Summer Hiking and Nature Tour
- Chelsie
- Jun 9
- 5 min read
Dear Guests,
It’s finally Eyègǫhsa (June). That means Summer is around the corner. A time for goı̨nàà, which means in Tłı̨chǫ Yatıì - Be happy; be pleased; be blessed; be glad. I am feeling all those things right now. The sun is shining all day, giving me all the happiness I’ve been waiting eight long months for. There is a reason we have 24 hours of daylight in Yellowknife during the Summer: to make up for the many, many, many hours of darkness.
One of the things I love about this season is walking through the forest—and it's an expansive one. I love seeing all the different types of paths to cross and walk down: the ones that are purely rock; the ones with exposed roots; the ones so steep that you need to grab onto the nearby trees just to haul yourself up or down. I love scanning between the trees, freaking myself out thinking a dark boulder might be a bear, coming across signs of a critter that has recently passed by, and listening to the many types of birds that make the treetops their homes.
If this sounds like something you love too, I highly recommend the 1.5 km hiking trail out to Cameron Falls. As you get closer to the water, you'll hear the rush of the falls building until you finally come down the last boulder and see them roaring. Yes, Dear Guest, you can see them roar! The NWT has definitely made this a hike that takes you out of city life and right into the middle of the Canadian Shield, but in a well-maintained and secure environment. Or, as secure as you can get knowing you are smack dab in the middle of bear country! Don’t let that deter you, Dear Guest; our guides are certified in Bear Beware and carry all the tools necessary for a safe hike through the Boreal Forest. Sometimes a little risk is worth it, and this hike is definitely worth it!
What makes this hike special isn't just the waterfall. It's having someone beside you who can explain the land beneath your feet, point out the plants and wildlife that call it home, and share the stories that were passed down from their own ancestors who once walked these very trails.
The Cameron Falls hike is located on the Ingraham Trail. It is one of only two roads that leave Yellowknife—the other being the highway that takes you South, whereas the Ingraham Trail heads North-East. In the winter, this trail eventually turns into the longest heavy-duty ice road in the world, traveling up to the northern diamond mines. This is the very highway featured in the popular TV show Ice Road Truckers. To get out to Cameron Falls, you will travel along the trail for a scenic forty minutes, winding past the many lakes and campgrounds that make summers in the North worth enduring those long, bitter winters.
After the first couple days of rain, the trail explodes in beauty, changing the landscape from the bleak sleep of Parka season to the majestic greens, pinks, and purples of Summer. It’s almost like the Northern Lights left their winter sky and settled down amongst our foliage. Us Yellowknifers love to spend a weekend afternoon taking a drive down the Ingraham Trail just for the drive itself but also taking the time to stop at one of the many lakes to have a cook-out, a kayak ride, or a cool-off swim. My kids love spotting which critters will be out and about that day. Of course, the best treat is catching sight of (from afar and preferably from the car!) the king of our forests: Ursus americanus, the Black Bear!
It would be remiss of me not to give you some handy safety tips if you do come across a bear on one of your hikes. While you are out walking, make noise, and stay in a group. Talk to each other, joke, laugh, stomp your feet on the boardwalks, or pick up a walking stick and tap it against a tree. Whatever you feel comfortable with, just don’t surprise a bear with your presence. They really don’t want to encounter you as much as you don’t want to encounter them. If you do come across a bear, make yourself big. Take off your jacket or sweater and hold it out high above your head. Have everyone do the same. Make noise and firmly tell it to “go on and get!” Never turn your back on a bear, and always back away slowly while facing them.
Now, I will also warn you: chances are, while out on this tour, you will get bit! It’s inevitable. I don’t think a single hiker has gone down this trail and escaped this bite. The bite—or should I say, the poke—of a mosquito! Us Northerners must be incredibly nutrient-dense, because you will notice our mosquitoes are about twice the size of regular "down south" mosquitoes, if not bigger. They pack a punch and they are always hungry. This is exactly why we plan our Summer Hiking and Nature Tour to start at 8:30 in the morning; those pesky insects prefer waking up after noon and really come alive as evening sets in. Before you head out, I highly recommend checking out Yellowknife’s oldest continuously running business, Weaver & Devore. Established 90 years ago to supply early trappers and prospectors in 1936, it is still the best place to find all your hiking needs and repellents—whether for bugs or their larger, furry relatives!
The Cameron Falls come from the Cameron River, which flows from Tibbitt Lake at the end of the Ingraham Trail. The falls are the spectacular result of a 55-foot drop in the riverbed. Eventually, that flowing water will reach Great Slave Lake. There is also a point further up the system where the river is quieter, where locals love to drop their tubes in and float down. Just be sure to jump out well before the highway bridge, or you will be in for a rough, rocky ride down the rapids!
Coming into Yellowknife by land, air, or water, you will immediately notice the expanse of nature as far as the eye can see. It makes you feel small, but it also makes you feel like you are a part of something enormous—a true connection to the land, the water, the creatures, and yes, even those pesky mosquitoes. So, please take a moment while you are out there to really appreciate your surroundings, and I guarantee your surroundings will do the exact same for you.
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