Camping in the north
Key information and a few simple recommendations will help you to enjoy your Northern camping trip to the fullest.
Park seasons: Most NWT parks are open and provide services from May 15th to September 15th. During the closed season, many parks offer excellent opportunities for winter activities. Trails or lakes can be accessed by boat, on foot, snowshoe, ski or snow machine. However, services such as toilets and garbage removal are not provided, and trails will not be cleared of snow. You enter at your own risk. Winter use requires that you carry all waste out with you.
Leave No Trace: The backcountry is a place to seek solitude and a true wilderness experience, away from crowds, noise, and everyday pressures. As a park visitor, you have the right to a safe, enjoyable outdoor experience. You'll enjoy your escape more if you help us to protect and preserve these areas. All our National and NWT Territorial Parks permit only activities with a low environmental impact. Leave No Trace camping is the norm for wilderness travellers in Northern parks. Learn more about Leave No Trace at the Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development website
Fires: Build campfires fires on sand, earth, or gravel, or in provided
fireplaces. Never leave a fire unattended, and always make sure it is out
when you are finished. Remember to be careful with fire while out on the land,
and respect the restrictions on open fires when they are posted.
Wilderness Travel: Wear wool or polypropylene rather than cotton clothing
for outdoor activities. Wool is best for wet or cool weather; it retains warmth
even when wet. Cotton clothing (including jeans) is less suitable because
it increases loss of body heat when soaked. As a safety measure, have each
member of your group carry a whistle. Make sure everyone knows that three
blasts on a whistle or three shouts are a distress call.
Swimming: Check for underwater hazards (like rocks and logs) before you allow anyone to dive or swim. Avoid water with fast currents. And never swim alone.
Wildlife: Never approach or feed wild animals, even if they appear to be friendly. When you choose a campsite, always be on the lookout for bear sign, such as tracks and droppings. Don't camp where you see them. Bears will stick to mostly to river valleys, so camp higher up on ridges. Keeping your campsite clean and caching food away from tents will help keep them away. Dispose of food scraps by burning or burying them. For many people, seeing a bear is the highlight of a wilderness experience. However, all bears are dangerous, and as long as people and bears occupy the same territory, there will be unplanned encounters with potentially disastrous results. Try not to catch a bear by surprise: when you're out walking, it's a good idea to make a lot of noise.
Safety in Bear Country, a booklet available from any office of the NWT Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, contains basic precautions and safety tips to keep in mind while you are in bear country.
NWT Tourism Box 610, Yellowknife NT X1A 2N5 Canada
Toll-free number: 1-800-661-0788
International: +1-867-873-7200
Email: info@spectacularnwt.com
