Wander the quirky streets of Yellowknife’s Old Town following along with a pre-recorded audio walking tour. Hear the origins of the unique neighbourhoods and the stories of the settlers from the Mining Rush in the 1930’s and 1940’s. A relaxing way to enjoy a sunny Yellowknife afternoon!
Stream Old Town Soundwalk music | Listen to songs, albums, playlists for free on SoundCloud
NWT Arts, together with the City of Yellowknife, have created an Art Walk Map for over 100 pieces of public art on display around Yellowknife. Take yourself on an art walk tour and learn more about the artwork that beautifies the capital city!
Perched on a pillar near the Yellowknife airport, the blue Bristol Freighter greets visitors, reminding them of the region’s vital aviation history.
The former Wardair freighter last flew in the 1960s and was owned by Max Ward, famed northern aviation pioneer. Bush planes such as this one fed the development of Yellowknife and other communities in the North, bringing in people and supplies and connecting the outside world before there were any roads.
This particular plane is a Bristol Type 170 and was retired from active service early in 1968 after making history on May 6, 1967, when piloted by Captain Don Braun it was the first wheel equipped aircraft to land at the North Pole.
After it was decommissioned in 1968, it was donated to the City of Yellowknife and is now one of approximately 10 Bristol aircraft that exist for display in the world.
Located at Bristol Monument the “Welcome to Yellowknife” sign is landmark at the entry to the city and a favorite spot for photos. A short path with stairs leads to the Bristol Air Freighter, which also features a picnic area. To the east of the freighter, you’ll find a 2.5-kilometer hiking trail that winds through the boreal forest and connects to the Frame Lake trail system.
Tucked behind the Chateau Nova and Explorer Hotels, this easy two-kilometre loop explores the shoreline of a small marshy lake in the heart of a Yellowknife residential neighbourhood. The short 35-minute walk is a popular destination for trail runners, walkers, and wildlife. Despite the nearby houses, Niven is full of beavers, muskrats, waterfowl and also great urban birdwatching opportunities. The trail features benches and several viewing platforms, plus a floating pontoon bridge over the water. Open year-round, and equally gorgeous in all seasons.
On the floodplain where the Liard River flows into the great Mackenzie, a crowd of Northerners gathered in 1984 awaiting the arrival of Pope John Paul II. Unfortunately, fog prevented His Holiness’ plane from landing and the visit was postponed. Three years later, the Vatican once again turned its eyes toward the Northwest Territories and the Pope finally arrived in Fort Simpson, holding a mass at this site for a crowd of 3,500.
Today, three structures still remain from the Pope’s visits: a 15 metre-high teepee log frame, used as a stage; a log-framed Drum Circle structure that reaches 38 metres in diameter; and a concrete podium/monument in the form of a cross, representing the four directions and the four natural elements.
This area of the Ehdaa Historical Site is still used in summer gatherings to celebrate and pray, as well as for community events like the annual Open Sky Festival.
Located on the Yellowknife River, the park is a perfect place to enjoy a picnic or fishing. There are washrooms here, a picnic area and playground, trails and a boat launch. For the more adventurous, boat up the river and into the string of lakes it connects to; or head into Back Bay and Yellowknife Bay on Great Slave Lake.
Less-travelled than Hidden Lake Territorial Park, which lies further downstream on the Cameron River, the Cameron River Crossing Territorial Park is nonetheless a fantastic getaway off the Ingraham Trail.
The park offers paddlers access to the Lower Cameron River Canoe Route, and is only a short distance to the marvelous Cameron River Rampart Falls.
This day-use area features washrooms, a picnic area, a lookout, trails and amazing fishing.
This small but resilient day use park, which boasts the magnificent 17-metre McNallie Creek Falls, was affected by the wildfires of 2023. The park is currently undergoing restoration efforts to return it to its former splendor. We look forward to welcoming visitors and residents next season to enjoy this stunning roadside gem once again
The Dempster Highway serves as a boundary for this 8,800-hectare park, which includes two campgrounds (Vadzaih Van Tshik Campground and Gwich’in Territorial Campground), two day-use areas (Ehjuu NJik and Nihtak) and Tithegeh Chii Vitaii Lookout. The park is home to a number of natural wonders of the Mackenzie Delta region: limestone cliffs, rare Arctic plant communities, migratory bird staging areas, and Campbell Lake, an excellent example of a reversing delta.
Located just outside of Inuvik, Jàk Territorial Park features an observation tower with excellent views of the surrounding scenery and prime bird-watching opportunities. Watch out for hoary redpolls, bald eagles, yellow-billed loons, and more summer residents of these northern skies.
Jàk comes from the Gwich’in word for “berry,” and true to its name there is an abundance of tasty local berries growing in the park, including wild cranberries, blueberries and cloudberries.
The campground offers six powered and 32 non-powered sites, along with washrooms and showers, drinking water, a kitchen shelter, picnic area, trails, interpretive displays and attentive staff. Camping reservations at Jàk Territorial Park can be made online.