Highway 3 is a wide, paved, all-weather road in good condition leading 211 miles/341 km from the Highway 1 junction to Yellowknife. The Deh Cho Bridge spans the Mackenzie River. Gas is available at Fort Providence, Behchoko and in Yellowknife.
Distance from junction of Highway 1 and Highway 3 (J) is shown.
NWT HIGHWAY 3
J 0 Highway 3 leads north 211 miles/341 km to Yellowknife from Milepost B 115.7 on Highway 1.
J 12.7 (20.4 km) Dory Point Territorial Park (day-use only); picnic area; screened kitchen shelter with large center firepit for cooking; pit toilets; no drinking water; overlooking Mackenzie River with view of passing riverboats.
J 14.8 (23.8 km) South bank of the Mackenzie River and approach to Deh Cho Bridge. Construction of the $202-million cablestay bridge across the Mackenzie River took 4 years. It officially opened Nov. 30, 2012, marking the end of a long history of ferry and ice road transport only across the Mackenzie River. It is the longest joint-less bridge in North America, with a total length of 1,045m/3,428 feet. There are tolls for commercial vehicles greater than 4,500 kg/9,920 lb. Personal vehicles are not required to pay a toll. See fees and options for payment at: https://www.idmv.dot.gov.nt.ca/Commer
cial/Deh-Cho-Bridge-Tolls.
J 15.6 (25.1 km) North bank of the Mackenzie River.
J 16.2 (26 km) Mackenzie Bison Sanctuary next 92.6 km/57 miles. “Watch for Bison” sign. Use EXTREME CAUTION driving Highway 3: Slow down and watch for bison on highway north from the river crossing!
J 16.3 (26.2 km) Turnout to west; picnic tables, litter bins and information signs.
J 19.5 (31.4 km) Big River Service Center has gas/diesel and propane; a boat launch; motel and lounge; groceries; and a full-service restaurant overlooking the Mackenzie River.
NOTE: Next gas available northbound is Rae/Behchoko 142 miles/228 km. For southbound travelers, next gas is either west to Fort Simpson (198 miles/318 km) or south to Kakisa turnoff (60 miles/97 km) or Hay River (84 miles/135 km).
J 20.9 (33.6 km) Fort Providence Territorial Park 2 km/1.2 miles west located in poplars are 32 powered sites, camping fee $28 CAD/night, showers, information center, screened kitchen, sani-dump, walking trails and Wi-Fi. Good fishing. Reservations at www.NWTparks.ca.
J 22.6 (36.4 km) Junction with access road which leads 5 km/3.1 miles west to FORT PROVIDENCE (pop. 618); food and lodging at Snowshoe Inn. Health Centre, phone 867-699-4311.
A Roman Catholic mission was established at Fort Providence in 1861. Our Lady of Fort Providence church (pictured above) is a major landmark. Although noted for its early agricultural endeavors, Fort Providence is traditionally a trapping community.
Moose hair embroidery is found in local gift shops and local craftswomen are also noted for their porcupine quill work, knitting, fur garments and accessories.
Historical monument, boat launch and picnic sites on the Mackenzie River. Spectacular photo opportunities here for sunsets on the river. Also good bird watching for eagles, sandhill cranes and other birds. Guides, cabins, boats and air charters available locally. Good to excellent fishing for northern pike, arctic grayling and pickerel.
J 32.5 (52.3 km) Occasional loose gravel northbound.
CAUTION: Watch for bison on highway! A Yellowknife resident offered the tip that if you see a bison pointing downhill with head down, they’re likely getting ready to charge. Use caution if you stop to take photographs; stay in your vehicle and maintain safe distance.
J 42.5 (68.4 km) Double-ended turnout to east with litter bin.
J 44 (70.8 km) CAUTION: Watch for herds of bison alongside or standing in the middle of the road.
J 51.7 (83.2 km) Double-ended turnout to west with litter bins and outhouses. Information signs on wood bison are here and at several additional turnouts northbound.
J 64.5 (103.8 km) Gravel breaks northbound.
J 75.8 (122 km) Chan Lake Territorial Park day-use area to east. Double-ended parking area with picnic shelter, litter bins and outhouse. Watch for waterfowl.
J 77.5 (124.7 km) Turnout east; litter bin.
J 86.4 (139 km) Double-ended turnout to east with litter bins.
J 90.5 (145.6 km) Double-ended turnout to west.
J 100.7 (162.1 km) Double-ended turnout with litter bin to east.
J 121.8 (196 km) Junction with all-
season Highway 9 to community of WHATI (pop. 543), 60 miles/97 km northwest. Construction of Highway 9 began in September 2019, and the highway opened to the public in November 2021. Whatì offers excellent fishing on Lac La Martre and attracts bird watchers in the spring and fall. The community has lodging, a restaurant and a store. Visit www.tlicho.ca/community/whati or https://spectacularnwt.com/destinations/north-slave/whati.
Winter ice roads north from Whatì provide access to Gameti and Wekweeti.
J 130.4 (209.8 km) Double-ended turnout with litter bins to east. Northbound travelers may notice the trees are getting shorter as you move farther north.
J 141.9 (228.4 km) Highway descends northbound to Mosquito Creek. Fishing for pickerel and whitefish.
J 144.8 (233 km) North Arm Territorial Park day-use area on the shores of Great Slave Lake to east; tables, toilets, firewood and firepits. Lowbush cranberries and other berries in area. Boat launch, playground, and beautiful beach. Prime waterfowl nesting area. CAUTION: Beware of bears.
J 149.5 (240.6 km) Junction with access road west to community of Edzo, no services (see description at Milepost J 152.9).
Highway turns east for northbound travelers. Watch for frost heaves and gravel breaks north to Yellowknife.
J 152.2 (245 km) Bridge over Frank Channel, which extends from the head of the North Arm of Great Slave Lake to the village of Rae (see description at Milepost J 152.9). Boating and fishing for whitefish.
J 152.9 (246 km) Junction with access road which leads west 6.2 miles/10 km to BEHCHOKO (formerly known as Rae-Edzo). The name officially changed in 2005 under an agreement with the self-governing Tlicho—also known as Dogrib—residents, but still includes the 2 communities (descriptions follow) as well as the Frank Channel neighborhood. Website: www.tlicho.ca. Population: 1,746. Emergency Services: Dial 911. RCMP, in Rae, 867-392-1111. Nursing station (Emergencies), in Rae, phone 867-392-6075.
Rae, located on Marion Lake, is the largest Dogrib community in the territory. Rae has a general store, a post office, 2 motels, a restaurant and gas stations (one with deli). The mission church at Rae has a tipi-style entrance. Inquire locally about buying local crafts (beaded jackets, slippers, etc.).
Edzo is a residential community a few kilometers away from Rae. Edzo was developed by the government in 1965, to provide schools and a sanitation system.
J 159.9 (257.3 km) Turnout to west; litter bins.
J 160.1 (257.6 km) Stagg River bridge. After crossing the North Arm of Great Slave Lake, the highway swings southeast toward Yellowknife. Winding road to Yellowknife, good opportunities to see waterfowl in the many small lakes.
J 175 (280.1 km) Double-ended turnout to south with litter bins.
J 189.7 (305.3 km) Double-ended turnout to north with litter bin.
J 207.5 (334 km) Yellowknife Golf Club to north; 18 holes, sand fairways, artificial greens, pro shop, licensed clubhouse. Non-profit club with 300 members, welcomes visitors. Built on the Canadian Pre-Cambrian Shield, the course is mostly sand and bedrock. Each player gets a small piece of carpet to take along on the round as their own portable turf. Site of the June 21 Midnight Tournament. Some modified rules have been adopted by this Far North golf course, among them: “No penalty assessed when ball carried off by raven.” For more information, visit https://yellowknifegolf.com or phone 867-873-4326.
J 208.5 (335.5 km) Yellowknife airport to south.
J 208.7 (335.9 km) Turnoff to north for Fred Henne Territorial Park day-use area and Long Lake Beach at Long Lake; picnic sites, boat launch, sandy beach and swimming.
J 209.1 (336.5 km) J 209.2 (336.7 km) Old Airport Road with to Yellowknife. There is a Wardair Bristol freighter at this junction next to “Welcome to Yellowknife” sign. A plaque commemorates the Bristol freighter, which was the first wheel-equipped aircraft to land at the North Pole. Take Old Airport road for services; 1.1 miles/1.7 km to Canadian Tire; 1.2 miles/2 km to Co-op Gas Bar; 1.5 miles/2.5 km to Walmart; 2.1 miles/3.4 km to Franklin Avenue.
J 209.4 (337 km) Turnoff to north for Fred Henne Territorial Park. Well-
maintained public campground with 75 powered sites, 40 non-powered sites (including 9 tent pads). Non-powered, 15-amp and 30-amp sites available; most are back-in, some pull-throughs. Wheelchair accessible. Canadian cash only for camping fees. Generators are permitted. There are kitchen shelters, dump station, playground, swimming, firewood, outhouses, firepits, showers, laundromat, Wi-Fi and pay phone. Daily rates: $32 CAD/night (power sites), $22.50 CAD/night (no power), $15 CAD/night tent. Reservations at www.NWTparks.ca. Open from mid-May to mid-September. Campground gates close at 10:30 p.m.
J 209.5 (337.2 km) Junction with 42-mile Ingraham Trail (Highway 4); access to fishing and camping.
J 210 (338 km) Small turnout overlooking Jackfish Lake to south, litter bin.
J 210.4 (338.6 km) Intersection of
Highway 3 and 48th Street. Turn south for downtown Yellowknife (description follows). Turn north for city dump, ski club and Giant Mine.
Yellowknife
J 211.6 (340.5 km) Intersection of Highway 3 and 48th Street in downtown Yellowknife. Yellowknife is located on the north shore of Great Slave Lake, approximately 940 miles/1,513 km from Edmonton, AB. Population: 20,340. Emergency Services: Dial 911 for RCMP, Fire Department and Ambulance. Hospital: Stanton Yellowknife, phone 867-669-4111.
Visitor Information: The visitor center is located in the Centre Square Mall, 5022 49th Street. Open daily 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Email at [email protected] or phone 867-920-8687. Contact Northwest Territories Tourism, 5204–50th Ave. Phone 1-800-661-0788 or 867-873-5007; visit http://spectacularnwt.com and https://www.yellowknife.ca.
Private Aircraft: Yellowknife airport; elev. 674 feet/205m; length 7,500 feet/ 2,286m; asphalt; fuel 100/130, Jet B. Floatplane bases located at East Bay and West Bay of Latham Island.
Transportation: Air—Scheduled air service north to NWT and Nunavut communities, south to Edmonton, Vancouver and Calgary aboard Canadian North, Air Canada Jazz, WestJet. Charter service available. Taxi—3 taxi companies. Rentals—Several
major car rental agencies, as well as boat, canoe, kayak, ski and snowshoe rentals.
Yellowknife is a modern city that occupies the traditional lands of the Yellowknives Dene First Nation. This extraordinary city safely and efficiently evacuated 20,000 citizens in August 2023, due to wildfires in the North Slave region. Life here returned to normal—that is to say enjoying urban life, rustic nature and Northern culture—in September of last year.
Yellowknife became capital of the Northwest Territories in 1967, developing as a mining, transportation and government administrative center for the territories. The Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly building is located on Frame Lake (tours are available).
European settlers arrived in the 1930s with the discovery of gold in the area and radium at Great Bear Lake. Cominco Mine poured its first gold brick in 1938. WWII intervened and gold mining was halted until Giant Yellowknife Mines began mining again on May 12, 1948. The road connecting the city with the provinces was completed in 1960. The city gets its name from the copper tools historically made and traded by the local Dene. The most common Dene name for Yellowknife is “Somba K’e,” which translates to “Where the money is.”
The discovery of diamonds north of Yellowknife at Lac de Gras in 1992, set off a rush of claim stakers, and Yellowknife is now the service center for 3 active diamond mines operating northeast of Yellowknife: Diavik, Ekati and Gahcho Kue. In winter, the Ingraham Trail (NWT Highway 4) is used as part of the 380-mile/612-km ice road to Lupin Gold Mine, which now extends to Lac de Gras, heart of the diamond rush, and Contwoyto Lake.
Lodging & Services
Yellowknife has major-chain hotels, inns, B&Bs, restaurants, a micro-brewery, and multiple galleries offering locally made art and traditional crafts. There are major-chain retail stores, including Walmart and Canadian Tire. Gas stations and all other visitor services available. Free level 2 (J-1772) EV Charger at Somba K’e Park next to City Hall.
Northern books can be found downtown at The Yellowknife Book Cellar, which specializes in stories and topics of the great North.
Attractions
The Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre, built to collect, preserve, document, exhibit, study and interpret the North’s natural and cultural history, is located on Frame Lake, accessible via 48th Street or by way of a pedestrian causeway behind City Hall. Do not miss the moose-skin boat or the video about the construction of this craft. Good overview of aviation and mining history in NWT and many artifacts of traditional lifestyle in the North.
Explore Old Town. The rustic ramshackle charm of the original miners who founded the city of Yellowknife in 1934 still persists in this quirky neighborhood today. A free audio tour is available online or on the App store, just search “Yellowknife Old Town Soundwalk.” Climb to the top of the scenic Bush Pilots monument, check out the historic Ragged Ass Road and grab a pint at Canada’s northernmost brewpub, The Woodyard Brewhouse & Eatery, at NWT Brewing Company, 3905 Franklin Avenue. Take in the local art scene at Down to Earth Gallery, Gallery of the Midnight Sun, and others. Visit the Old Town Yellowknife historical landmark, located at 3607 Franklin Ave. Stop in for a bite at the historic Wildcat Café, opened In 1937, which operates seasonally June through September.
Explore Downtown. Check out the Yellowknife Visitor Centre in Centre Square Mall, at 5022 49th St. Open daily 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with history displays, public-use tablets, and more. Then walk over to the NWT Diamond and Jewellery Centre at 5105 49th St., with its interactive tour of diamond mining in the Canadian North; www.nwtdiamondcentre.com, phone 867-920-7108. You’ll find a wide variety of restaurants tucked away on the side streets downtown; Korean, Ethiopian, Indian, Vietnamese, and an Irish Pub. If you visit in summer you’ll catch the food truck season featuring cuisine from Thailand, Afghanistan, and the Philippines. Check out City Hall’s beautifully manicured grounds, host to the City’s Farmers market every Tuesday evening at 5:15 p.m. throughout the summer.
Walk along the popular Frame Lake Trail (5-mile/8-km loop) with its views of Yellowknife’s skyline, including the Legislative Assembly buildings. For a shorter trek try the Niven Trail, a 1.2-mile/2-km walk circling a lagoon visited by many species of waterfowl. The trail has interpretive signs and scenic viewpoints.
Summer events. Various special events on June 21 mark Indigenous Peoples Day and Summer Solstice (the longest day of the year). Canada Day (July 1) is a national holiday celebrated with a parade, music and games. Folk on the Rocks is an annual outdoor music festival held in mid-July that attracts local talent from the NWT and performers from across Canada and the world. A must attend event held on the shores of Long Lake, capitalizing on the beautiful midnight sun. August Long Weekend is host to Ramble and Ride, an ecofriendly festival held in the historic Old Town featuring live music, vendors, public art projects, and children’s events.
Winter Events. Visit the magical Snow Castle—a castle completely build from ice and snow—a construct of Yellowknife’s Snow King’s imagination. Open the entire month of March, the castle plays host to comedy shows, concerts, burlesque performances, film screenings, art shows, kids events, and a stunning snow carving contest. At the end of March, stick around for the Annual Long John Jamboree, a celebration of the winter season coming to a close. Take in the events of the weekend right down on the ice of Great Slave Lake. Enjoy the live music, beer gardens, snow volleyball and pond hockey tournaments, cabane à sucre (sugar shack), food trucks, kids’ activities and the zaney competitions that only make sense in the North, like the Ugly Truck.
Take a tour by boat or van, enjoy fish fry dinners on the lake, take a flightseeing tour by floatplane, or explore the waters along the Ingraham Trail by canoe or Great Slave Lake by cruise boat. Canoe, kayak, and paddle board rentals available.
