Welcome to Norman Wells


Welcome to the Sahtu, the heartland of the Mackenzie Valley, the home of wilderness adventure.  With one of our comfortable hotels in Norman Wells as your base, explore the Mackenzie Valley on day trips. Or set out on a challenging week-long adventure in the mountains.

Fish for arctic grayling, northern pike and world class lake trout in lakes close to Norman Wells. From a base in Deline, you can fish one of the worlds’ largest lakes, Great Bear, home to record-sized lake trout.
Fishing the Sahtu Canoeing the Sahtu Winter Escape

Fishing the Sahtu


The Northwest Territories still holds world records for lake trout caught in Great Bear Lake, and Arctic Grayling pulled from the clear cold streams feeding the big lake.

Norman Wells is the point of departure for a variety of fishing trips, from day trips on Great Bear Lake to fully outfitted fly-in fishing camps on smaller lakes nearby. The options are as varied as your budget.

Canoeing the Sahtu


Norman Wells is a canoeists’ bonanza. Sixteen river systems can be accessed by air from this fly out outfitting centre. Eight of these rivers have earned world-class reputations in the paddling market: the Mackenzie, Mountain, Keele, Wind, Bonnet Plume, Snake, Anderson, and Horton Rivers.

Blackfeather,  Canoe North, Nahanni River Adventures and Nahanni Wilderness Adventures offer fully outfitted adventures on two rivers that join the Mackenzie River close to Norman Wells

Winter Escape


In winter, travel the Sahtu by snowmobile, skiis, or snowshoe.  Venture out with a group by snowmobile to visit the Canol Road project. Dodo Canyon’s waterfalls offer nature’s most spectacular ice sculptures.

Take to the trails. There are several kilometers of groomed cross-country trails in the Norman Wells area, and there’s an active ski club to welcome you.