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 NORTHERN EXPOSURETravel the Deh Cho Trail — Deh means ‘river’ of ‘moving water’ in the Slavey Dene language of the North, while Cho means ‘much’ or ‘big’. This tour leads you along the historical water routes of early inhabitants and explorers. Suggested Months: Spring, Summer & Fall Allow one or two days for touring Edmonton and area; four days travelling the Mackenzie Highway. Allow another full day to tour Yellowknife, and a second full day for Great Slave Lake highlights. DAY 1 — EDMONTON DAY 2 & 3 — EDMONTON TO ‘MILE ZERO’ Lesser Slave Lake — Alberta’s largest recreational lake, popular for its for sandy beaches and excellent lakeside camping. Take a guided interpretive tour of the sand-dune ecology and old-growth forests of the area. Visit the Lesser Slave Lake Bird Observatory where biologists band vibrantly-coloured songbirds at the peak of their spring migration. Travel from Slave Lake through numerous small towns including McLennan, the ‘Bird Capital of Canada’, to the town of Peace River where three rivers merge into a majestic valley. Peace River — Gallop into a riverside horseback adventure. Learn the history of this region, of explorers such as Alexander Mackenzie and characters like ‘Twelve-Foot Davis’ whose gravesite is marked with an historic plaque perched on one of the best views in Alberta. DAY 4 & 5 — MACKENZIE HIGHWAY 60th Parallel Visitor Centre — Located on the Waterfalls Route, this centre is your path to dramatic and spectacular waterfalls at the Northwest Territories/Alberta border. Learn about the region and enjoy a coffee by the woodstove before heading down the road. Pick up an Order of Arctic Adventurers, North of 60° Chapter Certificate, witnessed in your name, for having crossed the 60th Parallel. You deserve it for making it this far! Waterfalls Route — Driving from the NWT/Alberta border you’ll witness waterfalls, from stately to spectacular, dotting the route. Twin Falls Gorge Territorial Park ties two sets of falls and an impressive river canyon into one fascinating stop just north of the 60th Parallel border. A three-km hiking trail joins Alexandra Falls and Louise Falls as it winds along the dramatic Gorge. The Park features day use sites as well as campground and interpretive displays. Enterprise & Hay River — Enterprise is an important stop for travellers on the Mackenzie Highway. Just southwest of Hay River, the small hamlet of Enterprise has a friendly visitor information centre and aboriginal gift shop. The Hay River Canyon lies immediately east as you head towards Hay River for your overnight stay. Hay River, the North’s largest shipping hub, offers accommodation, dining, a seaport atmosphere and Great Slave Lake. Visit Katl’odeeche Reserve, home to the Dene Cultural Institute and Hay River Mission National Historic Site. Lady Evelyn Falls — Back on Highway 1 west, the Waterfalls Route continues. Lady Evelyn Falls on the Kakisa River offers trails to a gorge at the base of the impressive falls. Fort Providence — A prime location for a spectacular view of the mighty Mackenzie River, which runs alongside the community. The Merv Hardie ferry shuttles vehicles across the river. Mackenzie Bison Sanctuary — Sightseers can usually get a good, long look at the bison that often greet drivers as they wend their way to Yellowknife. The massive animals can be seen feeding peacefully on roadside vegetation, which make for great pictures. Continue on to Yellowknife. DAY 6, 7 & 8 — YELLOWKNIFE Northern Frontier Visitors Centre — Helpful staff answer your inquiries to help you make the most of your visit to the Northern Frontier region. Displays offer insight into its history and economics. Prince of Wales Heritage Centre — A collection of more than 100,000 items that pertain to the history and heritage of the Northwest Territories. Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly — Home of the Northwest Territories Government, it’s designed to accommodate the NWT’s unique style of consensus government (as opposed to the traditional party politics of southern Canada). The Legislative Assembly exhibits one of the world’s largest collections of Group of Seven paintings. Bush Pilots Monument — Reached by a series of steps, it affords a fantastic view of the city. The monument commemorates Northern pilots who’ve been instrumental in shaping the North. An ideal location to watch float planes come and go. Wildcat Café — The oldest café in town and a beloved spot for visitors and locals. Built in 1937 by Willy Wiley and Smoky Stout, the café also serves up the rustic ambience of Yellowknife’s history. Old Town Tour — Yellowknife’s Old Town, with its mix of 1930s gold rush shanties, houseboats and quaint restaurants proves a magnet for visitors. Here’s your chance to pick up all those northern souvenirs. Float plane tours of the terrain and Great Slave Lake by Yellowknife are available. Cameron Falls Tour — A 40-minute drive from Yellowknife is the trail to Cameron Falls. After a short, easy 20-minute hike you’ll arrive at Cameron Falls. Bring a picnic lunch. Relax. Enjoy nature. DAY 9 — GREAT SLAVE LAKE DAY 10 — RETURN TO EDMONTON Devonshire Beach, Lesser Slave Lake |
EIGHT TO TEN DAYS TOUR FEATURES
Did You Know . . . EDMONTON ATTRACTION HIGHLIGHTS • ELK ISLAND NATIONAL PARK
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