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Fort Simpson Territorial Park Campground

Fort Simpson Territorial Park campground

The perfect place to pitch a tent and enjoy Fort Simpson’s unrivaled natural beauty. Located right inside the idyllic territorial park, you’ll be steps away from the confluence of the Mackenzie and Liard rivers, and only a short walk into town to enjoy all the amenities available. This campground features 20 powered and 11 non-powered sites, as well as washroom facilities, showers, drinking water, firewood, a kitchen shelter and a playground. Reservations can be made online to ensure you get a prime spot.

 

Blackstone Territorial Park

Blackstone Territorial park sign in the NWT

Midway between Fort Simpson and Fort Liard on the Liard Trail, Blackstone Territorial Park boasts stunning mountain views and a prime location on the Liard River, downstream from its confluence with the South Nahanni. This is an excellent starting or ending point for canoeists, boaters or anglers. The campground features 19 non-powered campsites, washrooms and showers, drinking water, firewood, a kitchen shelter and picnic areas, helpful staff, and an intriguing interpretive centre.

 

60th Parallel Territorial Park

The 60th parallel sign in the Northwest Territories

Adjacent to the visitor information centre, this park has a scenic picnic area overlooking the beautiful Hay River, plus seven non-powered campsites nestled amongst birch and aspen trees. Entering the Northwest Territories from Alberta, the friendly staff at the 60th Parallel are available to welcome you. The Visitor Information Centre is open from May 15 to September 15. Brochures, maps, fishing licences, camping permits, pay phone, drinking water, washrooms and fresh coffee area available. Aboriginal arts and crafts are on display in the centre. Audiovisual presentations depict the Northern way of life and what you might expect to see on your travels in the Northwest Territories.

 

Twin Falls Gorge Territorial Park

This park is what we call a “destination park,” and with good reason. The sights to be seen are spectacular, the camping facilities excellent, the peace and tranquility are another world. The park has three main areas, located between the Mackenzie Highway and the Hay River, and linked together by a beautiful and dramatic trail: Alexandra Falls Day Use Area, Louise Falls Campground & Day Use Area, and the Escarpment Creek Group Campsite. They are well signposted on the highway heading either north from the Alberta border or south from Enterprise.

Twin Falls park offers excellent day-trip facilities for activities such as viewing the waterfalls, trail walking, or picnicking; a fully serviced campground for a longer stay; and a partially serviced group camping area at Escarpment Creek. The fully serviced campground is at Louise Falls, in the centre of the park, making the features at Alexandra and Escarpment easy to access and enjoy. Just the Hay River Canyon by itself is a spectacular sight, cut deep by a river with water the same honey colour as the steep rock walls to either side. And it’s only when you notice how small the trees look on the far side that you realize just how big that canyon is.

Queen Elizabeth Territorial Park

A tent pitched in the forest in Queen Elizabeth Territorial Park

Located just outside Fort Smith, this large, lushly wooded campground features 17 powered campsites, showers and washrooms, a kitchen shelter, firewood, a playground, and a walking trail leading to great views of the Slave River Rapids.

 

Lady Evelyn Falls Territorial Park

Lady Evelyn Falls in the Northwest Territories

Make the trip to see the falls, even if you do not plan to camp overnight. From the Mackenzie Highway, an access road leads 6.8 kilometres south to the park. From the parking lot, a short trail leads to Lady Evelyn Falls. The falls form a giant curtain of water as the Kakisa River spills over a limestone escarpment. A staircase leads into the gorge at the base of the falls. The Kakisa River is a warm and boulder-strewn river with many lovely spots for wading and swimming. The fishing is excellent: Northern Pike, Pickerel and Arctic Grayling can be caught by casting with small spoons into the pools at the base of the falls. There are 23 powered campsites here, plus washrooms and showers, a kitchen shelter, drinking water, firewood, interpretive displays and helpful staff.

 

Hay River Territorial Park

Located on Vale Island in Hay River, (follow the signs; it’s about 10 kilometres past the information centre), this park offers fantastic swimming on the sandy shores of Great Slave Lake, unique views of barges and fishing vessels plying the waters, and great opportunities to fish for Northern Pike. The campground has 35 powered campsites with nearby wilderness and modern amenities.

 

Reid Lake Territorial Park – Campground

picnic tables at Reid Lake Territorial campground

Reid Lake is also an excellent base for fishing, swimming, canoeing, hiking, bird watching, wildlife viewing, power boating, and for extended canoe trips into the surrounding lake systems. From here, canoeists can access the Lower Cameron River, canoe routes to Jennejohn Lake, and more. The campground features 65 non-powered campsites and 11 tent pads, washrooms, drinking water, firewood, a kitchen shetler and picnic areas, and a playground.

 

Prelude Lake Territorial Park Campgrounds

Prelude Lake Territorial Park in the Northwest Territories

One of the most scenic trails in the Yellowknife area loops over granite hills and through woodlands as part of this popular vacation spot for NWT residents. The largest developed park on the Ingraham Trail, Prelude Lake Territorial Park offers a variety of facilities, including a sandy beach for swimming, a dock and boat launch, and boat rentals.

Prelude Lake itself is about 16 kilometres long and stretches east and west, forming part of the Cameron River system. There are several islands, and many pleasant places to fish for trout and pike here. There are also two magnificent trails in the park: one a short stroll to a panoramic view; and one a longer, interpretive hike.

Panoramic Trail offers an easy, well-marked half-kilometre walk (much of it on boardwalks) to two lookout points that provide splendid views of Prelude Lake. You can access this trail either from the boat launch parking area near the beach, or from the parking lot located between the boat launch and the campsites.

The Nature Trail forms a loop, passing through several natural zones that vary from loose sand to bedrock to muskeg and swamp, with an equally varied array of inhabitants. Follow a series of informative signs along the way, with pictures of some of the creatures that you may see, including squirrels, ruffed grouse, whiskey jacks, snowshoe hares and crossbills.

Prelude Lake Territorial Park is located 29 kilometres east of Yellowknife. Turn left onto the Prelude Lake access road from the Ingraham Trail and drive past the campground to the day-use area. There are 79 campsites to choose from – 67 non-powered and 12 tent sites. Be sure to pick up a trail guide when you arrive, available at the campground office.

Fred Henne Territorial Park

Swim at Long Lake’s sandy beach. Camp, picnic, canoe or enjoy the amenities and attractions of nearby Yellowknife. Hike the four-kilometre Prospector’s Trail, highlighting the gold-bearing geology of the area. Or follow the Jackfish and Frame Lake trail system, leading you through through the idyllic shield-country wilderness en route to downtown Yellowknife. The Fred Henne campground offers 62 powered sites, 39 non-powered sites and 12 tent pads, plus washrooms and showers, drinking water, firewood, kitchen shalters and picnic areas, a boat launch, and helpful staff.