What to Do in the Winter in the NWT
In the Northwest Territories, the cold season offers a huge variety of winter activities.
Simply zip up your parka and come to a place of Arctic wonder. See the world’s best Northern Lights, filling the sky with their awe-inspiring and mesmerizing dance. Watch dog teams dashing through backcountry trails of frosted forests. Delight in wide-eyed wonder as you immerse yourself in a pristine winter wonderland and experience some of the best winter activities in the world.
If you’re looking for the best things to do when you visit the NWT in the winter, here are some handy suggestions.
Warm Up at Our Winter Festivals
It’s important to stay warm during the North’s winter months, and Northerners know the best way to handle the cold is to stay busy and active.
Winter festivals take place in nearly every town. In Inuvik, residents celebrate the first sunrise after a month of darkness in early January with a huge bonfire and three days of fun that include performances by the heart-thumping Inuvik Drummers and Dancers.
In Yellowknife, like magic, a castle of snow and ice appears on Great Slave Lake. There, the Snow King invites you to partake in the celebrations, which include performances from talented artists on a snow stage. See the snow carving competition as artisans craft creations out of the lake itself. Inside the castle you’ll find a café, VIP room and a courtyard with a giant ice slide. The castle is open the month of march but visitors can take a tour of the snow build site during February.
Meanwhile, in Hay River, you can join the Polar Pond Hockey tournament in March. The NWT is speckled with thousands of frozen lakes, and teams from communities across the territory hone their skills for the opportunity to compete in the tournament. Over 40 teams compete in Hay River in what has become the most sought-after winter event in this community, for both players and spectators.
Where to Find The World’s Best Northern Lights
“The Lights are out!” is a common call throughout the NWT, and it’s your signal to quickly bundle up and step out to witness one of the NWT’s most spectacular sights. In the winter, our cloudless, long nights, coupled with our optimal geographic position, make us the best place in the world to see the Northern Lights. The Aurora can be observed up to 240 nights per year, mesmerizing visitors in shimmering hues of emerald, violet, yellow, and crimson.
Seeing the world’s best Northern Lights is an experience that keeps people coming back to the NWT. Witnessing ribbons of dancing colours stretch across the horizon is a humbling feeling, and standing silently with others on an Aurora tour and staring up in awe is an unforgettable and unique moment.
Take a Spin on a Snowmobile
Looking for an exciting way to get around in winter? Well, for some, winter means driving snowmobiles. They are almost as common as cars in the NWT, and a lot more fun! These snow machines will take you to places you could never reach by road — up steep peaks, down winding trails, over iconic ice roads and even onto the frozen Arctic Ocean. When you sign up for a snowmobile tour or rental, you’ll truly experience the territory the way Northerners do.
Go Mushing With the Friendliest Furry Faces
Looking for an iconic NWT winter activity? Take a wild ride — behind a team of huskies! With frosty manes and blue eyes afire as they race along gleaming trails of snow, sled dogs remain a cherished part of Arctic culture. Up here, driving a dog team is called “mushing.” You’ll have a howling good time at dog team races or, if you want to become a “musher” yourself, sign up for a tour. They’re offered all winter long.
Watch Winter at 40 Below
The North is undeniably cold during the winter months, but as long as you’re prepared, there’s a unique beauty to the pristine winter landscapes of the NWT. Imagine a quiet, picturesque landscape where each tree is coated in hoarfrost, and all you can hear is the sound of your footsteps on crip snow.
Imagine the sun ringed with iridescent sundogs, and the moon appearing so clear and close it seems you can touch it. The world is frozen and still, filled instead with the amplified sounds of winter – wind, crunching snow, buzzing snowmobiles, and playing huskies. Imagine ice nearly one and a half metres (four feet) thick, yet clear enough to still see the fish beneath. During a northern deep-freeze, living in a frozen world is (quite literally) its own type of cool winter activity.
Steer Toward Northern Adventure on an Ice Road
Here’s one of the most unique winter activities of all. If the show Ice Road Truckers sounds familiar, you should know that the NWT is the place where the truckers first revved their engines. Each winter, nearly a dozen snow-and-ice highways are carved across our bold frontier. The most famous, the Tibbett-to-Contwoyto Winter Road, stretches hundreds of kilometres through the Barrenlands, reaching all the way up to Nunavut. Mellower ice-roads can be found close to town, including the Dettah Ice Road. This six-km-long (near four miles) thoroughfare atop Great Slave Lake links metropolitan Yellowknife with the nearby Dene
Northerners use a variety of unique vehicles to travel over snow and ice. In a landscape where so much changes between seasons and where there is so much variety between regions, transportation can require some ingenuity.
The Bombardier is a snow tractor that looks like a beetle scuttling over the snowdrifts. A Hagglund resembles an amphibious tank, and it can even float if it breaks through thin ice during freeze-up and thawing seasons. Finally, a SnoBear is basically an ice fishing hut on treads — it even has a trapdoor for dropping your line through the ice.
That’s not to mention dogsleds, kicksleds, snowmobiles, skis, snowshoes, or thick-wheeled “fatbikes” – the ways to get out and see the winter landscapes of the NWT are almost as numerous as the incredible sights these transports can take you to. Tours featuring all of these vehicles take place around many communities and lodges.
The Avid Angler’s Prefered Winter Activity - Ice Fishing
In the NWT, the fishing season heats up when the temperature drops. A few feet below the ice, big and bountiful fish ply our waters all winter long. On the Arctic coast, you can jig for Arctic char through a hole in the floes. Elsewhere, fish for trout, pike and pickerel on inland lakes.
Don’t be disheartened by depictions of survivalists shivering over a hole in the ice: modern ice fishing huts can often look more like saunas – tightly insulated wooden structures with comfortable seating and temperature control. Head just a few minutes out onto the water, typically with your gear on the back of a snowmobile, dogsled, or SnoBear tracked vehicle — or just out the door of your cozy lodge.
Strap on Your Skis and Traverse the Backcountry
Imagine a trail immersed in the natural beauty and silence of the North. Each tree is gilded with pristine frost. Your skis glide effortlessly through a still landscape. There’s potentially nothing more perfect than a peaceful ski through the incredibly still vistas of the frozen North.
It’s a popular activity for Northerners and travellers alike, and so many northern communities have ski clubs that feature groomed cross-country ski trails. Most others offer great terrain for making your own pathways – whether that’s through a frozen boreal forest, across the wide expanse of a frozen lake, or the sweeping Arctic. It’s a wonderful way to see more of the winter landscape or even to embark on a larger overland expedition.
Excited to see a true winter wonderland? Read more about what Northerners look forward to every winter, and the ways you can keep busy (and warm!) on your authentic Northern experience.
Find the best way to fill your day while you wait for the Northern Lights to return at nightfall with more winter activities to do during your visit to the NWT.
Activities
Activities
Activities
Activities
Activities
Activities
Activities
Activities
Activities
Activities
Activities
Activities
Activities
Activities
Activities
Activities
Activities
Activities
Activities
Activities
Activities
Activities
Activities
Activities
Activities
Activities
Activities
Activities
Activities
Activities
Activities
Activities
Activities
Activities
Member
NWT Charter Services
Member
Charter the bus. Tour the North. Explore more. Local tours, private transfers, and charter travel in Yellowknife! See below for some of our Local Tour options: Aurora Hunting (Bus or Private SUV) Aurora Viewing at Cabin and Teepee Sightseeing City Tours Bison & Wildlife Tours Waterfall & Nature Hiking Tours Art Gallery, Writing Cultural Tours Multi-Night Aurora […]...
Member
Raven Tours
Member
Raven Tours is a tour operator in Yellowknife, NT, Canada. We offer Aurora Viewing, Snowshoeing, and Hiking Tours. We hope to......
Member
Arctic Tours Canada
Member
Arctic Tours Canada is a Yellowknife based tour operating company that offer Aurora Hunting and Viewing tours, Yellowknife sightseeing tours,......
Member
Sonny Aurora Tours
Member
Join us on an Aurora hunting adventure. Our skilled tour guides know all the best places around Yellowknife to capture......
Member
Yellowknife Outdoor Adventures
Member
For a Great Northern Experience! Yellowknife Outdoor Adventures offers a variety of day trips ranging from 2 to 10 hours......
Member
K'iyeli Tourism Services
Member
Extend your trip to Fort Simpson with a visit to our Dene Camp, K’iyeli. We have options available for an......
Member
Destination NWT Ltd.
Member
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
Arctic Chalet Tours
Member
Best Northern Road Trip! Now you can drive all the way to the Arctic ocean linking Canada from coast to......
Member
Yellowknife Vacations
Member
We are an experienced team in the tourism industry and we provide services in Mandarin, Cantonese, English and other Asian......
Member
Bucket List Tour Company
Member
We operate a fully equipped luxury coach and offer City Tours, Aurora Tours and tours to the Nahanni National Park Reserve......
Member
North Star Adventures
Member
100% Indigenous owned! Experience the spirit of the untamed Canadian north with a 100% Indigenous owned tour company. Journey with an Indigenous tour company that still lives by the traditions of our ancestors. Feel the heartbeat of the land as we share the stories, wisdom, and spiritual connections that have been passed down from generation to […]...
Member
Aurora Village
Member
Aurora Village – A Class of Its Own Aurora Village is a unique Aurora-viewing facility situated 25 minutes from downtown......
Member
Arctic Outfitting Adventures
Member
We offer a Northern Arctic experience. Locally owned and operated outfitter for several years and counting. Based in a small, remote community of approximately 480 residents on Victoria Island in the High Arctic Our hunts are conducted with experienced local guides who know the land, the weather, and the wildlife We also offer: Snowmobile Tours […]...
Member
Łı́ı́dlı̨́ı̨́ Kų́ę́ Tourism
Member
We are the Łı́ı́dlı̨́ı̨́ Kų́ę́ got’ine. People of the community of Łı́ı́dlı̨́ı̨́ Kų́ę́, “the place where rivers come together”, in......
Member
B. Dene Adventures Inc.
Member
Your Dene Connection in Yellowknife. B. Dene Adventures is a Traditional Dene Culture Camp business which teaches the Dene way......
Member
Nanook Aurora Tours
Member
Offering four-hour Aurora tours including the ice road and City of Yellowknife. Pick-up and drop-off available. Small groups. Service in......
Member
Arctic Range Adventure
Member
Your unforgettable journey to the North starts here! With amazing new highlights for experiential travelers all our day tours and guided round-trips offer a great variety of summer and winter activities, which will leave all our guest with unforgettable memories. Arctic Range Adventure offers a unique range of exceptional experiences in the Arctic region, Yukon […]...
Member
Namushka Lodge (1982) Ltd.
Member
The all new Namushka Lodge! Come enjoy all the new amenities of a fly-in fishing lodge! Located on Harding Lake, 32......
Member
Trail Blazer Tours
Member
Book an adventure with us at Trail Blazer Tours for an unforgettable experience! Your adventure with us will create lasting......
Member
Enodah Wilderness Travel/ Trout Rock Lodge/Enodah Kennel
Member
Enodah Wilderness Travel / Trout Rock Lodge/ Enodah Kennel offer high-quality Aurora viewing experiences by night and dogsled tours by......
Member
Beck's Kennels
Member
World class dogsled tours! We are one of the largest professional sled dog kennels in Canada. Over 150 happy, healthy......
Member
Noksana Mushing Tours
Member
Noksana Mushing Tours offers authentic Inuvialuit cultural experiences in Tuktoyaktuk, NT, combining dog sledding and snowmobile tours with storytelling, traditional food and insights into Arctic life, led by Bruce Noksana, an Inuvialuit guide who shares his passion for dog sledding and local history on the tundra and Arctic Ocean....
Member
My Backyard Tours
Member
Welcome to My Backyard Tours, 100% Indigenous owned and guided Tours in Yellowknife, NWT. Year-round guided tours & winter clothing......
Member
Northern Lights Tour
Member
Northern Lights Tours is an adventure-focused tour company dedicated to providing authentic experiences just like the locals do! Our expert guides will ensure you’re in the right place at the right time to witness the stunning Aurora Borealis. We also offer thrilling snowmobiling and ice fishing trips, immersing you in the beauty of the Northwest […]...
Member
Arctic Duchess Adventures
Member
Come explore more then half a century of marine history under the Aurora!...
Member
Yellowknife Sportfishing Adventures
Member
Yellowknife Sportfishing Adventures is the premier guided fishing and wilderness experience in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, on the doorstep of the......
Member
Blachford Lodge
Member
What began as a “part time fishing lodge” has now become a “full time Aurora Wilderness Lodge” open year round......
Member
Great Slave Lake Tours
Member
Great Slave Lake Tours offers winter and summer trips on Great Slave Lake, the ninth biggest lake in the world......
Member
Aurora Dream Tours
Member
Our professional tour guides will take you on amazing Aurora viewing tours, city tours, ice road tours and much more.......
Member
AuroraTours.net
Member
We are a local Aboriginal tour company based in Yellowknife, the capital of the Northwest Territories, Canada. Our focus is on......
Member
Red Cliff Adventures
Member
Red Cliff Adventures has a traditional camp that is located in Lutsel K’e, on the shores of the East Arm,......
Member
Yellowknife Tours
Member
Come experience world-class Aurora Borealis viewing in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada. We are the only guides in the Northwest Territories......
Member
Tundra North Travel
Member
Tundra North Travel is an Inuit company based in Inuvik, Northwest Territories that was established with the dream of being......
Member
Bluefish Outfitting
Member
With Bluefish Outfitting you’ll get an unforgettable trip of a lifetime. Bluefish Outfitting offers personalized, guided fishing trips and boat tours on......
Member
Ji Guang Tour
Member
With over 30 years of living in Yellowknife, we offer a variety of tourism experiences for our guests. We are......
Member
North of 60 Aurora Adventures
Member
We offer tours such as aurora viewing, dog sledding, snowmobile rides, ice fishing and more. Come experience a once in......
Nestled in the Nahanni Range of the Mackenzie Mountains on Cli Lake, is the North Nahanni Naturalist Lodge. It is......
If you are looking for an Aurora Experience of a lifetime in Yellowknife – the best place in the world to......
Our goal is to provide unique customized services for high-end customers. We excel at making personalized tours. You can see......
Guided hunting, community tours of Tuktoyaktuk and much more. Visit a local home to enjoy a unique opportunity to appreciate......
Yellowknife Online produces Yellowknife specific articles and content for visitors, residents, and newcomers. Yellowknife Online has recently transferred that knowledge......
Chuck Gruben is an active Inuvialuit hunter and trapper very knowledgeable in the Tuktoyaktuk area offering customized tours (hunting, hiking,......
Summer and winter packages on the Taltson River. Drive out by snowmobile from Fort Resolution or fly out from Fort......
Aurora Bus Tours is a locally owned and operated tour company based in Yellowknife, specializing in Northern Lights viewing experiences. We focus on small to mid-sized group aurora chasing tours that maximize guests’ chances of seeing the lights by actively driving to clearer skies when needed. Our tours are designed to provide a comfortable, guided, […]...
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 […]...