The operative word for Canada’s North is vast. Strung together from east to west by the Arctic Circle, Nunavut (NU), the Northwest Territories (NWT) and the Yukon (YT) cover nearly 40% of the country. Just 101,000 people—half of whom are Aboriginal or Inuit—live on this wild landscape that stretches from the Alaska border to Baffin Island, NU. Strong indigenous culture is a hallmark of Canada’s North, and traditional activities are a way of life in many communities.
Migrations, muskox and the Midnight Sun
You’ll quickly see that nature looms large in the North. Some of the world’s most extraordinary natural phenomena play out across its pristine mountain ranges, wild rivers and expansive tundra. Millions of migratory birds and hundreds of thousands of barren-ground caribou move in the masses across all three territories. Muskox, moose, wolves, wolverines and grizzlies are abundant on land, while whales, narwhals, seals, walruses and polar bears rule the Arctic Ocean.
In summer, you’re treated to a midnight sun that shines ‘round the clock. In winter, you witness displays of the aurora borealis, or Northern Lights, that encircle Canada’s northern skies. Wintertime is filled with dog mushing, snowshoeing, skiing and snowmobiling, while summer brings wildlife viewing, canoeing, cultural experiences, fishing, hunting and endless wilderness adventures.
Rest assured, it’s not all wild and woolly: Iqaluit, NU, Yellowknife, NWT, Whitehorse, YT, and other northern communities have top-notch museums, festivals, cafés and other to-dos that shouldn’t be missed. Indeed, Canada’s North is a massive destination with no end of things to see and experience, which is why we’ve crafted some lists of our top northern picks, as well as travel tips.
Nunavut: Untamed. Unspoiled. Undiscovered.
Area: 2,000,000 sq km (772,200 sq mi)
Population: 39,500
Capital: Iqaluit
Demographics: 85% Inuit
If Nunavut were a country, it would rank 15th in the world for size. As a result, you’ll find that getting around this sprawling, roadless territory usually involves a lot of flying. Arctic cruises are becoming more popular, and it’s no wonder: with two-thirds of Canada’s coastline in the Arctic, it’s the ideal way to explore the country’s northern reaches. In each of Nunavut’s 26 villages and communities, you can learn about the culture and explore the natural surroundings; most tours string together stops in several communities.
Deep artistic traditions and cultural communities number well above the national average in all three territories, but no more so than in Nunavut. Inuit prints, sculpture, fabric arts and contemporary art are treasured by collectors from around the world. You may be lured to the High Arctic by wildlife and adventure, but you’ll go home deeply affected by cultural experiences like building an igloo, playing Inuit games or meeting artisans.
Spectacular Northwest Territories
Area: 1,140,000 sq km (440,160 sq mi)
Population: 41,500
Capital: Yellowknife
Demographics: 50% First Nations, Inuit and Métis
Meet the spectacular “middle child” of the North: a forested subarctic playground flanked by the vast whiteness of Nunavut and Yukon’s grandiose landscapes. Generously endowed with lakes and rivers, the Northwest Territories is a fishing, paddling and floatplane paradise. Many of Canada’s legendary bush pilots hail from northern areas like Yellowknife, the jumping-off point to lodges, wilderness adventures, diamond mines and seasonal camps.
Spectacular waterfalls, wildlife, the aurora borealis (Northern Lights) and dogsledding are some of the main attractions that draw visitors to the 33 communities of the NWT. With no fewer than 11 official languages, your ears tell you this is a place that embraces cultural differences. Just wait until you meet the artists who work wonders with indigenous materials—birch bark, wood, fur, hides, bone—including diamonds mined right in the territory. Moose tufting? You’ll see it here.
Yukon— Larger Than Life
Area: 475,000 sq km (183,400 sq mi)
Population: 30,400
Capital: Whitehorse
Demographics: 25% First Nations
With its wild mountain rivers, crimson tundra and range after range of high peaks, Yukon is a land of enduring beauty. But don’t think you’ll be all alone in the wilderness: it’s home to one-quarter of Canada’s grizzly bears, along with thousands of moose, caribou and wild mountain sheep. The lure of Canada’s last frontier pulls over 300,000 visitors north to the Yukon every year. Many drive up the Alaska Highway and continue their explorations along Yukon scenic drives, which cover some 4,600 km (2,858 mi) of excellent roads; others fly to Whitehorse to launch their Yukon adventures.
With its First Nations cultures and Klondike Gold Rush heritage, people are integral to the Yukon story. In Yukon’s 18 communities you’ll find a quirky mix of dog mushers, storytellers, cancan dancers and other free spirits. Artists in this area transform gold, bone, wood and other materials into magnificent works of art. Even so, it’s the backdrop that still steals the show: those aurora-filled skies, frothy rivers and mountain ridges.
Top Attractions:
- Yukon: S.S. Klondike National Historic Site, historic Dawson City, White Pass & Yukon Route Railway, Dawson City Music Festival, MacBride Museum of Yukon History
- Northwest Territories: Old Town and Bush Pilot’s Monument, Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre, Great Northern Arts Festival, Folk on the Rocks, Wildcat Café
- Nunavut: Northwest Passage, bird sanctuaries, Toonik Tyme Festival, artist cooperatives in Pangnirtung, Baker Lake, Pond Inlet and Cape Dorset
Natural Wonders:
Iconic Parks:
- Yukon: Tombstone Territorial Park, Kluane National Park and Reserve, Chilkoot Trail National Historic Site, Ivvavik National Park, Herschel Island Qikiqtaruk Territorial Park
- Northwest Territories: Nahanni National Park Reserve, Wood Buffalo National Park, Tuktut Nogait National Park, Aulavik National Park, Prelude Lake Territorial Park
- Nunavut: Auyuittuq National Park, Ukkusiksalik National Park, Quttinirpaaq National Park, Sirmilik National Park
Signature River Trips:
- Yukon: Tatshenshini, Alsek, Yukon, Wind, Snake, Firth
- Northwest Territories: Nahanni, Mackenzie, Horton, Mountain
- Nunavut: Burnside, Coppermine, Thelon, Soper
Must-have Souvenirs:
www.nunavuttourism.com
www.spectacularnwt.com
http://travelyukon.com
videos
Midnight Sun Float Plane Fly-In in Yellowknife
Nahanni National Reserve
How to pan for gold
Discovering the Yukon River
Cruise
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