Skip to main content

Find out more about the current wildfire and wildfire-related concerns in the NWT.

Home Story Trek in the park less travelled
Cavern in Tuktu Nogait park in the northwest territories

Trek in the park less travelled

Tuktut Nogait National Park is an unsung Eden, with fewer visitors per decade than Banff sees every minute. It boasts waterfalls, wildlife, canyons and ancient cultural sites, all hugging the shores of the Northwest Passage. Even better, it has exactly zero traffic jams or crowded campgrounds. So leave the lineups, catch a floatplane and come on up.

Discover more about Tuktut Nogait, accessed through the nearby community of Paulatuk. Its attractions will leave you breathless:

Mountains and river in Tuktu Nogait National Park in the NWT

Gorgeous gorges

The park’s most prominent river, the Hornaday, begins placidly enough, sliding broad and gentle through the upland tundra north of Great Bear Lake.  Where the river nears the Arctic coast, it goes into overdrive, carving out slot canyons 170-metres high or more, and frothing with Class IV rapids.

Two tourists and an interpretive guide standing in Tuktu Nogait National Park

Ancient artifacts

While it may be empty today, Tuktut Nogait is packed with evidence of past human occupation. There are more than 300 known archeological sites here, some a thousand years old. You’ll see tent rings, hunting blinds and food caches the Copper Inuit used to store caribou meat – timeless mementos, enduring on the treeless landscape.

Waterfall in Tuktu Nogait National Park

Plunging falls

Tuktut Nogait’s most photographed landmark is 23-metre-high La Roncière falls, located in the northwest part of the park where the Hornaday River dances down a tiered stone staircase. And here’s what’s even better: Below the falls, brilliant red Arctic char splash in the cool current.

Two campers sitting by a waterfall in Tuktu Nogait National Park

Timeless camping

Located well above the Arctic Circle, Tuktut Nogait enjoys bright skies all summer long. Between the perpetual lights and the utter lack of responsibilities or appointments, you’re free to do as you please – trekking, cooking, camping or kicking back any time of the day or night.

Intrigued by our wildest park? Here’s more on experiencing Tuktut Nogait.

member icon Member
Nahanni River Adventures

Spectacular river journeys on Canada’s most iconic rivers. Travel with expert guides by raft or canoe and immerse yourself in......

member icon Member
Blachford Lodge

What began as a “part time fishing lodge” has now become a “full time Aurora Wilderness Lodge” open year round......

member icon Member
Trail Blazer Tours

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

member icon Member
Canoe North Adventures

For over 30 years, Canoe North Adventures has made it our mission to create spectacular memories for life, and to show......

member icon Member
Ji Guang Tour

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

member icon Member
Andrew Lake and Lynx Tundra Lodges

Arctic Adventure & Wildlife viewing on the edge of the tree line of Canada’s Northwest Territories. Lynx Lake 400 km......

member icon Member
Ram Head Outfitters Ltd.

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

member icon Member
Arctic Chalet Tours

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

member icon Member
Destination NWT Ltd.

Destination NWT Limited is a tourism operator located in Yellowknife, Canada. DNWT specializes in outdoors adventures, aurora photography, and cultural experiences: Best rated Snowmobile Tour, winter gears included, exciting trail riding Aurora Tour in a Luxurious lakeside Lodge Unique Aurora tour while Ice Fishing indoors Full panoramic moonroof vehicle for Aurora Viewing DNWT’s tours allow […]...

member icon Member
Aylmer Lake Lodge

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

member icon Member
Simpson Air

Simpson Air (and its predecessor) is the oldest continuously-operated flying service in the Mackenzie Valley, established in the early 1960s.......

member icon Member
Canoe North

Canoe North, located in Hay River, Northwest Territories offers kayak and canoe rentals and sales. We can set you up for a......

member icon Member
Yellowknife Outdoor Adventures

For a Great Northern Experience! Yellowknife Outdoor Adventures offers a variety of day trips ranging from 2 to 10 hours......

member icon Member
Watta Lake Lodge

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

member icon Member
Nahanni Mountain Lodge

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

member icon Member
Yellowknife Tours

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

member icon Member
Jackpine Paddle

Unplug from the commonplace with our Northwest Territories canoe and kayak expeditions. We specialize in true wilderness adventures to the......

member icon Member
Dancing Skies Photo Tours

Dancing Skies is a new tour operator in Yellowknife, led by an experienced northern lights chaser and photographer with a passion for contemplation. Specializing in private tours and small groups of up to 5 people, we prioritize silent, serene observation and photography of the aurora, far from the crowds. With expertise in Space Weather data, […]...

member icon Member
Kasba Lake Lodge

World Class Fishing Within Reach Yet Beyond Belief For 3 generations we have been honing the Kasba experience to be like no-other. Our level of hospitality, dedication to the fishery, and a legendary passion for the experience that permeates through our entire team is undeniably contagious. No matter what you’re looking for in your fishing […]...

member icon Member
Arctic Tours Canada

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

member icon Member
Black Feather - The Wilderness Adventure Company

For over 50 years, Black Feather has had the opportunity to operate canoe, hiking and sea kayaking expeditions throughout the......

member icon Member
Tukto Lodge

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

member icon Member
NARWAL Northern Adventures

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

member icon Member
Yellow Dog Lodge, Inc.

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....

member icon Member
Gana River Outfitters Ltd.

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

member icon Member
2 Seasons Adventures

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

member icon Member
South Nahanni Outfitters Ltd.

Outfitting to all of us is a way of life, one that we cherish because we love to hunt, love the......

member icon Member
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......

member icon Member
Aurora Village

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

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

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

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

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......

member icon Member
Beaufort Sea Adventures

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 […]...

Spectacular NWT        </div>
                
    </div>
</div> <!-- end .endo -->

</div>

<script>
    jQuery(document).ready(function(){
        getReadingTime();
        if($('.story-fullwidth section:first').hasClass('mediastack--hero') || $('.story-fullwidth section:first').hasClass('mediastack--video')) {
            $('#social01').css('display', 'none');
            $('#social02').css('display', 'block');
        }else{
            $('#social01').css('display', 'block');
            $('#social02').css('display', 'none');
        }
    });
</script>
					</main><!-- /#main -->
				
<section id=