Where to go Camping in Yellowknife

Yellowknife is the end of the road for many traveling by vehicle in the summer. Many of who are camping or RVing as they go. As tourism is a big part of the north’s economy, it only seems fitting to have proper accommodations available.

Yellowknife has three campgrounds in the surrounding area, Fred Henne, Prelude Lake and Reid Lake Territorial Parks are all available for use for local residents and those visiting.

Fred Henne Territorial Campground:

• 2 km from downtown
• On highway into town
• 100+ campsites
• Washrooms, Showers, Water, Dump Station, Boat Launch, Fishing, Hiking, Power, Beach, Day Use Areas
• Cell Service

Prelude Lake Territorial Campground:

• 30 km from Yellowknife
• Along the Ingraham Trail
• 44 campsites (Non-power) – Tent pads and Non-powered sites
• Washrooms, Showers, Water, Dump Station, Boat Launch, Beach, Hiking and Day Use Areas.
• Cell Service

Reid Lake Territorial Campground:

• 60 km from Yellowknife
• Along the Ingraham Trail
• 70(+/-) campsites (Non-power)
• Washrooms, Firewood, Boat Launch, Water, Hiking, Fishing and Day Use Area. No power or showers.
• No Cell Service

South of Yellowknife

As a Yellowknifer, I sometimes get the urge to get further out of town on camping excursions. For these occasions, I normally go to one of two territorial campgrounds.

Fort Providence Territorial Campground:

This campground is on the shore of the Mackenzie River just outside of Fort Providence on Highway 3. It has most of your basic amenities like waters, showers, bathrooms and firewood and powered sites. Cell service is spotty at best. There are many little places to explore around Fort Providence, such as the Deh Cho bridge or the Snowshoe Inn Craft Store.

Fort Providence is 3 hours outside of Yellowknife.

Lady Evelyn Falls Territorial Campground:

This campground, just outside of the small community of Kakisa, is one of my favourite campgrounds because of its remote location and isolation. One the shores of Kakisa River and right at the beautiful Lady Evelyn Falls, this campground is a perfect getaway. With little to no cell service, it has everything a person needs; water, power, showers, hiking, FISHING, sightseeing, information and the opportunity to relax.

I highly recommend this campground if you are looking to get out of Yellowknife for a weekend. The drive is about 4 hours from Yellowknife.

Vehicle Permits: Daily and Seasonal

If you don’t plan on camping but would like to enter a territorial campground around Yellowknife, to launch a boat for example, you will require a vehicle permit.

• Daily Vehicle Permit: $10.50/per park
• Seasonal Vehicle Permit: $42/per park
• Multi-park Seasonal Permit: $52.50/all Yellowknife parks

NWT Parks Campgrounds is an online reservation system for territorial campgrounds in the Northwest Territories. This site gives you information about the campgrounds available, allows you to check the availability of sites, and then reserve online. The website also offers much information about the actual campground and what they have to offer, as well as external links with more information.

If you have any question, please comment below or email them to info@ykonline.ca.