Skip to main content
Home Story Dehcho Roadtrip

Roadtripping to the Dehcho

There’s a secret among Northerners in the NWT – yes, for much of the year the territory is chilly with frozen lakes and blanketed in snow, but there’s a region that heats up quicker than the rest of the territory, maybe even quicker than the rest of the country. We’re talking about the Banana Belt of the North – the Dehcho.

Named for the mammoth river that winds its way to the Arctic Ocean, the Mackenzie River, known around here as the Deh Cho or “Big River,” the Dehcho Region of the NWT reaches those golden summer temperatures a solid month before Yellowknife, Hay River and Inuvik.

Fort Providence

If you’re coming from Yellowknife, your first stop is Fort Providence. This town is in the South Slave region, but it’s right on the doorstep of the mighty Mackenzie River. Gas up, get a bison burger and marvel at the incredible engineering of the Deh Cho Bridge. The Deh Cho Bridge is the only bridge that straddles the Mackenzie, the longest river in Canada and second largest in North America (after the Mississippi). It spans over a kilometre, rises 100 feet above the river and carries over 150,000 vehicles per year.

Enterprise

Alternately, if you’ve begun this adventure from Alberta, your first stop en route to the Dehcho is Enterprise, also in the South Slave region, where you will find the incredible Alexandra Falls. Take a few moments here to get out and stretch your legs, walk down to the viewing platform to view the 32 m cascade, and maybe enjoy a picnic at the Twin Falls Gorge Territorial Park day use area.

Sambaa Deh Falls

Just over two hours from Fort Providence, or two and a half from Enterprise, you’ll reach Sambaa Deh Falls Territorial Park. This park features not one but two stunning waterfalls, Sambaa Deh Falls of course and Coral Falls, as well as a hiking trail between the two chutes. The Trout River (Sambaa Deh) that winds through the area was an importation transportation route in the fur trade days and the hiking trail is the same portage fur traders would have used in order to get around the powerful waterfalls. It’s crucial to book your campsite here in advance as Sambaa Deh Falls is one of the most popular parks in the whole territory. Visitors to this Dehcho gem tend to be sunbathing while their North Slave and Western Arctic camping counterparts are still wearing their puffies!

Fort Simpson

After a relaxing stay at Sambaa Deh Falls, continue on to the Dehcho’s regional centre, Fort Simpson. Here you’ll find the world’s largest wooden teepee, explore Gold Rush-era history and walk along the Ehdaa Historical Site where many important Dene gatherings still occur. Take a guided walking tour of the town to learn all the historical points of interest, camp out at Fort Simpson Territorial Park, and treat yourself to a flight-seeing tour of the stunning Nahanni National Park Reserve. 

DISCOVER A MOMENT THAT LASTS A LIFETIME. Aylmer Lake Lodge is located in Rocknest Bay, which is on the Barren......

Comfortable lodge a 20 minute by floatplane ride from Yellowknife. Guided fishing for Lake Trout (to 34 lb), Arctic Grayling (to......

Commercial air charter service providing air support for hikers on Canol Road, sightseeing in the beautiful Mackenzie Mountains, and fly-in fishing......

With over 30 years of living in Yellowknife, we offer a variety of tourism experiences for our guests. We are......

Book an adventure with us at Trail Blazer Tours for an unforgettable experience! Your adventure with us will create lasting......

We offer winter clothing rentals. Our winter clothing will keep you warm and comfortable for your outdoor fun – ask us......

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

Tukto Lodge has been exceeding anglers’ expectations for more than fifty years. As the only fishing and eco-tourism lodge in......

Come shop and experience the true beauty of Canadian diamonds. We feature and sell a variety of loose diamonds, mined, cut, and polished all here in the Northwest Territories. ...

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....

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

Etching popular northern designs on unique 100% recycled glass, since 1994. Visit our gift shop in Old Town or come......

Aurora Village – A Class of Its Own Aurora Village is a unique Aurora-viewing facility situated 25 minutes from downtown......

We operate a fully equipped luxury coach and offer City Tours, Aurora Tours and tours to the Nahanni National Park Reserve......

Create your own story. We offer a variety of services to make your Sahtu adventure a reality! We offer everything from......

Our goal is to provide unique customized services for high-end customers. We excel at making personalized tours. You can see......

Book this entire cabin in the remote wilderness of the stunningly breath-taking, Mackenzie Mountains. This cabin is hands down the......

We cover your every helicopter need in and around South Nahanni National Park in the Mackenzie Mountains of Canada’s NWT.......

Raven Tours is a tour operator in Yellowknife, NT, Canada. We offer Aurora Viewing, Snowshoeing, and Hiking Tours. We hope to......

Our company is a tour management and booking services company. We are located at Yellowknife, NT Canada. Our clients come......

Join us for an unforgettable experience on the mighty Mackenzie River. Day trips are available for a full or half......

Remote private wilderness paradise on Little Doctor Lake, 100 km west of Fort Simpson. Accommodates 20 in cabins. Fishing, swimming,......

Authentic Arctic Experiences Tundra North Tours is an Inuit company based in Inuvik, Northwest Territories that was established with the dream of being......

100% Indigenous owned!  We are the world’s first Aurora Hunting tour company, we know Aurora. Learn about Aurora, why Yellowknife is the......

Your Dene Connection in Yellowknife. B. Dene Adventures is a Traditional Dene Culture Camp business which teaches the Dene way......

Gana River Outfitters is a family owned and operated outfitting business offering remote wilderness hunts in the beautiful Mackenzie Mountains......

Arctic Tours Canada is a Yellowknife based tour operating company that offer Aurora Hunting and Viewing tours, Yellowknife sightseeing tours,......

Come experience world-class Aurora Borealis viewing in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada. We are the only guides in the Northwest Territories......

We are a small business, owned and operated by a northern Indigenous family, catering largely to visiting families and friends,......

Our vision is to see the Beaufort-Delta Region of Canada’s western arctic become the dream destination for motorcycle adventure enthusiasts from......

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

Best Northern Road Trip! Now you can drive all the way to the Arctic ocean linking Canada from coast to......

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

Aurora photography tours for groups of 25 or less, available in English, Mandarin and Cantonese. Our tours offer specialized knowledge......

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

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

Remote naturalist’s lodge snuggled in the Mackenzie Mountains, in the largest mountain wilderness in North America. Located along the Canol......

Inuvik is located 200km North of the Arctic Circle, on the East Cannel of the incredible ecosystem that is the Mackenzie Delta. We are located within the Taiga Forest just south of the treeline and Arctic Tundra. Inuvik acts as the gateway to the Western Arctic as the Mackenzie River, Dempster Highway and Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk Highway […]...

Born & raised in Inuvik, Northwest Territories our experienced lead guide Jimmy Kalinek is ready to help you discover the......

Specializing in polar bear and muskox hunts for up to four people from traditional camp near Tuktoyaktuk. Also providing scenic......

Join us on a subarctic adventure! Spend five nights viewing the Northern Lights, enjoying outdoor activities, and experiencing the culture......

An Arctic Barrenlands trophy fishing adventure for the serious sportsman. Located on Lynx Lake (420 km east of Yellowknife) Lynx......

Call us about our exciting year-round packages and experience the best of the Dehcho region and Denendeh....

Boat tours of the Mackenzie River Delta from Inuvik to Aklavik, Red Mountain and Husky Channel. Contact us for more......

Aurora viewing tours, city tours, and hikes at Cameron Falls. We book all your activities and  accommodation....

Explore the wild splendor of the northern boreal plains, where whooping cranes call and bison roam free. Visitor reception centres......

Providing culturally based tours of Tuktoyaktuk with an opportunity to dip your toes in the Arctic Ocean! Ask us about......

The Deh Cho Travel Connection is a driving route that extends just over 1,800 kilometres from “Mile Zero” of the......

We offer: Nature and wildlife viewing Snowmobile tours Fishing tours Boat tours Polar bear and muskox hunts. Contact us for......

Family owned and operated tour company specializing in Arctic expedition cruising....

Up-to-date information about road conditions, ferry operations and ice bridges, as well as flight information, travel tips and links to......