Stretching up to the Beaufort Sea in the Arctic from a latitude of 60°N, the Northwest Territories are part of Canada’s remote north, inhabited largely by native peoples but visited by intrepid adventurers. The territories consist largely of wilderness, punctuated in places by human settlements. An experienced guide is usually advisable for expeditions. For more general information about sport and activities in Canada, see the main
Canada section.
WatersportsCanoeing and whitewater rafting are particularly popular. Tours and trips can be arranged to suit all levels
of ability, although the area is most attractive to advanced canoeists. A favorite destination is the
Nahanni River in the southern
Mackenzie Mountains, featuring falls, rapids and torrents flowing through a highland wilderness. A trip along its entire length would take 10 to 20 days. The
Mackenzie River itself offers good canoeing, as do other rivers in the area. Those in the west are more popular, while in the east the rivers are less often tackled. River reports are available on a daily basis; contact Northwest Territories Tourism for details (see
General Info section). Novice canoeists are advised to go with a guide. River cruises can be taken on the Mackenzie River, with the opportunity to stop off at Dene (Aboriginal) settlements and traditional camps, or on the
Thomsen River, Banks Island, through spectacular unspoiled scenery. Fishing on the thousands of clear, unpolluted lakes is a very popular sport. Chief catches are trout, great northern pike and grayling. Numerous operators offer drop-off and pick-up flights to remote areas.
OtherPhotographers and wildlife enthusiasts have exceptional opportunities to observe and record unusual sights.
Wood Buffalo National Park, south of
Great Slave Lake, hosts Canada’s largest herd of free-roaming bison. Over 700,000 barren-ground caribou migrate across the Northwest Territories and special tours can be arranged to their calving grounds along the shore of the
Beaufort Sea. Musk oxen inhabit the tundra, moose live in the boreal forests, grizzly bears roam freely and Dall’s sheep graze in the mountains. Beluga whales, polar bears, birds and sea mammals can be observed near the coast. During the brief spring, hosts of tiny wild flowers cover the tundra area; a macro lens is needed to photograph them. Five national parks provide trails for hiking and other facilities. Sandy hills known as ‘eskers’ offer easy hiking with good viewpoints. More challenging hiking can be found on the
Canol Heritage Trail, through mountains and valleys to the Yukon. The northern lights (
aurora borealis) can be seen in winter on clear nights from September to January. In midsummer the light lasts all night, and the landscape takes on a surreal quality.
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