Transportation
There are two considerations when you're planning a trip to the Northwest Territories: getting here, and getting to the lakes or rivers where you want to do your paddling or boating.
Flying to the Northwest Territories Canadian North and First Air connect southern Canada with the Northwest Territories on a daily basis. You need to book well in advance if you're bringing your own canoe along, to arrange baggage space.
Driving to the Northwest Territories You can drive to the NWT from the Yukon via the Dempster Highway, or from Alberta via the Mackenzie Highway. The Dempster gives access to the communities of Tsiigehtchic (and the Arctic Red River), Fort McPherson and Inuvik.
The communities of Fort Simpson, Fort Providence, Hay River, Fort Resolution, Fort Smith, Rae-Edzo and Yellowknife are accessible via the Mackenzie Highway system. On both routes, motorists cross the Mackenzie River by free ferry.
There are ferries at: km 24 of Highway 3, crossing the Mackenzie near Fort Providence; at km 457 of Highway 1, crossing the Liard River near Fort Simpson; at km 72 of the Dempster Highway, crossing the Mackenzie at Ndulee crossing; and at km 140 of the Dempster, crossing the Mackenzie near Tsiigehtchic.
For information on current ferry and road conditions, visit
the NWT Department of Transportation website at
www.dot.gov.nt.ca
or telephone 1-800-661-0750.
Access to Rivers and Lakes Few rivers and lakes can be reached by road, but you can get close to some by flying to nearby communities. All our outlying communities are served by local carriers. To paddle very isolated rivers and lakes, you may have to charter flight to your starting point.
Contact one of our many air charter services by visiting our aerial adventures section. You're advised to book well in advance. Double-check pick-up dates and locations, and be sure you're dropped at the right place. It's a good idea to have an alternate pick-up site planned in case you can't meet the plane as scheduled.
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
