The Sahtu is the untrodden core of the territory – a land of colossal lakes and rivers, thriving traditional communities and the unbelievably stunning heart of the Northwest Territories. Among these unforgettable sights, you’ll find five vibrant communities thriving on the cusp of the Arctic Circle. Here’s everything you must see in the Sahtu Region of the NWT.

When you’re visiting the Sahtu, keep in mind that  the Dene name for its gigantic Great Bear Lake means “bear waters”, a fitting name for this huge and deep inland body of water – the largest lake located entirely in Canada. The lake is one of the NWT’s most popular locations for fishing enthusiasts looking to set a personal record or perhaps even a world record by reeling in a gargantuan trout.

Here you can follow the path of the mammoth Mackenzie River — six kilometres wide as it presses northward to the Arctic Ocean with its watery cargo of driftwood, fish, barges, and canoeists. Branching off from the path of the Mackenzie, your journey can take you down other renowned rivers like the Redstone, the Keele, and the Mountain.

To the north, you will find Colville Lake, where traditional lifestyles of fishing, hunting and trapping are thriving. With around 160 residents, this hamlet is one of the smallest communities in the NWT and sits above the Arctic Circle. A visit here offers an ideal opportunity to relax and connect with the land.

For those looking for the paddling adventure of a lifetime, Colville Lake connects directly to the Arctic Ocean!

Historically, the community was home to Oblate priest, painter, and bush pilot Bern Will Brown, who came north from the United States in 1948. Brown built the community’s Our Lady of the Snows Catholic Mission which is now a museum filled with local artifacts, where Brown painted the gorgeous northern-themed Stations of the Cross murals.

Visitors can take in the tranquil beauty of Colville Lake via flights from Norman Wells or the winter ice road from Fort Good Hope.

Fort Good Hope has dozens of trails that lead to rich berry-picking and trapping areas. You can try the Old Baldy Trail, a five-kilometre (three-mile) network that will take you up to the top of a long esker where you’ll be met by a stunning view.

An interesting visit  in Fort Good Hope is to Our Lady of Good Hope, a 19th-century Gothic Revival style church that was built between 1865 and 1885 by Oblate missionaries. Its vaulted ceiling depicts a northern winter’s night sky, while Christian imagery is intermixed with depictions of local plants and wildlife. Designated as a National Historic Site in 1977, the church still hosts regular services for parishioners.

Just 37 kilometres outside of Fort Good Hope, on the winter ice road to Colville Lake, towers what’s possibly the world’s largest drum. Measuring 19 feet high and 19 feet across, the giant drum is a signpost for travellers; located at the only place in the Northwest Territories where the Arctic Circle can be reached via road.

If you’re a hiker, plan to check out the CANOL pipeline, or venture along the legendary CANOL Heritage Trail.

The CANOL route to Whitehorse was shut down shortly after the Second World War ended, but the path it followed by Norman Wells today forms the famed CANOL Heritage Trail — known as one of the toughest hikes in North America.

Today the pipeline is long gone and the road is an overgrown path. Nevertheless, historic buildings, vehicles, and other relics of the era still dot the trail, making this an irresistible excursion for adventure-hardy history buffs.

The CANOL strikes out through the Mackenzie mountains, bringing backpackers over 371 foot-wearying, eye-popping, soul-stirring kilometres (217 miles). All along the way, there are relics of the development like Quonset huts and rusty vintage trucks. There are also natural wonders like Carcajou Falls which splash over a stony escarpment, sending spray into the mountain air and the red-rock badlands.

Tackling the CANOL is an exercise in self-sufficiency and endurance. Most hikers require three weeks to travel its length, carrying food, survival gear, and an inflatable raft to cross numerous swift, glacier-fed rivers. This is an expert-only expedition, so it’s recommended you go with a local guide or outfitter to be as prepared as possible, and enjoy the hike to the fullest.