Things to Do in Yellowknife
• A WorldWeb.com Travel Guide for Yellowknife, Northern Canada.
A land of endless adventure and play, travellers may find it difficult to complete all of the activities on their “to do” list in a single visit to Yellowknife. Situated on Yellowknife Bay, on the Northwest Territories' impressive Great Slave Lake, the city is ideally situated as the gateway to the area's wild playground and visitors can access this city by road or air, each with its own benefits and views.
This natural playground attracts a variety of holiday-makers and outdoor enthusiasts, all with different ideas of excitement and fun. Regardless of whether visitors are earthy naturalists or giant fans of speed and power, they will all discover Yellowknife offers invigorating winter fun, adventure in the air and on the water, and several experiences exclusive to Northern Canada.
Winter Fun
For winter adventures both big and small, set against a backdrop of glittering, pristine white snow, visitors can choose from vigorous, physical activities to exciting, motor-powered tours. With average temperatures between -22 °C (-8 °F) and -31 °C (-24 °F) in winter and -1 °C (30 °F) and -12 °C (10 °F) in spring, an entire winter in this Aurora-lit land is not for the faint of heart. Those visiting during these dark months will quickly discover this city makes up for any lack of light with exhilarating activities, awe-inspiring tours and plenty of fun. Whether visitors take a self guided tour over the six km (four miles) Dettah Ice Road or opt for a guided tour or activity, winter holds plenty in store for those willing to experience it.
A popular means of sightseeing in the area, trekking by foot on cross country skis and snowshoes or by machine on a snowmobile gives travellers up-close views of the at times wild and fierce northern lands. In town, Nordic skiers and snowshoe enthusiasts will find many trails within the city, varying in terrain as well as difficulty ranging from beginner to experienced. In fact, the Yellowknife Ski Club offers over ten km (six mi) of groomed trails right within Yellowknife. Cross country skiers can ski at night till 10 pm on two km (one mi) of trail that is lit. On active nights for the Aurora Borealis, many skiers and snowshoers make use of the breathtaking light show to do some evening trekking in open areas. An extremely efficient way of travelling in winter, snowmobiles are used as much for necessity as they are for fun. Not only an excellent means of seeing a lot of area in a short time, snowmobile tours are a favourite with visitors for the excitement, which come from driving these powerful machines.
Whether visitors have come to Yellowknife to sample its intense winter adventures or are visiting for other reasons, there are certain experiences that can only be authentically experienced in Northern Canada and should not be missed. Two of its most well known and popular activities are dog sledding and northern light viewing. Often the two activities are combined together or offered with various other winter activities by tour providers. Aurora Village, an example of a multi-service tour company, provides tours for outdoor winter activities including snowshoeing, skating and snowmobiling, as well as dog sledding and northern lights viewing and photography.
In the Air & On the Water
With so much water surrounding it, it is little wonder that water-based activities such as rafting, boat tours and fishing are popular around Yellowknife. Travellers are often reliant on air transportation to reach their destination, meaning airplane tours offer not only a means of reaching a chosen activity but also provide an excellent opportunity to view the beauty of the northern landscape from above.
Whether paddlers prefer to canoe or kayak, their most difficult decision will be deciding which body of water to paddle on. Narrowing down the choice can be done in a variety of way including basing the choice on interests they may have in geography, history, culture or wildlife, as well as their levels of expertise and endurance. The length of trip, whether it is a partial day, full day or multi-day experience, will also decide which lake or river paddlers will choose. Offering kayak and canoe rentals and lessons, NARWAL Adventure Training and Tours also provides visitors with the opportunity for adventure on their multi-day kayak and canoe tours.
By far one of the most popular activities in the region, numerous holiday-makers travel to fly-in fishing lodges each year with airlines such as Air Tindi. These lodges fly visitors from Yellowknife to their remote accommodations, which can range from rustic to first class, and take them out to fish for their species of choice. Popular fish species include lake trout, Arctic grayling, northern pike, whitefish and pickerel (walleye). Many lodges have rod and reels available for rent, and tackle and lure kits for purchase. Not far from the Manitoba-Saskatchewan borders, Kasba Lake Lodge features cabin accommodations and fishing for trophy lake trout, northern pike and grayling.
A Northern Experience
Visitors looking for more specialized tours will find tour providers that offer informative and fun tours, such as northern adventure tours, photography tours, industry tours, culinary tours and sled dog musher vacations. Extremely popular due to the northern lights, photography tours range in length, depth and location. Beginners can take classes that go over the basics of nighttime photography as well as the specifics of capturing great shots of the Aurora. More experienced photographers can go on extended tours that take them far from the interfering lights of civilization.
Another uniquely northern experience, visitors can travel the longest ice road in the world to the Diavik Diamond Mine as part of a tour such as the one offered by True North Safaris. More generalized tours are also available in the area including hiking tours, sightseeing by road, self-guided tours and sightseeing and interpretive guide services.
Holiday-makers need not fear missing out on playing a game or two of golf when visiting the city. Home to the famous Midnight Classic, the Yellowknife Golf Club is a picturesque 18-hole, rock and sand golf course that features 18 holes, club house and pro shop.
This natural playground attracts a variety of holiday-makers and outdoor enthusiasts, all with different ideas of excitement and fun. Regardless of whether visitors are earthy naturalists or giant fans of speed and power, they will all discover Yellowknife offers invigorating winter fun, adventure in the air and on the water, and several experiences exclusive to Northern Canada.
Winter Fun
For winter adventures both big and small, set against a backdrop of glittering, pristine white snow, visitors can choose from vigorous, physical activities to exciting, motor-powered tours. With average temperatures between -22 °C (-8 °F) and -31 °C (-24 °F) in winter and -1 °C (30 °F) and -12 °C (10 °F) in spring, an entire winter in this Aurora-lit land is not for the faint of heart. Those visiting during these dark months will quickly discover this city makes up for any lack of light with exhilarating activities, awe-inspiring tours and plenty of fun. Whether visitors take a self guided tour over the six km (four miles) Dettah Ice Road or opt for a guided tour or activity, winter holds plenty in store for those willing to experience it.
A popular means of sightseeing in the area, trekking by foot on cross country skis and snowshoes or by machine on a snowmobile gives travellers up-close views of the at times wild and fierce northern lands. In town, Nordic skiers and snowshoe enthusiasts will find many trails within the city, varying in terrain as well as difficulty ranging from beginner to experienced. In fact, the Yellowknife Ski Club offers over ten km (six mi) of groomed trails right within Yellowknife. Cross country skiers can ski at night till 10 pm on two km (one mi) of trail that is lit. On active nights for the Aurora Borealis, many skiers and snowshoers make use of the breathtaking light show to do some evening trekking in open areas. An extremely efficient way of travelling in winter, snowmobiles are used as much for necessity as they are for fun. Not only an excellent means of seeing a lot of area in a short time, snowmobile tours are a favourite with visitors for the excitement, which come from driving these powerful machines.
Whether visitors have come to Yellowknife to sample its intense winter adventures or are visiting for other reasons, there are certain experiences that can only be authentically experienced in Northern Canada and should not be missed. Two of its most well known and popular activities are dog sledding and northern light viewing. Often the two activities are combined together or offered with various other winter activities by tour providers. Aurora Village, an example of a multi-service tour company, provides tours for outdoor winter activities including snowshoeing, skating and snowmobiling, as well as dog sledding and northern lights viewing and photography.
In the Air & On the Water
With so much water surrounding it, it is little wonder that water-based activities such as rafting, boat tours and fishing are popular around Yellowknife. Travellers are often reliant on air transportation to reach their destination, meaning airplane tours offer not only a means of reaching a chosen activity but also provide an excellent opportunity to view the beauty of the northern landscape from above.
Whether paddlers prefer to canoe or kayak, their most difficult decision will be deciding which body of water to paddle on. Narrowing down the choice can be done in a variety of way including basing the choice on interests they may have in geography, history, culture or wildlife, as well as their levels of expertise and endurance. The length of trip, whether it is a partial day, full day or multi-day experience, will also decide which lake or river paddlers will choose. Offering kayak and canoe rentals and lessons, NARWAL Adventure Training and Tours also provides visitors with the opportunity for adventure on their multi-day kayak and canoe tours.
By far one of the most popular activities in the region, numerous holiday-makers travel to fly-in fishing lodges each year with airlines such as Air Tindi. These lodges fly visitors from Yellowknife to their remote accommodations, which can range from rustic to first class, and take them out to fish for their species of choice. Popular fish species include lake trout, Arctic grayling, northern pike, whitefish and pickerel (walleye). Many lodges have rod and reels available for rent, and tackle and lure kits for purchase. Not far from the Manitoba-Saskatchewan borders, Kasba Lake Lodge features cabin accommodations and fishing for trophy lake trout, northern pike and grayling.
A Northern Experience
Visitors looking for more specialized tours will find tour providers that offer informative and fun tours, such as northern adventure tours, photography tours, industry tours, culinary tours and sled dog musher vacations. Extremely popular due to the northern lights, photography tours range in length, depth and location. Beginners can take classes that go over the basics of nighttime photography as well as the specifics of capturing great shots of the Aurora. More experienced photographers can go on extended tours that take them far from the interfering lights of civilization.
Another uniquely northern experience, visitors can travel the longest ice road in the world to the Diavik Diamond Mine as part of a tour such as the one offered by True North Safaris. More generalized tours are also available in the area including hiking tours, sightseeing by road, self-guided tours and sightseeing and interpretive guide services.
Holiday-makers need not fear missing out on playing a game or two of golf when visiting the city. Home to the famous Midnight Classic, the Yellowknife Golf Club is a picturesque 18-hole, rock and sand golf course that features 18 holes, club house and pro shop.
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