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Northwest Territories Travel Guide: Roads, Towns & Wilderness

Gravel Highways in Northwest Territories Canada

It’s hard to imagine what it is like in the Northwest Territories (NWT) until you experience it for yourself: empty highways, remote wilderness, wide-open spaces, and hardly any people.

I’ve travelled all of the NWT highways featured in this guide solo, camping along the way in my Toyota RAV4. This guide brings together my first-hand experiences, favourite places, northern towns and practical information to help you plan your own Northwest Territories adventure.

Northwest Territories Highways and Road Trips

Driving is one of the best ways to experience the Northwest Territories. These seven road trips take you through vast wilderness, small northern communities and some of Canada’s most remote landscapes.

I’ve driven every one of these routes myself, and each offers a very different northern experience. Choose a route below for my detailed road trip guide, stops along the way and practical travel tips.

Explore Northwest Territories Towns & Communities

The towns and communities of the Northwest Territories are an important part of any northern journey. From Yellowknife to Tuktoyaktuk and smaller communities along the way, each offers a glimpse into life in Canada’s North.

Explore the individual community guides below, or start with my guide to 17 Northwest Territories towns worth visiting.

Northwest Territories Road Trip Map

Why Visit the Northwest Territories

Most Southerners, and much of the rest of the world, know little about Canada’s Northwest Territories and have no idea what they’re missing.

Travel to the Northwest Territories for wilderness, adventure, spectacular waterfalls, epic road trips, and wide-open spaces. Come for summer festivals showcasing local music, dance, arts, and food, or for hiking, mountain climbing, whitewater rafting, and incredible wildlife.

But most of all, meet the northern people. Their friendliness will blow your mind.

Did You Know?

  • The Northwest Territories is home to some of Canada’s wildest and most remote highways.
  • Virginia Falls and Nahanni National Park Reserve are among the territory’s spectacular natural attractions.
  • Great Bear Lake and Great Slave Lake are two of the world’s largest lakes.
  • The Mackenzie River, known as Deh Cho in Dene languages, is Canada’s longest river and flows north into the Arctic Ocean.
  • The Arctic Circle crosses the Northwest Territories at approximately 66.6° north.
  • About 20 percent of the Northwest Territories lies above the Arctic Circle.
  • Banks Island is part of the Northwest Territories, while Arctic islands such as Victoria Island and Melville Island are divided between the NWT and neighbouring Nunavut.

How to Get to the Northwest Territories

By Air

Yellowknife is the main gateway for air travel into the Northwest Territories, with direct flights from several Canadian cities. From Yellowknife and regional centres such as Inuvik and Norman Wells, smaller airlines connect travellers with communities throughout the territory.

By Road

For independent travellers, getting to the Northwest Territories by road is part of the adventure. Three main routes connect the territory with southern Canada:

  1. From Alberta: Highway 35 connects with NWT Highway 1, south of Hay River.
  2. From British Columbia: Highway 77 connects with NWT Highway 7 (Liard Highway).
  3. From Yukon: The Dempster Highway leads from near Dawson City to Inuvik. From Inuvik, Highway 10 continues to Tuktoyaktuk and the Arctic Ocean.

NWT roads range from paved highways to gravel routes. Summer ferries and winter ice crossings are part of the highway system, and seasonal conditions can affect travel. Before heading out, check current highway conditions, ferry crossings, road closures and travel alerts on the official DriveNWT website.

Brief History of the Northwest Territories

Indigenous peoples have lived across what is now the Northwest Territories for thousands of years. Dene, Inuvialuit and Métis cultures and traditions remain an important part of life in the territory today.

European exploration and the fur trade brought major changes to the North. Beginning in the late 1500s, European explorers searched for the Northwest Passage, while fur-trading companies later established posts along important northern waterways.

Several present-day NWT communities grew around former trading posts, including Fort Resolution, Fort Simpson and Fort Providence. You can still discover some of this history while travelling through these communities today.

Life in the Northwest Territories Today

Yellowknife, Northwest Territory friendly locals
Making new friends in Yellowknife

The Northwest Territories is home to First Nations, Métis, Inuvialuit and people who have come north from other parts of Canada and the world. Indigenous cultures, languages and traditions remain an important part of life across the territory.

The land continues to shape life in the North. Hunting, trapping and fishing remain important in many communities, while mining, government, tourism and other industries are also part of today’s northern economy.

The NWT recognizes eleven official languages, including nine Indigenous languages, English and French.

What I remember most from travelling through the Northwest Territories is the hospitality. In Fort Smith, I was invited into a First Nations home, served caribou meat and learned about traditional foods and the use of bear fat. I experienced that same welcoming spirit in Tuktoyaktuk and many other communities along my journey.

When to Go

The best time to visit the Northwest Territories depends on what kind of northern experience you’re looking for.

  • March – A great time for winter activities, long snowy days and northern lights viewing.
  • June – Come for the midnight sun, long days for exploring and, with luck, before the mosquitoes and horseflies are at their worst.
  • July and August – Prime road-trip season, with camping, hiking, paddling and fishing all popular.
  • Late August and September – Cooler temperatures, fall colours and the return of dark nights for aurora viewing.
  • Winter – For travellers prepared for extreme cold, winter brings snow, ice roads and a completely different northern experience.

Break-up and Freeze-up

Some NWT highways rely on ferries in summer and ice crossings in winter. During spring break-up and fall freeze-up, crossings can close temporarily, making some routes inaccessible.

Always check current road, ferry and ice-crossing conditions on DriveNWT before travelling.

Wildlife & Northern Lights

Bison herd in the Northwest Territories
Wild Bison are a common sight in the Northwest Territories

The Northwest Territories is one of Canada’s great wildlife viewing destinations, with free-roaming bison, caribou, black bears and many other wild animals.

Wildlife encounters are part of travelling the northern highways. I’ve often had to slow down or stop for bison along the road, and you never know what you might see around the next bend. The vast wilderness also offers excellent opportunities for birdwatching and other outdoor activities.

The Northwest Territories is also famous for the Northern Lights. Watching the aurora dance across a dark northern sky is an unforgettable experience. Aurora viewing is possible during the dark nights from late summer through winter into early spring, especially away from the lights of the larger communities.

Parks & Camping in the Northwest Territories

The Northwest Territories is home to spectacular national and territorial parks, from the vast wilderness of Nahanni and Nááts’ihch’oh to Wood Buffalo National Park.

For road trippers, NWT territorial parks and campgrounds make exploring the territory much easier. I’ve camped along these northern routes myself, and the campgrounds are often conveniently located for breaking up long driving distances.

Facilities vary between campgrounds, so check current locations, opening dates, services and camping fees with NWT Parks when planning your trip.

You can also explore my guide to Canada’s National Parks.

Planning Your Northwest Territories Road Trip

Road-tripping through the Northwest Territories takes more preparation than travelling in southern Canada. Distances are long, services can be far apart, and road and weather conditions can change quickly.

Fill your gas tank whenever you have the opportunity and don’t assume the next service station will be open. Carry a good spare tire, basic emergency supplies, food and water, and download maps before travelling into areas without cell service.

I’ve travelled these northern roads solo and camped along the way in my Toyota RAV4. Being prepared meant I could enjoy the remoteness instead of worrying about it.

For more help preparing your trip, see my Wilderness Road Trip Planner and guide to driving on gravel roads. Before setting out, check DriveNWT for current highway conditions, ferries, winter roads and travel alerts.

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