The Northwest Territories are home to an incredible group of waterfalls. They can be strung along into a pretty cool road trip that also takes you close to both Wood Buffalo and Nahanni National Parks.
If you have a hankering for some serious hydro action, I say ditch the crowds at Niagara and plan a trip to the Northwest Territories. There is great camping, the weather in the summer is usually awesome, and there is so much wildlife.
Lady Evelyn Falls, Northwest Territories
I was delighted to learn that a few of these waterfalls were situated along our route. About an hour southeast of Fort Providence, there is a turnoff for the small town of Kakisa, home of Lady Evelyn Falls.
There is a little hike up to the falls. Stretch those legs, enjoy the scenery, and get back on the road. Next stop is McNallie Creek Falls, which is situated right off of the MacKenzie Highway.
McNallie Creek Falls, Northwest Territories
This is just a little waterfall, but it has that a perfect Ansel Adams type of landscape surrounding it. There is a little picnic area at McNallie Falls. Pick up some groceries in Fort Providence and stop here to enjoy a meal.
Louise Falls and Alexandra Falls, Northwest Territories
Next up, south of the town of Enterprise (insert car rental joke), is Twin Falls Gorge Territorial Park. This is the home of Louise and Alexandra Falls. We stopped at four waterfalls on this drive, and these two were the most impressive.
Louise Falls, my personal favourite, is first. This waterfall is complex in a way I hadn’t seen before. I loved the different sides and ledges it boasted, it almost made it feel four dimensional.
Next up was Alexandra Falls, which seemed to be the most powerful of the four we visited that day. Louise and Alexandra are close enough to one another that you can reach them both on the same short walk. The pathways are nice, and there are a few different vantage points you can take to view the falls.
There are cool campsites at Louise Falls. If you end up heading this way, bring a tent or trailer. It wasn’t very busy, and the geography around here is just spectacular. Be forewarned, though, that there is really nowhere to go to pick up groceries or other necessities, so come prepared!
Whether you are just driving through, or intentionally heading to this part of the world, these waterfalls are mandatory stopping points. I was awestruck by how many incredible falls there are in such a small area. This is one of those rare, practically untouched, natural treasures.
