Hay River, NT
The Hub of the North
Hay River's location on Great Slave Lake has made it a mecca for commercial fishing, supporting the community for many years. The commercial fishing industry has slowed recently, opening a window of opportunity for tourism operators to develop and offer sport fishing adventures that allow visitors to experience freshwater fishing like nowhere else in the world.
There are daily flights from Yellowknife to Hay River. First Air and Buffalo Airways, of Ice Pilots NWT fame, run scheduled flights that make getting to Hay River from anywhere effortless - and an adventure.
LOCAL ACTIVITIES
Fishing, hiking, golfing, canoeing and Aurora viewing are just some of the activities available to visitors in Hay River. There are numerous places to stay, including hotels, motels, Bed & Breakfasts – as well as a campground on the shores of Great Slave Lake. There is a long sandy beach for romantic walks, a Saturday market with local products, a heritage museum to explore, festivals to attend, yurts for viewing the Aurora and fiddle reels where you can dance a jig.
Hay River is a regional centre and provides quick access to the nearby Twin Falls Park, Winnie's Craft Shop in Enterprise, Hay River Reserve and Yamaha Kue Society and the natural beauty of the Kakisa River.
HISTORY
Hay River is a traditional cargo terminal where goods and materials arrive before being dispersed to communities throughout the North so it fittingly became known as the Hub of the North. Here are some historic highlights:
In 1940, the Canadian Government built a gravel road from Grimshaw, Alberta to Hay River, making it the first NWT community linked to southern Canada.
In 1964, the construction of the Mackenzie Northern Railway made Hay River the northernmost point in Canada linked to the Canadian National Railway.
Hay River's location on the Mackenzie River makes it ideal as the main base of operations for the Northern Transportation Company Limited, where the annual sealift up the Mackenzie River to Inuvik and Tuktoyaktuk is launched.