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Home Attraction Frame Lake Trail

Frame Lake Trail

Forming a seven-kilometre loop around the shores of Frame Lake in the heart of Yellowknife, the city’s favourite walking trail has a little of everything.

The eastern half of the loop is a paved, sedate urban path, leading you past architectural marvels such as the territorial Legislative Assembly, City Hall and the famous Prince of Wales museum, as well as the grassy picnic area of Somba K’e park.This is cyclist heaven weaving along the lake and in and out of Boreal Forest it is a great early morning ride.

The western half of the trail, however, is a taste of the Northern backcountry, allowing you to ascend rocky outcrops, cross black-spruce swampland (via convenient wooden boardwalks) and spy on local wildlife, including waterfowl, muskrats, foxes and even coyotes.

Although Frame Lake itself is not open for swimming or ice fishing, the frozen lake becomes a winter playground, cross-country skiers enjoy the groomed lake shore trails, and the city maintained skating rinks by Somba K’e park are the perfect spot for a lunch time hockey game or leisurely skate.  The lake is also a hub for snowmobilers to access the many trail systems around the area.