Inuvik, An Arctic Destination

Once in a while you get the urge to travel beyond the fringe, to go to places seldom visited by your friends. Appease this urge by striking north to Inuvik in Canada’s far north.

Driving to Inuvik will take you about as far north as you can drive in Canada. It sits at the end of the Dempster Highway, a road started in the late 1950’s as part of Prime Minister Diefenbaker’s northern road building strategy totap into the riches of the north, a strategy dubbed by the opposition as road building from igloo to igloo.

Inuvik is located along the mighty Beaufort Delta of the Mackenzie River a couple of degrees north of the Arctic Circle. In the summer you can enjoy 24 hours of daylight for 56 days. In the winter you have a front row seat to observe the magnificent displays of the Northern Lights.

When you first enter town, stop at the Western Arctic Regional Visitor Centre for information and to view their display representing the flora and fauna of the north. You may be surprised to see the small size of the caribou and musk-ox.

In town you will see the Igloo Church whose shape has made it famous world wide. The Inuvik community greenhouse was built from a former rink. Local citizens are able to grow fresh vegetables such as onions and lettuce, or flowers if they wish. This way they are able to extend the season beyond the normal of mid-June to the last of August. If you have time you might try the relaxing walking Boot Lake Trail around Boot Lake.

If you are looking for things to do, check into the availability of tours. Tours are available that take you into the northern tundra, or on canoe trips along the streams and rivers, or you might fly to Tuktoyaktuk if you want to bathe in the Arctic waters. You are not at the ocean in Inuvik, although you could drive there in winter on the ice road.

With a wide selection of inns and hotels, and a couple of trailer parks, you can visit one of the places less visited.Enjoy it!