Afraid of heights? Don't travel here.

Afraid of heights? Don't travel here.

Lotus Flower Tower, in the fabulous Cirque of the Unclimbables, is considered one of the top 50 vertical ascents in North America. For those willing to dare the wall, it'll have you walking on air.

But if you're not an expert rock-climber, there are still ways you can experience the sheer majesty of the Cirque of the Unclimbables. Many airlines and helicopter companies offer flight-seeing tours of Lotus Flower Tower and the rest of the cluster of dramatic peaks just east of the NWT-Yukon border. Or if you have the time, take a float-plane over the Mackenzie Mountains to Glacier Lake and then hike into scenic Fairy Meadows, roughly an hour's hike from the base of Lotus Flower Tower, where you can set up camp and bask in the enthralling view of the cirque. You might even meet some ambitious and adventurous climbers who have just scaled the mighty peak and have one heckuva story to tell.

For more on the cirque and nearby attractions, explore Nahanni National Park Reserve, accessible from Fort Simpson. And if you're keen to trek the Northwest Territories, here's more on our hiking and backpacking.