The Great Slave Lake Route begins at the junction of Highways 1 and 2 at Enterprise. Highway 2 leads north 24 miles/38 km to the community of Hay River, the largest shipping center in the north. Highway 2 also junctions with Highway 5, which connects with Highway 6 to the historic town of Fort Resolution on the south shore of Great Slave Lake. Highways 2, 5 and 6 are all paved.
NWT Highway 2
Distance from Enterprise (E) is shown.
Kilometerposts along the highway reflect distance from Enterprise.
There are no services between Hay River and Fort Resolution.
NWT HIGHWAY 2
E 0 Junction with Highway 1 at Enterprise, Milepost B 51.5.
E 15.7 (25.3 km) Hay River Golf Course; beautifully manicured, carved into the surrounding boreal forest on banks of the Hay River. The facility has a large log clubhouse, driving range, 9 hole (par 36) golf course, artificial greens, camping area, and a water feature. Camping area has 10 powered RV sites for a fee, on site pump out services, and walking trails nearby. Phone 867-874-6290 or visit http://hayrivergolfclub.com.
E 17.2 (28.5 km) Double-ended turnout with litter bin.
E 19.8 (31.9 km) Junction with Highway 5, which connects with Highway 6 to Fort Resolution.
Junction of Highway 2 and Highway 5 to Fort Resolution; see “NWT Highways 5 & 6” on this page for log.
E 22.1 (35.5 km) Entering Hay River northbound.
Hay River
E 23.6 (38 km) H 0 Hay River is 3.8 miles from the junction of Highways 2 and 5 via the Hay River Highway (Highway 2). Located on the south shore of Great Slave Lake at the mouth of the Hay River. Population: 3,169. Emergency Services: Dial 911. RCMP, 867-874-1111; Fire Dept. and Ambulance, phone 867-874-9333. Hospital, phone 867-874-8000.
Visitor Information: Visitor Information Centre, 923 Mackenzie Highway; phone 867-874-3180 or email [email protected]. Open daily in summer and weekdays in winter. Friendly staff, restrooms, tea/coffee, free Wi-Fi, and local artisan shop. For RVers, there is a sani-dump and potable water located at the visitor center. Visit www.hayriver.com and check out the menu under Tourism for listings of local businesses, attractions, festivals and events, and more.
Transportation: Air—Air Tindi Ltd., 867-669-8200, Northwestern Air Lease, 867-872-2216, and Canadian North, 1-800-661-1505.
Rental cars—Budget Rental, 867-875-7677.
Private Aircraft: Hay River airport; elev. 543 feet/165m; length 6,000 feet/1,830m, paved; 4,000 feet/1,219m, gravel; fuel 100, Jet B.
Visitor services include food, gas and lodging; supermarkets and Home Hardware; recreation center with aquatic center; banks; and other services. Check out the Hay River Heritage Centre on Vale Island; open Mon.–Sat. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sun. noon to 5 p.m., in summer; phone 867-874-3872.
Hay River was established in 1868 with the building of a Hudson’s Bay Co. post. Today, the lakefront community is the transfer point from highway and rail to barges on Great Slave Lake bound for arctic and subarctic communities.
Hay River Territorial Park and Campground is located on Vale Island on Great Slave Lake (10 km/6 miles past the visitor center, follow signs); 43 sites all with power, some pull-throughs, hookups, showers, firewood for sale, toilets, potable water, sani-dump station and firepits, outdoor gym; camping fee, open mid-May to mid-September. The beach park offers picnic sites, firepits, toilets, swimming, playground, and fishing for northern pike. Reservations online at www.NWTparks.ca. Also beachfront camping in Hay River at 2 Seasons Adventures, Castaways and powered sites at the Hay River Golf Course.
Fishermans Wharf, open on Saturdays from mid-June to mid-September, hosts a lively Farmers Market and fresh fish and chips stand. Find one of a kind art and traditional crafts. Locally harvested produce and fresh caught fish available for purchase.
Hay Days. All of Hay River is a canvas during its annual Hay Days Festival in early July. This 5-day celebration of the creative spirit features workshops hosted by local artists along with a popular art battle in the heart of downtown. Music fills the air day and night, with performances by local and visiting acts held in venues all over town—from the Legion, to outdoor stages downtown and in the historic Old Town. Hay Days culminates on Saturday with an all-day beach party and its famous Saturday Night Shaker. There are piles of food, cold drinks and dancing long after the sun (kind of) goes down.
Great Slave Lake, northern pike up to 40 lbs.; Inconnu (sheefish); whitefish, lake trout, burbot, arctic grayling; good pickerel fishing in Hay River from the bank. Great Slave Lake is the 9th biggest lake in the world, with clear water and a fine sand beach. Guided boat tours available, canoe and kayak rentals are also an option.
NWT Highways 5 & 6
Distance from Enterprise (E) is shown.
Kilometerposts along the highway reflect distance from junction of Highway 2 and
Highway 6. There are no services between Hay River and Fort Resolution.
NWT HIGHWAY 5
E 19.8 (31.9 km) Junction of Highway 2 and Highway 5, which connects with Highway 6 to Fort Resolution.
E 21.1 (34 km) Railroad and auto bridge crosses Hay River.
E 21.3 (34.3 km) Access Road leads north 3.7 miles/5.9 km to the Katlodeeche First Nation Reserve. Commonly known as the Hay River Reserve, the Katlodeeche Dene Reserve is 1 of only 2 reserves in the Northwest Territories. Check out the Hay River Mission, a National Historic Site on the Hay River (Katlodeeche) Dene Reserve. Established in the late 19th century, the site consists of St. Peter’s Anglican Church, Ste. Anne’s Roman Catholic Church, remains of a rectory, and associated cemeteries containing spirit houses.
E 50.1 (80.6 km) Good gravel road leads 1.6 km/1 mile north to Polar Lake; no motorboats allowed. Day-use fee $5 CAD; camping $10 CAD/night. Playground and good bird watching.
E 54 (86.9 km) Buffalo River bridge.
E 54.4 (87.5 km) Turnout to north with outhouse, litter bin and map.
E 57.6 (92.7 km) Junction with Highway 5 to Fort Smith (see “Wood Buffalo Route” log on page 644). Continue on Highway 6.
Junction with Highway 6. Highway 5 continues to Fort Smith; see “Wood Buffalo Route” on page 644 for log.
NWT HIGHWAY 6
E 70.8 (113.9 km) Main access road north to PINE POINT (abandoned); no services. Pine Point was built in 1964 by Cominco Ltd. but the open-pit lead-zinc mine shut down when the value of lead plummeted in 1987. Once one of the biggest mining towns in the North, Pine Point is now an eerie network of paved roads and sidewalks being overtaken by the wilderness. Many of the buildings were sold and moved to Fort Resolution (including the hockey arena), Hay River and even Northern Alberta. See https://www.uphere.ca/
articles/lost-town-pine-point.
E 89.9 (144.7 km) Turnoff to north for Dawson Landing viewpoint on Great Slave Lake, accessible via a 40-km/25-mile bush road (not recommended in wet weather).
E 94 (151.3 km) Turnout to north; litter bin.
E 99.4 (160 km) Little Buffalo River Crossing Territorial Park to south; 20 powered campsites, $28 CAD/night, picnic tables, kitchen shelter, toilets, litter bins, boat launch and walleye fishing in the spring. Reservations at www.NWTparks.ca.
E 99.5 (160.1 km) Little Buffalo River bridge; northern pike and walleye.
E 113.5 (182.7 km) FORT RESOLUTION (pop. 412), located on the south shore of Great Slave Lake on Resolution Bay. Emergency Services: Dial 911. RCMP, phone 867-394-1111. Visitor Information: Stop in at the Deninu Community Center.
The oldest Chipewyan and Métis town in NWT, Fort Resolution is located at the confluence of the Slave River and Great Slave Lake. The town was founded in 1791 by the Hudson’s Bay Co. post as the earliest fur trading post on Great Slave Lake. Trapping remains a key industry in Fort Resolution, along with commercial fishing and timber harvesting.
Known traditionally as Denı́nu Kų́ę́, or “moose island place,” Fort Resolution also serves as the headquarters of the Denı́nu Kų́ę́ First Nation. The beach here along Great Slave Lake is a gorgeous spot for summer swimming, bird watching, and fishing. There’s plenty of lush, scenic lakeshore where you can take a stroll, cast a line, or launch a boat into the waves. Or travel along the boardwalk and out onto Mission Island, a historic site that today is used for healing workshops and cultural events. The town also has a hockey arena, community hall, nursing station, general store, and diner.
Visitor services include food, gas and groceries and a service station. Canada Post outlet located in Northern Store. There is a Fort Resolution airport, but it only services charter and medevac flights. Fort Resolution is a common launching point for fishermen heading out into the east arm of Great Slave Lake.
