salty seas to trackless swamps, pristine lakes to glittering mega-cities, as well as the sites of long ago battles, shipwrecks, forgotten forts, and abandoned trading posts. Through his travels, he reveals how interconnected wild places are, from the loneliest depths of the northern wilderness to busy urban parks, and the vital importance of these connections.

Where the Falcon Flies invites readers on an extraordinary armchair adventure that spans five ecoregions and centuries of fascinating history, and is a masterwork by one of Canada’s most successful and audacious authors.

Critic reviews

#1 NATIONAL BESTSELLER
WINNER OF THE 2024 NATIONAL OUTDOOR BOOK AWARD FOR JOURNEYS
SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2024 SPEAKER'S BOOK AWARD
FINALIST FOR THE BANFF MOUNTAIN BOOK COMPETITION FOR ADVENTURE TRAVEL

“For most of us, the expression “as the crow flies”—or, in this case, peregrine falcon—is usefully descriptive. Not so for adventurer-historian Shoalts. . . .”
—The Globe and Mail

“An exceptionally fine writer as well as adventurer, Shoalts knows how to keep you turning the pages, whisking you along, every paddle stroke of the way.”
—National Outdoor Book Awards

“Epic. . . . fighting gale-force winds and plunging into freezing water . . . this trip was like no other.”
—The Hamilton Spectator

“Adam Shoalts has famously explored the Arctic, created A History of Canada in Ten Maps, and now in Where the Falcon Flies, reveal[s] the interconnectedness between landscape and nature.”
—Toronto Star

“A tremendous trek. . . . Shoalts has perpetually melded history, geography, anthropology, and storytelling to bring Canadians into his canoe. . . . the charity and kindness of complete strangers Shoalts meets along the way becomes an enduring theme in the book. It is inspiring to read how, in these days of great division in our society, a single adventurer paddling down a river or tromping down a logging road can bring out the best in people.”
—Winnipeg Free Press

“Adam Shoalts has hit the mark again with his latest book. . . . my favourite portion of Shoalts' writing is the way he stitches moments of Canadian history into his book. A high school kid can skip every history class, but still gain more knowledge just by reading Where the Falcon Flies.”
—Kevin Callan, Explore Magazine

“Where the Falcon Flies takes readers along, vicariously, on this incredible journey–prepare to be wowed!”
—Horizon Magazine

“Epic. . . . the adventure of a lifetime.”
—Global News

Wonderful book

I really enjoy Adams books and his reading performances! I feel like I am along for the adventure. The right amount of detail/imagery and I always learn something new. Can't wait for the next one!

A new style of adventure from Adam and its great

I have read and listened to all of Adam’s books, he is incredible and doing what we all want go on an adventure. This book is just as good as his others but with a much larger human element. Love it

experiencing such remote exquisite nature is priceless

I am impressed by the keen eye for everything natural as well as the authors resilience in such harsh environment. I feel blessed to experience this beautiful journey by listening to Adam's book. a journey I would not be able to participate in otherwise.

Another amazing arctic canoe trip

This is the second of Adam's books that I have read, the first being “Beyond the Trees,” an account of his canoe journey from the Yukon to Hudson Bay. Adam is a superb solo canoeist and outdoorsman, and in addition has the presence of mind to keep a thorough and interesting journal of his travels.

In many ways, this book completes his series of journeys across Canada’s north, as it begins in southern Ontario along the shores of Lake Erie and concludes at the Arctic Ocean. Like many Americans, I know almost nothing about northern Canadian regions, but have often been fascinated by them. I feel like I am riding along with Adam as I get a vivid daily description not only of his water routes, but also the weather conditions, the vegetation, the occasional settlements, historic points of interest, his camping experiences, and sometimes his amusing interactions with local residents.

It should be mentioned that, in this book, Adam does not actually canoe the entire trip. His passage along the shores of the eastern Great Lakes and up the St. Lawrence River is a mixture of canoeing and transporting his canoe across major metropolitan areas. He then abandons the canoe and makes his way north across Quebec on foot, covering over 400 miles, mostly along a paved highway. One could start reading in chapter 20, when he reaches Labrador City and acquires a second canoe, and simply enjoy a true wilderness canoeing experience from there.

As other reviewers have noted, before reaching Labrador City he had to rely on legendary Canadian hospitality in order to camp unannounced on much private property, and even accept free lunches when his food supply ran out on the long hike.

Still, this is an incomparable story of sheer outdoor skill and determination, very well worth reading.

over detailed and pronounced

The slow pace of the narration was sleep inducing. You get an update on the wetness of the authors socks nearly once per day, along with a constant update on granola bar supply and consumtion. I almost had to quit halfway through just for the insanely excessive over-ennunciation of portage. There is some good history and a few semi exciting parts, but this is more of a personal journal than a novel.