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Home Story 9 reasons the Northwest Territories is a watery wonderland

9 reasons the Northwest Territories is a watery wonderland

We have a secret to share.

It’s about Canada’s liquid paradise – a place shimmering with thousands of rivers and lakes, hundreds of waterfalls and hotsprings, plus millions of tons of ice, snow and permafrost.

The Northwest Territories boasts 163,000 square kilometres of fresh water. That’s more water than can be found in Brazil, Australia, Mexico, Norway and Mongolia combined. It all adds up to a watery wonderland, ideal for fishing, sailing, paddling, swimming, jet-boating – you name it.

Here’s nine wonderful ways to enjoy the waters of the Northwest Territories.

Lakes

… lakes, and more lakes. We’re home to the two largest lakes entirely within Canada, Great Bear and Great Slave, which together cover 60,000 square kilometres – bigger than Nova Scotia. Great Slave is also the deepest lake in North America, plunging down more than 2,000 feet. Meanwhile, Great Bear is the world’s 10th-greatest lake in volume, so vast it could provide everyone on Earth with two-centuries-worth of fresh drinking water. These inland seas, along with other huge local lakes like Lac La Martre, Kasba and MacKay, are home to the world’s best trout-fishing, as well as endless adventures by motorboat, sail, canoe, kayak, floatplane and more.

Snow

Up here, snow means opportunity. In October, when the waters of the Northwest Territories freeze over and bountiful, soft snow blankets our rugged landscape, the fun begins. Huskies tow dog-sledders along glimmering backwoods trails. Snowmobilers play in the powder. Skiers glide along groomed trails, while snowshoe-clad hikers march across the drifts. And winter-campers build igloos – the perfect way to snooze beneath the radiant Northern Lights.

hot springs

After the 30-kilometre paddle through the cliff-lined First Canyon of Nahanni National Park, you arrive here, at Kraus Hot Springs. Named after pioneers Gus and Mary Kraus, who lived here for nearly 30 years (lucky!), this sulfuric hot springs is an idyllic spa in the wilderness. Burbling year-round at 32°C, it smells like rotten eggs but it feels like heaven. It’s just one of the 19 known thermal pools in the region – likely the origin of legends about the North’s secret tropical forests.

Waterfalls

Flat water is soothing. Whitewater is fun. But when water goes vertical? It’s marvelous to behold. The Northwest Territories is home to so many plunging cascades that our busiest highway is called “The Waterfalls Route.” Roadside waterfalls like Sambaa Deh, Coral, Lady Evelyn, McNallie Creek, Louise and 10-storey-high Alexandra Falls draw tourists from around the world. Further off the beaten path are thundering natural wonders, including Virginia Falls in Nahanni National Park – which, at twice the height of Niagara, is the most famous wilderness waterfall on Earth.

Permafrost

Some of the most important water in the Northwest Territories lies hidden just inches beneath our feet. Our whole region is underlain with permafrost – a deep layer of ice suspended in the soil, creating bizarre phenomena. The freezing and thawing of permafrost brings the enduring earth to life, causing our “drunken forests,” “frost-wedge polygons” and other odd “thermokarst” features. Permafrost is also behind our famous “pingos” – the slow-motion, ice-filled eruptions bulging from the tundra near Tuktoyaktuk. And in places, we even use permafrost to our advantage, like when local hunters dig year-round natural freezers, such as in the photo above.

Marshes

Marshes, sloughs, swamps and bogs aren’t especially sexy – unless you’re hunting monster Pike. Then, the abundant murky backwaters of the Northwest Territories become Shangri-La. Our warm, sluggish, reed-filled shallows are positively slithering with giant jackfish. There are places – like the fabled, island-strewn North Arm of Great Slave Lake – where these feisty beasts regularly top 40 pounds. Battle-eager fishermen can catch and release dozens per day, using spoons, spinners or even flies.

Ice

The Northwest Territories is legendary for ice. We drive on ice: Our 2,000-kilometre network of ice roads inspired the hit TV show Ice Road Truckers. You can sign up to tour our ice-roads by van, dogsled or snowmobile. We fish through ice: Sportfishing guides will take you on an ice-fishing adventure, angling for trout, whitefish, inconnu and more through the four-foot-thick ice of Great Slave Lake. Heck, we even party on ice: The March-long SnowKing Winter Festival takes place each year in an ornate ice palace constructed by Yellowknife’s coolest monarch and his crew of frosty assistants.

Mineral waters

The Northwest Territories is home to perhaps the most famous mineral springs in Canada. At the Rabbitkettle, in Nahanni National Park, geothermal waters burble up from deep in the Earth. Dissolved calcium carbonate then leaches out, forming ornate “tufa” mounds. The North Mound of the Rabbitkettle is the largest tufa feature in Canada – 30 metres high, 60 metres wide, and 10,000 years old. Kick off your shoes and join park rangers for a barefoot tour to the top of this fragile, elegant formation, where you can peer down into the ancient, warm, mineral-laden spring.

Rivers

The Northwest Territories is a kingdom of rivers. We are home to Canada’s greatest stream, the mighty Mackenzie, 4,200 kilometres long and bearing more than two million gallons of water per second northward to the polar sea. We’re also home to the Slave, Liard, Back, Thelon, Coppermine, Dubawnt, Hay, Anderson, Peel, and Horton – all among Canada’s top 50 longest rivers. And, smaller but no less legendary, we are home to some of the greatest whitewater paddling routes on the planet, including the South Nahanni, the Keele, the Natla, the Mountain, and the Thomsen – the northernmost canoe-able river on Earth, flowing through otherworldly Aulavik National Park.

Boat Tour to the Arctic Ocean And Pingos

Polar Pack Arctic Adventures

Activities

Arts and Culture Boat Tours Nature and Wildlife Tours Western Arctic

Take in the stunning Western Arctic landscape by boat in our tour to the Pingos, a Canadian National landmark, in the Arctic Ocean. This tour includes a guided tour on the Mackenzie River to the mouth of the Arctic Ocean, a picnic at the Pingos with grilled locally caught fish and local foods, and plenty of wildlife viewing along the way....

$1,500

CAD + 5% GST + Per Person
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Arctic Luxury Experience - 3 nights, 4 days

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Activities

Aurora Boat Tours Cultural Demonstrations Dogsledding Fall Aurora Tours Western Arctic Winter Activities Winter Aurora

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Inquire for price

CAD + 5% GST + Per Person
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Night Fishing Trip

Yellowknife Sportfishing Adventures

Activities

Burbot Fishing Ice Fishing Lake Trout Northern Pike Tours Whitefish Winter Activities

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$599

CAD + 5% GST + Per 1-4 People
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Full day Ice Fishing Trip

Yellowknife Sportfishing Adventures

Activities

Burbot Fishing Fishing Day Trips Ice Fishing Lake Trout Northern Pike Tours Whitefish Winter Activities

Join us for a Full day! 8 hours from 8AM-4PM for a private Yellowknife ice fishing experience! You will be the one catching all the fish on an ice fishing rod and having all the fun. We provide you with a licensed fishing guide, heated transportation (in our 6 seater side by side),  cozy tent and […]...

$999

CAD + 5% GST + Per 1-4 People
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Winter Aurora Package

Blachford Lodge

Activities

Aurora Aurora Lodges Cross-Country Skiing Cultural Demonstrations Ice Fishing Snowmobiling Snowshoeing Wilderness Lodges Winter Activities Winter Aurora

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Starting at

$3,597

CAD + 5% GST + Per Person + $499 Air Charter + Gratuities (10%)

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Summer Fishing Adventure

Blachford Lodge

Activities

All-Inclusive Lodges Canoeing and Kayaking Fishing Housekeeping Lodges Lake Trout Nature and Wildlife Northern Pike Stand up Paddling

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Starting at

$2,997

CAD + 5% GST + Per Person + $499 Air Charter + Gratuities (10%)

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Autumn Aurora Package

Blachford Lodge

Activities

Aurora Aurora Lodges Canoeing and Kayaking Cultural Demonstrations Fall Aurora Fishing Lake Trout Nature and Wildlife Northern Pike Stand up Paddling Winter Activities Winter Aurora

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Starting at

$3,597

CAD + 5% GST + Per Person + $499 Air Charter + Gratuities (10%)

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Okpik Arctic Village Day Stay - Winter

Tundra North Travel

Activities

Arts and Culture Cultural Demonstrations Dogsledding Nature and Wildlife On the Land Road Tours Tours Western Arctic Winter Activities

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$925

CAD + 5% GST + Per Person
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Okpik Arctic Village Winter Package

Tundra North Travel

Activities

Arts and Culture Aurora Cultural Demonstrations Dogsledding Nature and Wildlife On the Land Tours Western Arctic Wilderness Lodges Winter Activities Winter Aurora

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Starting at

$3,500

CAD + 5% GST + Per Person
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Great Northern Adventure Signature Package

Tundra North Travel

Activities

Arts and Crafts Tours Arts and Culture City Tours Cultural Demonstrations Dempster Highway to the Arctic Ocean Dogsledding On the Land Road Tours Road Trips Tours Western Arctic Winter Activities

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Starting at

$6,000

CAD + 5% GST + Per Person
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My Backyard Tours - WHATÌ

My Backyard Tours

Activities

Arts and Culture Cultural Demonstrations Ice Fishing Road Tours Snowmobiling Snowshoeing Winter Activities

Whati is situated on the third largest lake, Lac La Martre, in the NWT and the location offers guests a pristine and untouched environment to view the Aurora Borealis, while you can also enjoy an uninterrupted view of the beautiful scenery of the Lac La Martre lake. Guests can sit back and relax in a […]...

Starting at

$490

CAD + 5% GST + Double Occupancy
View this Package

Nahanni River 14 Day "Classic"

Black Feather – The Wilderness Adventure Company

Activities

Canoeing and Kayaking Experienced Paddling White Water

The two week Nahanni River (Nahʔą Dehé) trip is the most popular canoe expedition on the Nahanni River. It offers the perfect opportunity to paddle the highlights of the Nahanni (Nahʔą Dehé). You may get to hike to the rare Tufa Mounds - the largest "warm-spring" tufa formation in the north, and will definitely reach the awe-inspiring Virginia Falls (Náįlįcho), and paddle through four canyons that are, in places, deeper than the Grand Canyon!...

$9,495

CAD + 5% GST + Per Person + National Park Fee
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Guided Canoe Trip in Thaidene Nene National Park (12 days)

Jackpine Paddle

Activities

Birding Canoeing and Kayaking Experienced Paddling Lake Trout Nature Photography Nature Tours Novice Paddling On the Land White Water

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$12,275

CAD + 5% GST + Per Person
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Red Cliff Island Boat Tour

Red Cliff Adventures

Activities

Arctic Grayling Boat Tours Cultural Demonstrations Fishing Lake Trout Nature and Wildlife Northern Pike Tours Whitefish

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$300

CAD + 5% GST + Per Person
View this Package

Wilderness Camping Adventures

Red Cliff Adventures

Activities

Camping Cultural Demonstrations Fishing Nature and Wildlife Nature Tours On the Land

Thaidene Nëné Authentic Wilderness Camp Spend two days and two nights getting a completely authentic experience of the area around Thiadene Nëné and Łutsël K’é. Tour the community itself and enjoy a scenic boat trip out to Red Cliff Island, learning the history and hearing Indigenous storytelling from Ron himself. Hearty meals and an authentic […]...

$1,445

CAD + 5% GST + Per Person
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Dogsledding

North of 60 Aurora Adventures

Activities

Dogsledding Winter Activities

Enjoy an exciting dog-sledding adventure along pristine frozen lakes by secluded and well-maintained dog trails, ending the tour at the heated trapper’s camp with hot beverages and freshly made bannock. Our tours embrace Indigenous culture and traditions, sharing our stories of true northern family heritage. We offer two adventures Traditional dogsled ride where you are […]...

Starting at

$90

CAD + 5% GST + Per Person
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Houseboat and Heritage Lunch

Sundog Adventures

Activities

Boat Tours Nature Tours Tours

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Starting At

$115

CAD + 5% GST + Per Person
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Beaufort Sea Adventures

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Only Way Outfitting

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