How to Get There
Nahanni National Park Reserve
The park office for Nahanni National Park Reserve is located in Łįįdłįį Kų́e (Fort Simpson), Northwest Territories. There are no public roads in Nahanni National Park Reserve, visitors must access the park via air or hike in.
Air Access
The vast majority of visitors travel to the park by chartered floatplane. Floatplanes may be chartered in many of the regional communities, including Łįįdłįį Kų́e (Fort Simpson) and Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories, Muncho Lake in British Columbia, and Watson Lake, Yukon. Visitors planning to charter a floatplane should ensure that the company they choose has a valid National Park business license.
Click here for a list of licensed air charter operators.
Day visitors typically travel to the park by chartered floatplane departing from Fort Simpson. These services are also available from the other locations mentioned above. Virginia Falls and Glacier Lake are the only day-use landing sites in the park.
People typically begin their river trips at one of four locations; the average length of time most people take to complete their trip from these locations are:
- Náįlįcho (Virginia Falls) 7-10 days
- Gahnįhthah Mie (Rabbitkettle Lake) 10-14 days
- Island Lakes 14-18 days
- Nááts’įhch’oh Tué (The Mooseponds) 21 days
- Ǫtaa Tué Fehto (Divide Lake) 21 - 24 days
Náįlįcho (Virginia Falls), Glacier Lake, Bunny Bar, Island Lake, Honeymoon Lake, Seaplane Lake, and Gahnįhthah Mie (Rabbitkettle Lake) are designated aircraft landing sites within Nahanni National Park Reserve.
Overland Access
Although there are no public roads inside Nahanni National Park Reserve, there are several ambitious and demanding overland routes. It is possible to reach the headwaters of the Nahʔą Dehé (South Nahanni River) at Nááts’įhch’oh Tué (the Mooseponds) (located in Nááts’įhch’oh National Park Reserve) by travelling overland across the continental divide from the Yukon. Some people also access Nahʔą Dehé (the South Nahanni River) by driving to the former mining town of Tungsten from Watson Lake in the Yukon. The road to Tungsten is not maintained on a regular basis, and is frequently impassable. When it is passable, a four-wheel drive vehicle is required. At Tungsten, travellers may choose either the Little Nahanni River or the Tu Naka Dé (Flat River) to descend to Nahʔą Dehé (South Nahanni River). The Little Nahanni and Tu Naka Dé (Flat River) each contain Class IV and Class V rapids. Only expert paddlers should consider travelling on these rivers.
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