Ingraham Trail
A Road East Of Yellowknife That Gives Access To A Chain Of Lakes On The Canadian Shield, With Territorial Parks At Prelude Lake And Reid Lake, The Cameron River Falls Trail, Canoe Routes To The Barren Lands And, In Winter, An Ice Road And Aurora Viewing. The Weekend Country Of Yellowknife Residents, With Few Services Along The Way · Yellowknife, Northwest Territories
The Ingraham Trail, Highway 4, runs about 70 km east from Yellowknife through the Canadian Shield, past a chain of lakes, rapids and rock outcrops, and is the weekend road of the capital's residents, with lakes, rock and forest on both sides. It is paved for the first stretch and gravel beyond, ending at Tibbitt Lake. Prelude Lake and Reid Lake territorial parks offer boat launches, beaches and campsites, the Cameron River Falls trail leads to a waterfall in the forest, and Pilot's Monument gives a view over the barrens. Paddlers use the road as a starting point for canoe routes toward the barren lands, and in winter an ice road may run from Tibbitt Lake (confirm). There are almost no services past Prelude Lake, so bring fuel, food and water. Bears, mosquitoes and black flies are the main summer hazards, and the pull-outs give dark sky for the aurora from late summer. Yellowknife is the base, and day trips are easy from there.
The Ingraham Trail (Highway 4), a paved and gravel road running east about 70 km from Yellowknife past lakes, rapids and canoe routes to Tibbitt Lake; coordinates approximate, Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada
The road is open year-round, but conditions change with the season. Territorial parks along the route, such as Prelude Lake and Reid Lake, are staffed roughly from late May or June to early September, with campsites, boat launches and day-use areas closed or unserviced outside that window - confirm dates with the territorial parks office. Cameron River Falls trail and pull-outs are open at any hour but best in daylight. The road is free to drive, but park day use or camping may carry modest fees. Winter brings snow, ice and short daylight, and an ice road to Tibbitt Lake may open in some years - confirm locally. Services past Prelude Lake are minimal.