Welcome to summer one of the most spectacular times in Yellowknife. The north is gifted with the endless sun, the midnight sun. Days in Yellowknife are warm and the nights just as warm.
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With seven lakes within the city limits of Yellowknife and hundreds surrounding, we are no stranger to boating. Boating season starts in June and goes until September. This may seem like a short window but when factoring in the 20 hours of day light your time on the lakes is a bright one.
The Ingraham Trail is home to many lakes that are perfect for boating and equipped with boat launches. For more information on the Ingraham Trail see the tab below. The following is a list of lakes with boat launches:
- Great Slave Lake (Old Town & Giant Mine)
- Vee Lake/ Walsh Lake
- Prosperous Lake (Cassidy Point & Secondary)
- Madeline Lake
- Pontoon Lake
- Prelude Lake
- Powder Point (Prelude East/Hidden Lake)
- Reid Lake
- Tibbett Lake
Day trips for the adventurer
Hidden Lake – Drop in: Powder Point, 40km from Yellowknife on the Ingraham Trail. Several short but strenuous portages take you into one of the most scenic lakes in the Yellowknife area. Suitable for one, two or three day trips.
Lower Cameron River – A one-day trip for experienced paddlers, starting at Reid Lake about 60 km from Yellowknife on the Ingraham trail. Canoeists follow the Cameron River, portaging around several scenic waterfalls, to Powder Point.
Tartan Rapids – To really enjoy this trip some whitewater experience is necessary, but a portage trail allows novices to avoid the rapids, and enjoy the scenery. The trip starts at Cassidy Point, about 17 km from Yellowknife, and paddlers can return to the start, or follow the Yellowknife River to the Yellowknife River bridge.
Longer Canoe/Kayaking Trips
Tibbitt Lake Loop – An easy weekend trip, this route circles back to the start, at the end of the Ingraham Trail, 65 km from Yellowknife, and features a variety of wilderness scenery and good camping.
Powder Point to Yellowknife River bridge – This is a four day trip crossing big lakes, with excellent camping, and just a few portages. However, because Prelude and Prosperous Lakes are so large they can be dangerous in windy conditions. A shorter trip might start, or end, at the Prelude Lake boat launch.
Pensive Lakes Wilderness Tour – This four day wilderness trip for experienced canoeists takes you north from Tibbitt Lake, through good camping country, to reach the top of the Cameron River rapids, an 8 km run.
Upper Cameron River – This two day trip for whitewater enthusiasts starts at Tibbitt Lake, 65 km from Yellowknife and heads south and west to follow a challenging but enjoyable route with several rapids and a waterfall. The trip ends at Reid Lake campground.
Jennejohn Expedition – This is a five day wilderness canoe trip, with several portages, for experienced canoeists. Starting at Reid Lake, the trip follows a string of beautiful lakes and ends at Akaitcho Bay on Great Slave Lake, near Dettah. A map and compass is necessary, and wind can be a problem on Reid, Jennejohn and Great Slave lakes.
Information courtesy of the Northern Frontier Visitor Centre
[/toggle] [toggle title_open=”Fishing” title_closed=”Fishing” include_excerpt_html=”yes”]I guess welcoming you to some of the worlds best fishing isn’t necessary since I’m assuming you already know. Fishing in Yellowknife is like catching bugs in your front yard. The lakes are so close and the fish bite at anything. It is paradise for any angler of any skill set.Most lakes surrounding Yellowknife have the ice off of them by June 1st except for Great Slave Lake, which is slightly bigger.
Frame Lake Walking Trail
The Frame Lake Walking Trail is in the centre of Yellowknife and surrounds the Frame Lake with 9kms of trail. The trail can be broken into two portions.
The first is the stretch from the Stanton Territorial Hospital to the Legislative Assembly Building on the city side of the lake. This path is mostly paved and compiled with several wooden boardwalks. This trail is is an easy stroll and can be done leisurely with many access points along the way. Many local residents also use this portion of the trail to comute on a daily bases.
The second portion of the trail is more of a hike. It stretches around the far side of the lake with access points at the Stanton Territorial Hospital, Co-op parking lot or the Legislative Building. If you are looking for a Sunday afternoon hike just outside your front door this would be it. Going from pillar to pillar you’ll travel over rocks and through trees seeing the great outdoors while still in town. This portion of the trail also connects with a trail that doubles off to Jackfish Lake and the Lakeview Cemetery. You can then continue on to the airport or Fred Henne Campground or continue back to Frame Lake.
Niven lake Walking Trail
Niven Lake is hidden away behind the Explorer Hotel with access off 48th Street. The walking trail that surrounds the lake stretches approximately 2kms. The trail will take you across beaten a path, bridges and rock surfaces that are so common in Yellowknife. The occasional beaver or muskrat can be seen from the various viewing points along the trail.
The Prospector’s Trail
This 4km trail starts in Fred Henne Territorial Park, which is located within the city limits just near the Airport. Bringing your water proof hikers might be a good idea as this trail will take you through some marsh over some of the oldest rocks in the world. Gold was discovered in the area in the 1930’s, which sparked the birth of Yellowknife and the Gold Mines that have built our community.
A pocket guide to this adventure trail can be found at the Northern Frontier Visitor Centre located in Downtown Yellowknife on the shores of Frame Lake.
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