Northwest Territories - 1000 Towns of Canada

Explore Northwest Territories

Small Towns of Northwest Territories

From the Arctic Ocean to the Great Slave Lake — 14 communities with stories worth the drive.

14 Northwest Territories towns

Which small town is your next trip?

A weekend away from Yellowknife

about 5 h from Yellowknife

Hay River

South Slave & Wood Buffalo
A laid-back northern town on the south shore of Great Slave Lake, known for its sandy beaches, river delta, and role as a key transportation hub.

about 4 h 30 min from Yellowknife

Enterprise

South Slave & Wood Buffalo
A tiny highway junction at the southern edge of the Northwest Territories, known as a gateway for travellers heading north toward Great Slave Lake.

about 7 h 15 min from Yellowknife

Fort Resolution

South Slave & Wood Buffalo
One of the oldest communities in the North, set on the south shore of Great Slave Lake, known for its deep Indigenous roots and trading history.

This season in Northwest Territories · Fall

Fall stops: northern lights, dark skies and Wood Buffalo

Northern Lights

Hay River, Northwest Territories

Aurora Village

Yellowknife, Northwest Territories

This season in Northwest Territories · Winter

Winter stops: snow castles, jamborees and Arctic sunrises

Snowking Winter Festival

Yellowknife, Northwest Territories

This season in Northwest Territories · Spring

Spring stops: pelicans, bison and open water

Pelicans on Slave River

Fort Smith, Northwest Territories

This season in Northwest Territories · Summer

Summer stops: paddling, big waterfalls and midnight sun

Great Northern Arts Festival

Inuvik, Northwest Territories

Only in Northwest Territories

Four small stops worth a detour

1. The Only Traffic Light North of the Arctic Circle

   Inuvik

2. Igloo Church

   Inuvik

3. Little House of Horrors

   Yellowknife

4. Arctic Ocean Sign

   Tuktoyaktuk

People of Northwest Territories’s Small Towns

Notable Canadians with roots in Northwest Territories's small communities

Mark Carney  Prime Minister of Canada

Born in Fort Smith. Governor of the Bank of Canada, Governor of the Bank of England.