The capital of Northwest Territories sits on Great Slave Lake's north shore. Founded as a gold mining town in 1935, it's now a center for government and diamond mining.
Yellowknife, the capital of Canada’s Northwest Territories, sits on the northern shore of Great Slave Lake, 400 km south of the Arctic Circle. In winter, you can watch green and purple auroras ripple across the sky from late August to April. Summer brings daylight that lasts until midnight, letting you hike trails along Cameron River Falls or paddle past colorful houseboats in Back Bay. Walk through Old Town to see log cabins from the 1930s gold rush next to galleries run by Dene and Métis artists. Floatplanes take off daily from Yellowknife Bay to remote lakes where anglers catch lake trout, and the Snowking Winter Festival each March turns frozen lake ice into a castle with live music and theater.
Seeing the Northern Lights
Yellowknife is one of the best places to see the aurora borealis due to clear skies and low light pollution. Guides from companies like North Star Adventures lead groups to viewing spots such as Dettah Ice Road, where heated shelters let you wait comfortably. They track weather patterns and solar forecasts using both modern technology and traditional Indigenous methods. If you prefer to go alone, climb the stairs at the Bush Pilots Monument in Old Town for an unobstructed view of the horizon. Several hotels will call your room if the lights appear after midnight, so you don’t have to stay awake watching the sky.
Winter and Summer Adventures
From December to March, frozen lakes become routes for dog sledding and ice fishing. Drill through three feet of ice on Great Slave Lake to drop a line for northern pike, or join a guided sled tour pulled by huskies. The average winter temperature stays below -22°F, so dress in layers and rent insulated boots from local outfitters. When summer arrives, hike the rocky paths of the Ingraham Trail to see Cameron Falls or rent a canoe to explore islands near Jolliffe Bay. Between mid-May and late July, the sun never fully sets, letting you fish or hike at 2 AM during the Midnight Sun Golf Tournament.
Indigenous Culture and Annual Festivals
Learn about Dene and Métis history at the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre, where exhibits include a 1950s polar bear hide and tools made from caribou bone. In July, Folk on the Rocks music festival fills Long Lake with performances ranging from Inuit drumming to folk bands. Book a cultural tour through the Yellowknives Dene First Nation to try activities like setting fish nets or cooking bannock over an open fire. Each February, the Long John Jamboree transforms Yellowknife Bay into an ice sculpture park, with artists carving detailed figures from blocks of lake ice. Food stalls serve hot dishes like bison stew and fried bread topped with local berries.
Gold Rush History and Building Designs
Yellowknife’s growth began in 1934 when prospectors found gold near Back Bay. Explore Old Town’s weathered log cabins, including the Wildcat Cafe—a restored 1937 diner that now sells bison burgers and wildberry pie. The Legislative Assembly Building, completed in 1993, has a circular meeting room to symbolize equality, with wooden carvings depicting Dene legends on its walls. Floatplanes still land at the docks along Yellowknife Bay, carrying supplies to diamond mines in the tundra. For a view of the city’s layout, climb the spiral staircase at the Bush Pilots Monument to see houseboats, frozen lakes, and the Ragged Ass Road area, named after a 1940s mining claim.
Flights, Drives, and Local Transport
Yellowknife Airport has daily flights from Edmonton, Calgary, and Vancouver, with shorter routes from Arctic towns like Cambridge Bay. Driving from Edmonton takes two days via Highway 3, where you might spot bison near the roadside between Fort Providence and Rae. Public buses run every hour from downtown to neighborhoods like Old Town and Kam Lake, but renting a car gives flexibility to visit places like the Ingraham Trail. This gravel road stretches 70 km past forests and small lakes, ending at Tibbitt Lake, where winter ice roads start in January.
Restaurants and Local Foods
Eat pan-fried Arctic char or whitefish at Bullocks Bistro, a wooden cabin with license plates nailed to the walls since 1987. The Sundog Trading Post serves caribou meat stew and espresso, with homemade ice cream in flavors like cloudberry. Try Wolfish Red Ale at NWT Brewing Company, made with water from Canadian Shield aquifers. During winter festivals, food trucks sell poutine topped with cheese curds and bison chili. For smoked fish or cured meats, visit Fishy People Butchery near the floatplane docks.
Animals and Nature Trips
Great Slave Lake has some of the largest lake trout in North America—book a fishing trip to hidden bays accessible by floatplane. Join a guided tour in September to watch caribou herds migrate near Behchokǫ̀, or visit Wood Buffalo National Park to see bison grazing in meadows six hours south of the city. Walk the trails at Yellowknife River Territorial Park to spot beavers building dams or bald eagles hunting along the river. Keep a safe distance if you encounter moose near the Ingraham Trail, especially during spring when calves travel with adults.
