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Home Story 19 Reasons to See Great Slave Lake
Dusk settles over Great Slave Lake

19 REASONS TO SEE GREAT SLAVE LAKE

It’s more than just a lake. For eons, Great Slave has been at the heart of history, culture and recreation in the Northwest Territories. Here are just some of the reasons why Great Slave Lake is so great.

On the shore of Great Slave Lake in the Northwest Territories

IT'S BIG

This freshwater lake, located in the southern half of the Northwest Territories, is the 11th largest in the world and, after Great Bear (also in the NWT), the biggest entirely within Canada. It measures in at 28,568 square kilometres, roughly the same size as Belgium. Great Slave is also North America’s deepest lake, reaching a maximum depth of more than 615 metres – deep enough to drown the CN Tower.

Redefine your expectations of lake fishing at Great Slave Lake, NWT

FISH GALORE

Great Slave’s seemingly bottomless depths are swarming with Northern pike, Arctic grayling and trophy-sized trout, luring anglers from around the world. Every year some 5,000 trophy fishers come North, many bound for the Great Slave’s North Arm and East Arm. Because the lake is clean and cold, fish keep near the surface in summer – and the 24-hour daylight means an angler can stay as late as they like. Plus the lake is massive, meaning they can go for days or weeks without seeing another person.

There are many NWT communities on the shores of Great Slave Lake

IT HAS COOL COMMUNITIES

Today, the Great Slave Lake shoreline is home to more than half the Northwest Territories’ population, living in five communities. These including the capital city, Yellowknife; the commercial fishing and transport centre, Hay River; the placid and historic Métis town of Fort Resolution; traditional Łutsel K’e on the scenic East Arm; and fast-growing Behchokǫ̀ on the North Arm.

Houseboats on Great Slave Lake's Yellowknife Bay.

HOUSEBOATS

Yellowknife Bay shelters a fleet of more than two dozen houseboats, all brightly painted and lovingly adorned. Residents run their floating homes on some combination of solar power, batteries and generators, and haul out all their waste. This pretty, nautical neighbourhood even hosts its own version of a drive-in film festival, albeit with canoes and kayaks.

The East Arm of Great Slave Lake is a mecca for lake fishing.

... AND TWO AWESOME ARMS

The fabled East Arm is perhaps the most popular region of Great Slake Lake, and for good reason. It features abundant islands, narrow channels with tall, stark red cliffs, and world-class fishing. While lesser-known than its eastern brother, the North Arm features sandy beaches, a stunning variety of birds, and tons of pike.

Old Lady in the Falls near Lutsel K'e, Northwest Territories

DEEP DENE LORE

The Northwest Territories is made spectacular by the thriving cultures, deep histories, and rich traditions of the Indigenous people who call it home. For decades, hundreds of people have departed on an annual pilgrimage from Lustsel K’e and other Northern communities to historic Fort Reliance to see the “old lady of the falls,” or Ts’akui Theda. Located near the mouth of the Lockhart River, the figure of a seated woman at the top of the waterfall signifies a protective, motherly force in Dene lore.

Stand-up paddleboarding outside Yellowknife on Great Slave Lake.

PERFECT PADDLING

When the waters are calm, Great Slave is a perfect kayaking, canoeing and even paddleboarding spot. The East Arm features countless islands, towering cliffs and deep, clear waters. The lake also provides a picturesque vantage point to photograph communities like Yellowknife and Fort Resolution.

Great Slave Lake is a haven for bird life.

BIRDS AND MORE BIRDS

Great Slave Lake is a pit stop and breeding ground for countless shorebirds, songbirds and waterfowl. Varying water depths, climate, ecology and plant life in and around the lake attract a diverse range of birds, such as bald eagles, gulls, arctic terns, ducks, tundra swans, geese and others. The numerous channels and bays of the West Mirage Islands, just outside Yellowknife Bay, are important habitat for breeding birds, while the North Arm’s abundant marshes and small islands each spring attract more than 100,000 northbound migrating waterbirds. The largest gull colony on the lake is near the Slave River Delta, on Egg Island. The East Arm, with its craggy cliffs and rocky islands, supports bald eagles, terns and gulls.

Johnny Baker discovered gold on the shore of Great Slave Lake near Yellowknife.

GOLDEN HISTORY

Prospector Johnny Baker discovered shimmering gold around the lake’s north shore in the mid-1930s. Baker stumbled on a visibly gold-packed vein on Yellowknife Bay – the discovery that spawned the Yellowknife gold rush. Mines started popping up, and a city was quickly born. Today, remnants of the area’s mining history are still apparent around Yellowknife.

Thaidene Nene is a national park near Lutsel K'e, NWT.

A NEW NATIONAL PARK

For the past few decades the federal government considered Great Slave’s East Arm as the site of a new National Park – the Northwest Territories sixth National Park. In 1970, Parks Canada “withdrew” 7,000 square kilometres of crown land on the arm to protect it from industrial development. In October 2002, Parks put the East Arm on a list of 10 new national parks it vowed to create over the next several years. Thaidene Nene officially became a park in August, 2019.

Northerners love to sail on Great Slave Lake

SAILING

While the sailing season may be shorter than on lakes to the south of the NWT, long days keep boats out on the water at almost all hours. The Yellowknife Sailing Club hosts races and expeditions throughout the summer, and it’s not hard to find a boat to crew on.

You can see bison or caribou or muskoxen near Great Slave Lake

CARIBOU AND BISON

For those looking for some truly iconic Northern wildlife, you’re sure to find big beasts abound here. The hardy Bathurst caribou herd winters north, east and sometimes south of Great Slave Lake, before departing for the Barrenlands in spring. And along the lake’s western shores, the Mackenzie Bison Sanctuary protects the world’s largest wood bison herd. Recently there have been sightings of muskox – be sure to keep a lookout for this shaggy beast.

Fresh fish served up at Bullock's restaurant

FRESH EATING

Hay River, Yellowknife and the rest of Great Slave’s shoreline communities offer a fresh sample of locally caught fish, such as whitefish, trout, pickerel, inconnu and pike – and it can often be purchased directly on the dock from local fishers.

History is alive in the Northwest Territories

You're walking in the footsteps of explorers

Before European explorers “discovered” the big lake, two Indigenous individuals named Matonabbee and Idotlyazee drew the first known map of Great Slave, without the aid of any instruments. Their 1767 drawing showed a reasonably accurate outline of the lake as well as its tributaries. History names Hudson’s Bay Company trader Samuel Hearne as the first European to visit the lake, in 1771 – with considerable help from Matonabbee, who was Hearne’s guide and friend. After Hearne, other Europeans followed, including Scottish explorer Alexander Mackenzie, who opened a trading post at Old Fort Providence, and John Franklin, who used the Providence post as his base during an expedition to the Arctic coast.

Ancient rocks abound around Great Slave Lake in the Northwest Territories.

Ancient stone

Some of the oldest rocks in the world have been found in the Northwest Territories. Great Slave Lake’s north shore is home to rocks as old as 2.7-billion years. The East Arm contains rocks that are approximately 2 billion years old. The southern shore’s rocks are much younger, at about 390-million years old.

Floatplanes docked on Yellowknife Bay.

Floatplanes

In the summer Great Slave Lake is a hive of aircraft activity, with planes landing and taking off regularly. And in winter when the ice is thick enough, skis replace pontoons and a makeshift runway is carved into the snow. Residents living near the lakeshore quickly get used to the near-constant drone of planes zipping back and forth.

Wildlife abounds around Great Slave Lake.

Diverse ecology

Great Slave is a vast reservoir that feeds a complex network of rivers and streams, including Canada’s longest river: the Mackenzie. It receives about 77 percent of its inflow from the 434-kilometre long Slave River. Sitting at the western edge of the Canadian Shield, Great Slave spans a transition zone where the forested boreal shield to the east meets the sparse taiga biome of the Mackenzie Valley. The northeastern shoreline around McLeod Bay and Christie Bay is rocky, while the south and west shores are full of bays and marshes, interspersed with wooded islands. The North Arm is scored with numerous marshes and bays, as well as some wooded islands. The East Arm is like a mini-archipelago, with hundreds of rocky outcrops and a shore lined with towering, copper cliffs.

Great views of Great Slave Lake's Yellowknife Bay from Pilot's Monument.

The best views

After climbing several flights of wooden stairs, nothing beats the view from atop Yellowknife’s Pilot’s Monument. This rocky point in Old Town offers a panoramic view of Back Bay and Yellowknife Bay, just a minuscule corner of this massive lake.

Great Slave Lake hosts festivals of all kinds, in all seasons.

... and The best festivals

From the Hay River Pond Hockey Tournament to Yellowknife’s Long John Jamboree and SnowKing Winter Festival, the big lake is the setting for a slew of celebrations.

Dreaming of Northern vistas? Explore all the ways to get out and witness the magnificent landscapes and majestic wildlife of the Northwest Territories. 

The Northwest Territories is home to some of the most pristine national parks in Canada. The humbling beauty and wild landscapes of the North are on full display. Read our guide to the 6 Canadian national parks in the NWT  for a taste of what awaits you there.

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Two people in a boat holding up a huge fish at Blachford Lake Lodge

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Narwal Northern Adventures voyageur canoe on Great Slave Lake

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NARWAL Northern Adventures

Northern and Remote Wilderness Adventures Ltd. (NARWAL) is a small, friendly, majority Aboriginal owned and operated family business. Our reputation......

Scott Lake Lodge brightly lit under the dark sky with green aurora dancing overhead at border of the NWT and Saskatchewan.

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Scott Lake Lodge

One of the finest Pike and Lake Trout waters in North America, on the 60th Parallel. Enjoy luxurious private cabins......

Two men at Plummer's Trophy Lodge holding a huge trophy fish caught in the Great Bear lake in teh Northwest Territories.

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Plummer's Trophy Lodge

Multi-day Trips Summer

Trophy Lodge is a fishing lodge located on the Smith Arm of Great Bear Lake. We are famous for our......

Yellow Dog Lodge aerial view among trees on a bright sunny day along the Duncan and Graham lakes in the Northwest Territories.

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Yellow Dog Lodge, Inc.

Multi-day Trips Northern Lights Summer

Yellow Dog Lodge is a comfortable lodge with 3 private cabins for our guests. The lodge is a short (15 minute) floatplane ride from Yellowknife. Located on Duncan and Graham Lakes, the lodge is your hub for adventure. Choose from an additional 5 lakes for guided day trip excursions. Each lake is unique and offers unspoiled first class fishing. We are the only lodge that operates guided trips on each of these remote lakes located in the NWT taiga wilderness. Packaged trips feature superb sport fishing and safe outdoor adventure. The lakes and streams offer the finest Lake Trout, Northern Pike, Walleye and Arctic Grayling in the region. As an added bonus, our guests will enjoy the midnight sun and may even catch the northern lights later in the fall or early spring....

Multi-layered Waterfall in Hay River with three people on a grey speed boat passing by in Northwest Territories.

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2 Seasons Adventures

2 Seasons Adventures is a family-owned company. Our professional guides boast a lifetime of experience enjoying the unique lifestyle of......

Aerial view over Peterson's Point Lake Lodge in the Northwest Territories.

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Peterson's Point Lake Lodge

Peterson’s Point Lake Lodge provides you access to known waters teeming with monster lake trout. Their current record is a......

Black Jack Fishing - Logo

Black Jack Fishing

Day Trips Summer

Fishing Charter based in Yellowknife offering specialized in Giant Northern Pike and Lake Trout. We have boats to operate either in the North and East arm....

Ahmic Air De Havilland Canada DHC-2 Mk. I Beaver plane in Northwest Territories Canada.

Ahmic Air Ltd.

Floatplane charter service using classic DHC-2 Beaver aircraft based in Yellowknife’s historic Old Town. Sightseeing flights over Yellowknife and surrounding......

Sandy Point Wilderness Lodge by Gordon Lake on a sunny day in the Northwest Territories.

Sandy Point Wilderness Lodge

Exceptional fishing on Gordon Lake, 100 km northeast of Yellowknife. Fish for Lake Trout, up to to 56 lbs! Fly in by......

A group of guests with Air Tindi on Nahanni Scenic Floatplane tour in the NWT.

Air Tindi - Tours

Air Tindi is an airline company based in Yellowknife offering flights to a number of diverse destinations within Canada’s spectacular Northwest Territories!......

Pehdzeh Ki First Nations picture of picnic benches on a cloudy day in Wrigley with the Mackenzie mountain range in the background in the NWT.

Pehdzeh Ki First Nation

Pehdzeh Ki First Nation is located in the community of Wrigley, Northwest Territories, Canada. We are a Designated Authority in......

Two Northstar Resort boats on the sandy beach of Thekulthili Lake near Fort Smith, NWT.

Northstar Resort

Northstar Resort is a remote fishing lodge located on Thekulthili Lake, 95 miles (152 km) northeast of Fort Smith. Operates from......

Ena Lake Lodge and lake aerial view on a sunny day at the 60th Parallel with boats parked along shore.

Ena Lake Lodge

Ena Lake Lodge is a one-of-a-kind, all-inclusive luxury fishing and outdoors experience in Northern Canada. Come and experience authentic fly-in......

Grey Goose Lodge exterior picture surrounded by trees and the Great Bear Lake at sunset in Deline in the Northwest Territories.

Grey Goose Tours & Lodge

Welcoming and friendly with a rustic charm and all modern conveniences, Grey Goose Lodge immediately catches your eye as you......

Arctic Safaris man taking a photo in the Barrenlands in the Northwest Territories.

Arctic Safaris

Fishing and Barrenlands wildlife photography, including migrating caribou, at the Obstruction Rapids in the central Barrenlands north of Yellowknife....

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Northwest Territories Parks

To truly experience the Northwest Territories, take your camping gear for a highway driving adventure! Long ribbons of road without......

Beaufort Sea Adventures

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Beaufort Sea Adventures

Indigenous Northern Lights Summer Winter

Beaufort Sea Adventures is a family-owned and Indigenous-operated business, proudly offering Arctic experiences in Tuktoyaktuk. Our family lives and breathes the North, giving us a unique insight into the hidden gems that make Tuktoyaktuk truly special. We offer guests an authentic cultural immersion, sharing our Inuvialuit heritage, stories, and deep connection to the land and […]...

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© Northwest Territories Tourism 2024

Land Acknowledgement

Northwest Territories Tourism acknowledges that we are located in Chief Drygeese territory. From time immemorial, it has been the traditional land of the Yellowknives Dene First Nation, and more recently, the homeland of the North Slave Métis Alliance. We respect the histories, languages, and cultures of Inuit, First Nations, Metis, and all First Peoples of the NWT and Canada, whose presence and cultures continue to enrich our vibrant communities.

Best places to go 2024 - Condé Nast Traveler