Highway 1 continues northwest from Checkpoint to Fort Simpson as the Heritage Route. Driving distance from the junction of Highway 1 with the Liard Trail at Checkpoint is 38 miles/61 km. This route crosses the Liard River via ferry in summer, ice road in winter. Fort Simpson is the gateway to Nahanni National Park Reserve.
Distance from Checkpoint (C) is shown.
Physical kilometerposts reflect distance from Alberta border.
NWT HIGHWAY 1
C 0 Junction of Highway 1 with the Liard Trail (Highway 7) at Checkpoint. (Deh Cho Route: Liard Trail log from Checkpoint to the Alaska Highway begins at Milepost B 256.7 on facing page.) Continue with this log for Fort Simpson and Wrigley.
A popular stop at one time, Checkpoint no longer offers visitor services.
C 26.6 (42.8 km) Free government-operated South Mackenzie ferry, the Lafferty, crosses the Liard River here, operating daily late May through October from 8 a.m. to 11:30 p.m., 7 days a week; on demand until 11:45 p.m. Crossing time is 6 minutes. Capacity is 8 cars or 2 trucks, with a maximum total weight of 130,269 lbs./59,090 kg. An ice bridge opens for light vehicles (to 6,614 lbs./3,000 kg) usually by late November; heavier vehicles can cross as ice thickens. NOTE: This crossing is subject to extreme high and low water level fluctuations which may cause delays. No crossing possible during breakup (about mid-April to mid-May) and freeze-up (mid-October to mid-November). For crossing information, phone 1-800-661-0750 or visit www.dot.gov.nt.ca/Highways/Highway-Conditions.
C 35.7 (57.5 km) Junction of NWT Highway 1 with Fort Simpson access road. NWT Highway 1 turns and continues to Wrigley; Fort Simpson access road leads 2.3 miles/3.8 km to Fort Simpson; descriptions follow.
Fort Simpson
CC 38 (61 km) Located on an island at the confluence of the Mackenzie and Liard rivers. Population: 1,100. Emergency Services: Dial 911 for all emergencies. RCMP, phone 867-695-3111. Health Center with 1 doctor, daytime phone 867-695-7000 or 867-695-3232 for after hours emergencies.
Visitor Information: The Fort Simpson Visitor Information Centre has all the information you need to make the most of your visit. Staff will happily escort you on a walking tour of the community, pointing out the historical and cultural significance of Fort Simpson’s many sights. Inside you will find cultural exhibits showcasing the history of the region and the Dene people, as well as a selection of arts and crafts made by local artists of the Deh Cho region available for purchase. The visitor center is typically open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays, noon–8 p.m. weekends, from May to September. Winter hours are typically 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays only. Phone 867-695-3182, email [email protected] or visit https://fortsimpson.com.
Nahanni National Park Reserve office is at 10002 100 St., open daily June 15–Labor Day weekend, 8 a.m. to noon and 1–5 p.m.; weekdays the rest of the year, 8:30 a.m. to noon and 1–5 p.m.; phone 867-695-7750. There is a 24-hour park emergency duty officer available in summer; phone 867-695-3732 or 867-695-6572.
Transportation: Air—Scheduled service to Yellowknife and Whitehorse, YT. Charter services available. Rental cars—Available. Taxi service—Available.
Private Aircraft: Fort Simpson airport; elev. 554 feet/169m; length 6,000 feet/ 1,829m; asphalt; fuel 100, Jet B. Fort Simpson Island; elev. 405 feet/123m; length 3,000 feet/914m; gravel; fuel 100, Jet B.
Fort Simpson or Łíídljj Kųḝ (Deh Cho First Nation meaning “the place where the rivers come together”) is the Deh Cho’s friendly and vibrant regional center, the gateway to Nahanni National Park Reserve, the only “village” in Northwest Territories, and a cradle of indigenous culture and tradition. Fort Simpson is the administrative headquarters for the Deh Cho (Big River) region. It is the oldest continuously occupied site on the Mackenzie River, dating from 1804, when the North West Company established its Fort of the Forks. There is a National Historic Site plaque on the bank of the Mackenzie, overlooking the confluence, and another National Historic Site plaque commemorating Ehdaa, a traditional gathering place of the Deh Cho First Nation. Ehdaa is adjacent the Territorial campground on the river flats and is home to the world’s largest wooden tipi. You’ll be charmed by Fort Simpson’s wealth of riverfront heritage sites, by a rolling 9-hole golf course, and by local trails, craft shops, and activities.
Historic buildings in Fort Simpson showcase its legacy of gold-seekers, fur traders, missionaries, Dene and Métis culture, and so much more. The community was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1969. In 1987, Pope John Paul II held mass on the flats beside the river (now known as the Papal Site). The Open Sky Festival, held every year on or around Canada Day weekend, is a beloved arts festival of music, theater, crafts, and public workshops and demonstrations.
Fort Simpson continues to be an important center for the Northwest Territories water transport system. Visitors may walk along the high banks of the Mackenzie River and watch the boat traffic and floatplanes.
NWT Highway 1 leads north from Fort Simpson to WRIGLEY (pop. 120), home of the Pehdzeh Ki First Nation. The community remains intertwined with the incredible wilderness all around it. To the north of the community lies the confluence of the Wrigley River. An excellent day trip from Wrigley is a trip downstream on the Mackenzie River to Roche-qui-trempe-a-l’eau warm springs. Within walking distance of Wrigley is the towering Cap Mountain, a 4,030-foot/1,228-meter giant and the highest peak in the Franklin Range. There are limited visitor services. Driving time to Wrigley, 137 miles/221 km from here, is approximately 3 hours. Allow at least 2 hours from Wrigley to the N’Dulee/Camsell Bend ferry/ice crossing of the Mackenzie River. The MV Johnny Berens operates daily, late May through October.
Lodging & Camping
Fort Simpson is a full-service community. Accommodations at motels and B&Bs. There are 2 restaurants; 2 gas/diesel stations, one with repair service (unleaded and propane available); 2 grocery stores, department store, hardware store, a bank, laundromat, post office, and 1 craft shop. Small engine repair shop and mechanics available.
Recreational facilities include an arena, curling rink, gym, 24-hour fitness center, ball diamond, tennis court, small indoor pool, the 9-hole golf course (longest hole is 475 yards) with clubhouse and gear rental, and a boat launch at government wharf.
One of the easiest places to get down to the water is by Albert Faille’s cabin on Mackenzie Drive. Faille was a well-known Fort Simpson pioneer and prospector.
Camping at Fort Simpson Territorial Park on village access road; 21 powered sites $28 CAD/night, 11 non-powered sites $22.50 CAD/night, 4 picnic sites, playground, interpretive area, sani-dump, water, firewood for sale, kitchen shelter and showers. Reservations at www.NWTparks.ca.
Attractions
Shopping. Fort Simpson features Dene crafts, such as birch-bark baskets, beadwork, moosehide crafts, northern carvings and other handmade crafts.
Fort Simpson Heritage Park features the McPherson House, built in 1936, and home to local pioneers George and Lucy McPherson and “Doc” Marion. Some old structures are from the Experimental Farm, or Research Station, which operated at Fort Simpson for more than 20 years.
Ehdaa National Historic Site encompasses the flats beside the river that have been the traditional Dene gathering place since long before Europeans arrived. Today this site includes the Papal Grounds from the Pope’s visit in 1987, and the Drum Circle used for seasonal celebrations.
Nahanni National Park Reserve showcases the South Nahanni River, possibly one of Canada’s most epic waterways. Framed by 4 towering canyons, the river spills through the alpine habitat of bears, Dall’s sheep and woodland caribou. Attractions include Virginia Falls, a literally earthshaking cascade that is almost twice the height of Niagara Falls, plus riverside hotsprings, burbling tufa mounds, and hike-able peaks. It’s a stellar day-long flightseeing trip with Simpson Air from Fort Simpson or with guided or independent expedition by canoe or raft.
Simpson Air. See display ad on facing page.
Visitors are welcomed to the land by Deh Cho First Nation, whose ancestors have called Nah?a Dehé home for centuries (the question mark is not a mistake, it represents pronunciation of a glottal stop). Nahanni is a Deh Cho First Nation gift to Canada, and Canada’s gift to the world. As a UNESCO world heritage site, the park is globally renowned for its diverse landforms, waterways, wildlife, forests and First Nations history.
Howard’s Pass Access Road on the west boundary of the park is a 79-km/50-mile one-way, unserviced remote dirt/gravel mining operations road. To use this route, you must first obtain a permit signed by the Superintendents of both Nahanni National Park Reserve and Nááts’įhch’oh National Park Reserve. Please contact Nahanni NPR office prior to travel.
The park is accessed predominantly by aircraft for day flightseeing tours and overnight recreation. On average it takes 1 to 2 hours to fly into the park from Fort Simpson, depending on aircraft and destination.
Located southwest of Fort Simpson near the Yukon border, air charter companies operate day-trip flightseeing tours to Little Doctor and Glacier lakes, Ram Plateau, Cirque of the Unclimbables, the Ragged Range and Virginia Falls on the South Nahanni River.
Virginia Falls (Nlcho) in Nahanni National Park Reserve has a total drop of 315 feet/60m. One of the most popular attractions for experienced river paddlers is running the South Nahanni River or its tributaries, the Flat River, the Broken Skull River and the Little Nahanni River.
The park has a mandatory reservation, registration and deregistration system for overnight use. A Northern Backcountry Excursion Permit (annual or daily fee) is required. Contact Nahanni National Park Reserve; phone 867-695-7750, email
[email protected] or visit online at www.pc.gc.ca/nahanni.
