Northwest Territories: Northern Lights, Tundra and National Parks

A trip to the Northwest Territories can be planned around the season, landscape and cultural interests. The differences between seasonal aurora experiences, road and park landscapes, and the ways of accessing individual protected areas are particularly striking.

Northern Lights and Choosing the Season

The aurora borealis can be seen in the Northwest Territories on up to 240 nights a year. There are two aurora seasons: in autumn, the land and lakes are still warm; in winter, the lakes are frozen. This seasonal contrast offers a tangible starting point for timing your trip: you can take the described landscape conditions into account when choosing your travel dates.

Licensed tour operators in the Northwest Territories offer northern lights viewing experiences. Options range from aurora-hunting adventures to stays at lodges. If you plan to take part in such an experience, check the operators’ availability before your trip.

Protected Areas and Waterfall Views

Access to Nahanni National Park Reserve requires particular consideration: there are no public roads, and access is by plane or on foot. Check Parks Canada’s current access information before planning. Designated aircraft landing sites are located at Náįlįcho (Virginia Falls), Glacier Lake, Bunny Bar, Island Lake, Honeymoon Lake, Seaplane Lake and Gahnįhthah Mie (Rabbitkettle Lake).

Wood Buffalo National Park is Canada’s largest national park and also the world’s largest Dark Sky Preserve. It also includes the salt plains at Grosbeak Lake. In Sambaa Deh Falls Territorial Park, trails lead to viewpoints overlooking Sambaa Deh Falls and Coral Falls. These areas offer contrasting landscape features: the salt plains at Grosbeak Lake and the waterfall views in the territorial park.

Roadside Landscapes and Seasonal Connections

The 926.5-kilometre Dempster Highway passes through river valleys, rolling foothills, open tundra and the Richardson Mountains in the Northwest Territories. Along the Northwest Territories’ major highways, you can access campgrounds, picnic areas, gas stations and visitor information. Road travel therefore offers both striking landscapes and practical stops along the highways.

In winter, lakes and rivers in the Sahtu, Dehcho, North Slave and Western Arctic regions freeze into ice roads. These temporarily connect fly-in communities there to the rest of the road network. Conditions vary from year to year, so take the current situation into account if you plan to use one of these seasonal connections.

Culture and Indigenous Perspectives

The Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre is the museum and archives of the Government of the Northwest Territories. Its exhibits are about the land, the people and the history of the region. Indigenous art can be found in communities across the Northwest Territories and is connected to the land and local history.

Depending on the season, Indigenous tours in the Northwest Territories may include hunting, fishing, paddling and learning about how culture is preserved. The activities included can vary with the season. Together with the exhibits and art, these tours offer a varied perspective on cultural themes connected to the land and its history.

If you’re looking for a hotel, first decide on your travel dates and preferred focus: aurora season, road landscapes, a particular protected area or cultural themes.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Fort Smith Region, Sachs Harbour, Tuktoyaktuk, Inuvik Region, Prince Edward Island, Nunavut, Saskatchewan, New Brunswick.

Back to the main travel overview: Canada.