It’s well worth traveling to Canada’s Northwest Territories to see Great Slave Lake. This vast body of water is the second-largest lake fully within Canadian boundaries, the fifth-largest in North America, and the world’s tenth-largest lake by area. The lake is also the deepest in North America, with a maximum depth of more than 2,000 feet (more than 615 meters).
Great Slave Lake has two arms that extend from the lake (the North and East arms), each offering something unique. The East arm is the more popular of the two, with excellent fishing, stunning red cliffs, and plenty of islands. The North arm has sandy beaches and a diverse bird population.
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If you’re planning a trip to Great Slave Lake, keep reading to learn about the region’s history, how to get there, where to stay, and what to see and do while you’re there.
What to See and Do
Summer and winter activities abound in the Great Slave Lake region, making it a perfect location for active vacationers. However, Yellowknife, the capital of the Northwest Territories, has enough to see and do, from ancient buildings to a bustling farmers’ market.
1. Fishing
Anyone who appreciates fishing will be happy they made the decision to visit Great Slave Lake. Many fish, including trophy-sized trout, can be found here. Because the lake is pristine and chilly in the summer, fish like to stay near the surface. Furthermore, with 24-hour daylight, anyone casting a line can fish as late as they choose. If you enjoy fishing without having to compete for space with other boats, Great Slave Lake’s size means you can go for days without seeing anybody else.
2. Visiting Old Town Yellowknife
Yellowknife’s Old Town is full of friendly folks and interesting sights. It’s well worth your time to explore the region, which has small eateries selling fresh local fish, galleries loaded with First Nations art, quirky log cabins, and colorful houseboats. If you are interested in the history of Old Town, the Northern Frontier Visitor Center has itineraries to important locations accessible.
3. Paddling
When the water is calm, there are numerous options for paddling on Great Slave water. Explore the East Arm’s many islands, pristine seas, and cliffs by kayaking, canoeing, or paddleboarding. You’ll get gorgeous views of communities like Yellowknife and Fort Resolution if you’re out on a kayak or on a paddleboard, so bring your camera if you can.
4. Bird Watching
Great Slave Lake offers numerous opportunities for excellent birding due to the lake’s changing water depths, as well as the climate and plant life in the vicinity. You might see bald eagles, swans, gulls, terns, ducks, and geese, among other things. In the spring, marshes and small islands on the Lake’s North Arm attract around 100,000 migrating water birds. The East Arm, on the other hand, includes cliffs and rocky islands that attract bald eagles, terns, and gulls.
5. Winter Sports
Because Great Slave Lake is covered in ice for eight months of the year, there are numerous winter activities to select from, such as dog sledding, snowshoeing, ice fishing, snowmobiling, and cross country skiing.
How to Get to Great Slave Lake
The Northwest Territories are easily accessible from major airports in southern and western Canada. Yellowknife has daily jet service from Calgary and Edmonton, as well as seasonally from Vancouver. Jet service from Ottawa is also accessible via Iqaluit, Nunavut.
WestJet and Air Canada are among the major airlines that fly into Yellowknife from Edmonton and Calgary, and Air North offers direct flights from Whitehorse and Ottawa.
Where to Stay
Your best bet is to base yourself in Yellowknife, the capital and largest city in the Northwest Territories. There are numerous lodging alternatives, ranging from hotels and motels to vacation rentals, cabins, bed & breakfasts, and even houseboats. Furthermore, Yellowknife has a variety of restaurants to select from, as well as a convenient location to schedule any guided tours relating to the lake and its surrounds, whether you are traveling in the summer or winter months.