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Louise Falls

A person views the Louise falls in the Northwest territories

A four-kilometre day-hike downriver from Alexandra Falls – or upriver from Enterprise – is where you’ll find this 15-metre-high cataract in the Hay River Canyon. It’s here that Louise Falls can be viewed from one of the finest (and most popular) campgrounds in the Northwest Territories.

Together, Alexandra and Louise Falls make up Twin Falls Gorge Territorial Park – a dramatically beautiful place to enjoy a picnic and stroll the paths. To get a little closer to Louise Falls, walk down the spectacular winding spiral staircase that leads to the river below and the bottom of the falls.

Interpretive displays along the trail between Louise and Alexandra falls provide historical information about the area, and explain the cultural significance of the falls.

Lady Evelyn Falls

Lady Evelyn Falls in Lady Evelyn Territorial Park in the Northwest Territories. Photo George Fischer

So perfect it seems planned. This road-accessible cascade is just outside the little village of Kakisa. It occurs where the Kakisa River jumps off an ancient coral reef, forming a crescent-shaped, 17-metre-high curtain of spray. A staircase leads into the gorge at the base of the falls.

Make the trip out to see the Lady Evelyn Territorial Park even if you don’t plan to camp overnight. The Kakisa River is a warm and boulder-strewn waterway with many lovely spots for wading and swimming. The fishing is also excellent here – Northern Pike, Pickerel and Arctic Grayling can be caught by casting small spoons into the pools at the base of the falls.

There are 23 powered campsites in the park, plus washrooms and showers, a kitchen shelter, drinking water, firewood, interpretive displays and helpful staff. 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.

Hay River Beach

Photo Credit: Gerold Sigl/NWT Tourism

On blazing hot days, Hay River’s driftwoody beach draws travellers from the nearby campground – some of whom are bold enough to dunk themselves in Great Slave’s cool water.

Long Lake Beach

People play beach volley ball at Long Lake beach in Yellowknife in the Northwest tErritories

The sandy shores of Long Lake play host every summer to the legendary Folk on the Rocks music festival. But this oasis is a perfect summer retreat on any sunny weekend of the year. You’ll be sure to see boaters, water skiers and maybe a volleyball game or two. The beach provides easy access to Prospector’s Trail, along with camping and other attractions in Fred Henne Territorial Park. A kitchen area, campground and changing rooms are all available on site.

Pine Lake Beach

Pine Lake beach in Wood Buffalo National Park

The finest beach and campground in Wood Buffalo National Park, Pine Lake features soothing sand and shallow, warm, aquamarine waters.

Pine Lake is an oasis in the middle of the boreal forest, just a short 45 minute drive from Fort Smith. Originating from three natural sinkholes, its warm clear waters make it ideal for swimming or paddling. Its sandy beaches are the perfect location to kick back and enjoy the incredible Midnight Sun views.

Non-serviced RV and tenting sites are available, along with a kitchen shelter, picnic tables, fire pits, firewood, washroom facilities, a playground and change rooms. Pine Lake Beach is open from the May long weekend to Labour Day weekend in September.

Seven Spruce Golf Course

Golfers at the Seven Spruce Golf course in Fort Simpson in the NWT

Golf under the midnight sun at this beautiful, grassy, 9-hole golf course. Within easy walking distance of downtown Fort Simpson, the Seven Spruce Golf Course features rolling fairways, a relaxing clubhouse, and laid-back vibes.

The course is built, maintained and regularly enjoyed by locals. You can rent some clubs if you didn’t bring your own, or just put your feet up and enjoy some hot food, cold drinks and great conversation on the clubhouse’s sunny deck.

Dory Point Day Use Area

Camp shelter at Dory point day use area in the Northwest territories

For roadtrippers, the Dory Point Day Use area is an ideal spot to stretch your legs, lay out a picnic and enjoy your first glimpse of the big Mackenzie River as it begins its 1,750-kilometre odyssey to the Arctic Ocean.

Situated just a few kilometres shy of the Deh Cho Bridge and the community of Fort Providence, Dory Point overlooks the western reaches of Great Slave Lake as it tapers to form the Mackenzie headwaters.

Here you’ll find picnic tables, a screened kitchen shelter, firewood and outhouses. The area is maintained during the summer tourism season, from mid May to September.

Twin Falls Gorge Territorial Park

Twin Falls experience in the NWT

One of the most popular parks in the Northwest Territories, Twin Falls boasts a wealth of attractions. The park, 75 kilometres north of the Alberta border, stretches along the rim of Twin Falls Gorge, encompassing the 32-metre-high Alexandra Falls, where the Hay River plunges into a deep limestone canyon and then, a few kilometres later, where it drops again, off the three-tiered Louise Falls.

Visitors to the park can enjoy several dizzying overlooks that permit safe viewing of the falls, as well as a dramatic 138-step spiral staircase leading down to the lip of Louise Falls. An easy, forest-shrouded three-kilometre hiking trail (complete with interpretive signage) links the two falls, and picnic tables and kitchen shelters are found at both cascades.

At the Louise Falls Campground, also part of the park, you’ll enjoy well-spaced campsites nestled among the jackpines, plus washroom and shower facilities, tapwater, a kitchen shelter, picnic tables, firewood, a playground, and plenty more interpretive signs explaining the significance of this area to the local Dene culture.

Powder Point Territorial Park Day Use Area

Powder Point Day Use Area is located within the gorgeous Hidden Lake Territorial Park on the iconic Ingraham Trail, a little more than 45 kilometres east of Yellowknife on the eastern arm of Prelude Lake.

Powder Point offers access to both the Lower Cameron River Canoe Route and the Powder Point Canoe Route. The first short canoeing portage takes rapids towards both the Lower Cameron River and the Hidden Lake routes. It can be seen across the lake if you look to your right from the parking lot.

Back-country camping is permitted in Hidden Lake but there are no facilities and visitors are expected to bring out what they take in. The day-use area also offers a pleasant short hike to Cameron Falls. An interpretive display at the water’s edge describes some of the features of the park that make it unique.

Pontoon Lake Territorial Park

Take a short 20-minute drive on the Ingraham Trail from Yellowknife’s city centre and you’ll find the excellent Northern Pike and Lake Trout fishing of Pontoon Lake Territorial Park.

The park features washroom facilities, a boat launch, picnic tables and a swimming platform. Extensive hiking trails are available nearby, along with some challenging rock scrambling. The perfect spot for a summer afternoon in the sunshine.