When the winter arrives, new roads appear on the water.
That’s right: For thousands of territorial residents, winter is the only time their isolated communities become road-accessible, as nearly 2,000 kilometres of icy highways are plowed through terrain that’s impassable (or isn’t terrain at all) in the summertime. More than just a means of connecting communities, winter roads grant a unique and scenic way to see the winter wonderland of the North.
In the Northwest Territories, winter roads link 12 towns, giving them temporary access to the outside world. Built and maintained by the territory’s transportation department, some of the routes are short. The winter road to Nahanni Butte, for instance, is just a few kilometres, crossing the Liard River to Highway 7.
But others are epic. The Mackenzie Valley winter road begins at Wrigley and connects to five communities, the furthest of which, Colville Lake, is 651 kilometres away.
The winter road season is fleeting, running late December to early April. In some years though, the road from Inuvik to Aklavik has operated for five months.
But these roads aren’t like our typical highways. Winter routes are often narrow, rutted, and can seldom be taken at speeds over 50 kilometres per hour. Days are dark and bitterly cold, services are few, and non-essential travel is discouraged.
