Explore Our Region
Southern NWT highway information: 1-800-661-0750
Southern
NWT ferry services: 1-800-661-0750
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Traveling by Road
There are two road routes to Northern Frontier region, one from northern British Columbia, and one from northern Alberta. We're 19 hours or more by road from Edmonton, Alberta, or Fort St. John, BC, but there's lots to see and do on the way. From the Mackenzie River crossing to Yellowknife, the highway takes a new name, the Frontier Route.
From northern British Columbia
The Liard (Highway 7) is a scenic drive from Fort Nelson, B.C. to the junction with NWT Highway 1, near Fort Simpson. Thick spruce forest and quaking aspen line this all weather gravel road, which follows the Liard River part of the way, with views of the Mackenzie Mountains to the west.
Fort Liard, the only community on the highway, is home to Slavey Dene. The site is famous for the exquisite porcupine quill embroidered birchbark baskets crafted here. There's a hotel, and the small airport supports tours to Nahanni National Park.
A government campground and interpretive center is found at Blackstone Territorial Park, which is also a staging area for trips into Nahanni National Park.
Today, the old fur trading post of Fort Simpson is the regional centre for Deh Cho, the Slavey Dene claim area, and headquarters for Nahanni National Park Reserve. Hotels, a visitor information centre, golf, boat tours on the Mackenzie River and its tributaries and air tours into the mountains are offered. Don't miss a day trip by air to Virginia Falls, in Nahanni National Park.
From Fort Simpson, drive east to the junction with Highway 3 to Yellowknife. This is moose habitat, and sometimes you can see them near the road. Plan to stop for a few hours at Sambaa Deh Falls Territorial Park. The Trout River cascades over Coral Falls, and rushes through a narrow gorge to create the dramatic Sambaa Deh waterfall. A government owned campground nestles in a mature spruce forest, and trails provide access to the gorge and waterfalls.
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From Northern Alberta
Take Alberta Highway 35 north, and cross into the Northwest Territories at the 60th Parallel. There's an excellent visitors' centre there. To the north, a series of pretty waterfalls on the Hay River have been linked by trails into the Twin Falls Gorge Territorial Park. The services at Twin Falls Gorge include powered and non-powered sites, firewood, drinking water, showers, toilets, dump station and waste disposal.
At Enterprise, Highway 2 leads to the Town of Hay River, with a full range of services, tour operators and a golf course. There’s a campground, too, located near the beach, on Great Slave Lake.
From Hay River, follow the highway signs south, then west again
toward Yellowknife. The small Slavey Dene community of Kakisa is
located close to Lady Evelyn Falls and a pretty campground. The
services at Lady Evelyn include non-powered sites, firewood, drinking
water, showers and toilets. About 20 km beyond Lady Evelyn Falls,
you’ll connect with Highway 3, the Frontier Route, heading
to Northern Frontier country.
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The Frontier Route
Cross the wide, fast flowing Mackenzie River on a government operated ferry (no charge). Then visit historic Fort Providence, with motels, restaurants, a craft shop, campground and opportunities for river tours and fly-out fishing.
The ferry is operational from 6am to 12am, 7 days a week. The ride is less than 20 minutes.
During the winter months, the ferry is hauled out and travelers cross the river on an ice road. At winter freeze-up and spring break-up there may be 1 or 2 days when crossing the river is not possible. Freezeup, in late November or December prevents travel across the Mackenzie River and during the month of April ice break-up also can prevent operation of the ferry. Please phone ahead for road ferry information.
Southern NWT highway information: 1-800-661-0750
Southern NWT ferry services: 1-800-661-0750
The Frontier Highway circles the western end of Great Slave Lake, crossing what was once the shore of a vast glacier-fed sea. You pass through the Mackenzie Bison Sanctuary, home of a free-ranging herd of pure wood bison, the larger northern cousins of plains bison. Slow down: you have a good chance of seeing these huge animals grazing along the road, but please stay in your vehicle, they can move a lot faster than you can. Overhead, you may spot eagles and other raptors, and often, sandhill cranes, which nest in the area.
You leave the prairie-like lowlands near Edzo and Rae. Rae has two hotels, and a restaurant, and nearby there’s a comfortable wilderness lodge built around natural clay baths. Now the highway winds across the rolling, rocky, Precambrian Shield, source of Canada's gold, silver and diamonds. Ducks nest in roadside ponds and beaver dams and lodges can easily be seen. Parts of this final 80 km stretch of road to Yellowknife are under construction each summer as the pavement inches toward the city.
The Fred Henne/Long Lake Territorial Park and Campground (with a swimming beach!) is right by the airport. Drive into the City and stop at the Northern Frontier Visitors Centre, for up to date information on activities and services, as well as maps of the area.
For information on Northwest Territories Parks: Tourism and Parks, Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Box 1320 (EG), Yellowknife, NT X1A 2L9.
FAQ
What are the distances to Yellowknife on the Mackenzie Route?
Edmonton to Yellowknife:
1513 km
High Level to Yellowknife:
778 km
Enterprise to Yellowknife:
445 km
Fort Providence to Yellowknife: 314 km
Rae/Edzo to Yellowknife:
108 km
What other attractions could I take in along the way to Yellowknife?
The communities listed above are all potential stops along the way. Other scenic stops are Peace River and Indian Cabins. Driving time between Yellowknife and Edmonton is approximately 18 hours. The distances between communities are quite large and it might be advisable, depending on your car, to carry a jerry can of fuel. Gas stations along the way usually are open well into the evening.
Photos by Fran Hurcomb.
