Page 92 - 2024-25 Travel Guide to Canada

a very remote, extremely rugged and
rigorous hike (www.spectacularnwt.com/
attraction/canol-trail). Opportunities for
guided or self-guided paddling and rafting
trips are plentiful along one of the N.W.T.’s
historic rivers including the challenging
Coppermine River, the meandering Thomsen
River and the world-renowned South
Nahanni River (www.spectacularnwt.com/
what-to-do/paddling). Enjoy fishing day
trips with an outfitter or a multi-day package
at a wilderness lodge.
The territory’s wildlife has a schedule all
its own, but look for nesting pelicans on
rocky outcrops in the rapids of the Slave
River near Fort Smith. Keep an eye out for
free-roaming bison in Wood Buffalo National
Park and the Mackenzie Bison Sanctuary near
Fort Providence. Dall sheep and mountain
goats travel on the craggy slopes of the
Mackenzie Mountains. Prehistoric-looking
muskox roam around Banks Island. Black
bears, moose, caribou and grizzly bears also
call the N.W.T. home. See peregrine falcons,
eagles and gyrfalcons—the official N.W.T.
bird. You never know when they may appear
on your journey—and theirs.
HERITAGE AND CULTURE
Experience local music and culture such as
jigging, drumming, drum dancing and Dene
hand games at community events. Make
your own crafts during artist-led workshops
at Inuvik’s renowned Great Northern Arts
Festival (www.greatnorthernarts
festival.org). Learn about local history at the
Norman Wells Historical Centre
(www.spectacularnwt.com/attraction/
norman-wells-historical-society), the
Northern Life Museum and Cultural Centre
(www.nlmcc.ca) and the Prince of Wales
Northern Heritage Centre. Purchase Dene,
Inuvialuit and Métis crafts at visitor centres,
museums and shops. Feel the cashmere
softness of a sweater that a local artist
knitted from qiviut—wool that was harvested
from shaggy muskox near Sachs Harbour.
Admire carvings made of soapstone, bone or
antler and created by northern artists. Buy a
Dene birchbark basket at the Acho Dene
Native Crafts store made by women in Fort
Liard. The Inuvialuit Regional Corporation
Craft Shop in Inuvik has a good selection of
locally made moccasins, carvings, jewellery,
crafts and some traditional food.
Special Events
www.spectacularnwt.com/
what-to-do/events
JANUARY
• INUVIK SUNRISE FESTIVAL
MARCH
• POLAR POND HOCKEY TOURNAMENT,
HAY RIVER
• SNOWKING WINTER FESTIVAL,
YELLOWKNIFE
• THEBACHA SKI LOPPET, FORT SMITH
APRIL
• MUSKRAT JAMBOREE, INUVIK
JUNE
• NATIONAL INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY,
TERRITORY-WIDE
• NORTHWORDS NWT WRITERS FESTIVAL,
YELLOWKNIFE
JULY
• FOLK ON THE ROCKS MUSIC FESTIVAL,
YELLOWKNIFE
• GREAT NORTHERN ARTS FESTIVAL, INUVIK
• HAY DAYS FESTIVAL, HAY RIVER
JULY–AUGUST
• MIDWAY LAKE MUSIC FESTIVAL,
FORT MCPHERSON
AUGUST
• SLAVE RIVER PADDLEFEST, FORT SMITH
• THEBACHA & WOOD BUFFALO DARK
SKY FESTIVAL
NT
90
and surrounding Old Town from the top of
the Bush Pilots’ Monument. Take a boat
tour of Yellowknife Bay, home to North
America’s most northerly houseboat
community. Sandblast a northern motif on
recycled glass during a workshop at Old
Town Glassworks (www.oldtownglass
works.com). The Yellowknife Farmers
Market is held weekly on Tuesday
downtown throughout the summer. The
Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre
provides a peek into northern culture
(www.pwnhc.ca). Next door, the Northwest
Territories Legislative Assembly offers guided
and audio tours (www.ntassembly.ca/visitors).
THE GREAT OUTDOORS
Choose from front-country campsites and
hikes to backcountry day hikes and epic
multi-week backcountry experiences in the
territory’s six national parks and 34 territorial
parks (www.nwtparks.ca). The historic
Canol Heritage Trail near Norman Wells is
DOG SLEDDING • GAWAIN JONES