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Northwest Territories · Canada
The capital of the Northwest Territories, on the shore of Great Slave Lake: one of the world’s top destinations to see the aurora borealis, with an Old Town of houseboats and bush planes.
In the photo: Yellowknife between lakes and forest of the Northwest Territories.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Get to know the place
Yellowknife is the capital of the Northwest Territories, on the north shore of Great Slave Lake, the deepest lake in North America. It began in the 1930s with gold mining and grew as an administrative center and diamond-mining hub in Canada’s north.
The city lies under the band where the aurora borealis appears most often. The sky is often clear and the terrain flat, which makes Yellowknife one of the world’s most sought-after places to see the aurora, generally from mid‑August to early October and from mid‑November to mid‑April. Operators take visitors to cabins and camps outside the city, away from lights.
The Old Town, on the peninsula by the lake, retains wooden houses, cabins, floatplanes at the dock and houseboats in the bay. The Bush Pilots Monument, atop the rock, overlooks the town and the lake. The Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre tells the story of the Dene, Inuit and Métis peoples.
In summer, the days are very long and the lake receives canoes, boats and anglers.
This destination brings together 1 city: Yellowknife.
One destination, many paths
Start with one city or combine several in your itinerary.
Boundaries: Statistics Canada (Statistics Canada Open Licence) / geoBoundaries. Adapted by Cidade Turismo.
✈ Yellowknife Airport (YZF) · 5 km to Yellowknife
Yellowknife Airport (YZF) has flights from Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver and other cities, and is about 5 km from downtown. By road, Yellowknife is roughly 1,500 km from Edmonton via the Mackenzie Highway.
The local experience
The original neighborhood of Yellowknife on a rocky peninsula of Great Slave Lake, with wooden cabins, floatplanes, houseboats and the Bush Pilots Monument.
The Northwest Territories museum on the shore of Frame Lake, about the Dene, Inuit and Métis peoples, northern natural history and bush aviation.
Territorial legislature building on the shore of Frame Lake, with a round chamber under a dome, which offers guided visits.
A waterfall on the Cameron River, on the Ingraham Trail, about 50 km from Yellowknife, reached by a short trail through boreal forest and the rocks of the Canadian Shield.
Before you go
A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.
For the aurora: mid‑August to early October, with mild temperatures and ice‑free lakes, and mid‑November to mid‑April, with very cold weather. From June to August, expect long days, lake activities and trails. During ice transition in May and in late October, the aurora is less visible and the lake is unstable.
The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.
Three or four nights to increase the chance of seeing the aurora; by day, one for the Old Town and the museum and one for the Ingraham Trail.
The downtown concentrates hotels, near the museum and legislature. The Old Town has lodges by the lake. For the aurora, there are cabins and camps outside the city.
Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.
Get your questions answered
Generally from mid‑August to early October and from mid‑November to mid‑April, on dark, cloud‑free nights.
Three or four nights increase the chance, since the aurora depends on solar activity and clear skies.
Very cold, especially from December to February, with temperatures that can fall below −30 °C. Operators usually rent extreme cold‑weather clothing.
In downtown and the Old Town, no. For the Ingraham Trail, yes; for aurora trips, operators provide transport.
Fixed year‑round: UTC−6, the same as Alberta.
