Overview
Hay River is a small northern Canadian town on the shore of Great Slave Lake, serving as the transportation hub of the Northwest Territories. It offers excellent ice fishing in winter and sport fishing in summer for whitefish, lake trout, and perch.
Budget Travel · Day Trips · Nature · Transit Hub
Before you go
Connectivity
Limited connectivity typical of small northern Canadian towns. Standard Canadian cellular and internet services available.
Health
Full hospital (H.H. Williams Memorial Hospital), dental clinic, and ambulance service available in town. Standard northern travel precautions recommended.
Money
Canadian dollars (CAD) accepted everywhere. Credit cards work at most establishments. Two banks available: CIBC and RBC with branches in town.
Transport
All-season road access via Mackenzie Highway. Airport has flights from Edmonton and Fort Smith. Car is best for exploring; taxis available for local travel.
Weather
Subarctic climate with short summers (~3 months) and long, extremely cold winters. Expect snow from November through April. Frostbite risk Dec-Jan when wind chill drops below -30C.