Outdoor Summer Activities

Yellowknifers love summer. They play outdoors under 20 hours of sunlight in temperatures that can top 30 °C Yes, you can swim, sail, water ski, paddle board, golf and much more when you visit Yellowknife in the summer.

Summer in Yellowknife starts in June, and by the summer solstice on June 21, our summer activities are in full swing. On the longest day of the year, we celebrate with a street carnival, a midnight sun golf tournament and a day-long tribute to indigenous culture and peoples. By June, shorts and sandals have replaced parkas and boots and everyone is outside, paying homage to the sun at midnight.

Yellowknife has a summer to rival almost any in Canada, and here are some of the activities we lay on for summer visitors:

  • Rent a paddleboard and see the city from the water. Lessons available. Or rent a canoe or kayak and paddle through the sheltered waters of Yellowknife's Back Bay
  • Sign up for a short boat tour in and around Yellowknife Bay
  • Sunbathe on a sandy beach or swim in Long Lake, a popular public beach at the edge of town
  • Waterski, if you happen to travel with a speed boat and skis
  • Golf at Yellowknife's famous 18- hole golf course, where the greens are carpeted, the fairways are sand, and the ravens are known for stealing golf balls:
  • Fish on Great Slave Lake with a local operator for four hours or a full day
  • Hike one of Yellowknife's well-marked trails. For a quick hike, circle Frame Lake or Niven Lake in the centre of Yellowknife. For a longer hike try some popular routes outside of town. The Visitor Centre can provide route information
  • See the wilderness around Yellowknife from a bicycle. Fat bike tours are offered, or rent a bicycle for a few hours or a day
  • Sail on Great Slave Lake. Yellowknife has several sailing clubs, and sometimes our sailors are looking for crews
  • Learn about the ecology of the area with tour guides who know it intimately
  • Get the lay of the land from the air with a flight seeing tour on a small float plane
  • Interested in one of our many city tours? Experienced operators will give you an insider's look at the city, or you can opt for a self guided tour of Yellowknife's beginnings in Old Town: or join a mining history tour
  • Check out our many summer events () , from a weekly farmer's market, to one of Canada's top music festivals

 

 

 

See a list of the local operators who can provide a spectacular summer experience.

Things to Do in Yellowknife
Outdoor Summer Activities

Flightseeing Tours Ahmic Air offers a range of unique air tours. Our Beaver aircraft is equipped with enlarged windows for greater visibility and a comfortable, clean, upgraded interior. Each guest...

Get a bird's eye view of the top of the world! Air Tindi provides charter services to canoeing, hunting and fishing expeditions, as well as daily scheduled flights to Gameti, Wha Ti, Wekweeti,...

Why us? We are focused on providing topnotch tour packages for your family and friends with the highest levels of customer satisfaction; in addition, we will do everything we can to meet your...

Teaching the Dene way of life through our history, language, and unique connection to the land. Camp is just outside of Dettah, across the bay from Yellowknife. 100% Aboriginal owned and operated.   

A touch of luxury in the wilderness! 30-minute’s scenic flight from Yellowknife, you’ll find a stunning eco-lodge, cozy cabins, fine dining and more. Unparalleled views of Aurora at night and...

Bluefish Services offers guided fishing trips and naturalist tours on Great Slave Lake. We have been in business for 25 years making us the one of the most experienced tour operators in the Northwest...

In summer, visit the commercial fishery and fish for Northern Pike, Lake Trout, Walleye/Pickerel and Lingcod. Half day to a week long tours.  Feast on a freshly cooked fish dinner accompanied by...

Aurora viewing tours, city tours, and hikes to Cameron Falls. We book all of your activities and accommodation. Korean and English spoken.  최적의 오로라 관측 도시 Yellowknife는 Canada의 10개 주, 3개의 준주 가운데 ...

City tours for large and small groups as well as customizable step on/step off tours hosted by 30-year Yellowknife resident and local history expert Yvonne Quick.

100% northern-owned and operated, we love to explore the most spectacular places in the Northwest Territories. We offer remote 7-12 day guided expedition trips deep into the tundra, taiga, and...

Remember your sunscreen and swimsuit. Long Lake beach is at the Fred Henne Territorial Park, out by the airport; beach volleyball nets available.  There is also a boat launch area here and...

Fun and informative tours guided by persons that came to Yellowknife for two years and stayed for a lifetime. Learn about Yellowknife’s history, see the City highlights, visit artisans’ studios. Our...

Chase the Aurora by snowmobile in winter, or by Voyageur Canoe in fall. Specializing in small group tours. In the winter, hop on a snowmobile or strap on your snowshoes to discover an adventure with...

North Star Adventures is a 100% Aboriginal owned, local tour company. We grew up in Yellowknife, we know Yellowknife! We are happy to share our Aboriginal culture. We offer Aboriginal Cultural Tours...

Here at the NWT Kayak Association website you can take a virtual tour of some of our rivers, including the mighty Slave River, learn about our paddling clubs and events around the NWT. Enjoy your...

Stand-up paddling is fun, easy, and great exercise. Located on the shore of Yellowknife’s Great Slave Lake, we offer SUP tours, rentals, courses, and equipment sales. Our staff are fully certified...

We rent boats and motors for the day, week or month. We service and repair outboard and inboard motors. We sell a wide variety of marine products. After-hours service is available by phoning 444-5378...

Complete outdoor and sporting- goods store with a huge selection of brand name equipment, clothing & footwear. Outdoor, fitness, and lifestyle clothing. Running, hiking, insulated, skateboard,...

Ryan Silke is a writer, musician, and historian who offers historical research services and tours.

Specialized charter aviation company with a keen focus on customer service and customized aviation solutions. Summit Air boasts a diverse fleet of jet and turbo-prop fixed wing aircraft. The Peak of...

Summit Helicopters delivers remote helicopter aviation solutions in Northern Canada with one of the largest and most diverse fleets in the industry. Our crew is highly experienced in Northern...

Trails End Harley-Davidson is the authorized retailer for Harley-Davidson motorcycles.  They carry parts, equipment, and merchandise, collectables, logo T-shirts. Canada's most Northern Harley-...

Visitors are welcome at our 18-hole par 72 sand and artificial turf course. Full pro shop, equipment rentals, professional lessons, carts, driving range, and licensed clubhouse. Wheelchair accessible...

Visit our 14km network of well-groomed cross country ski trails for skiers of all ages and abilities, just moments from downtown. Enjoy scenic views of Old Town and Great Slave Lake, night skiing...

Yellowknife Tours is the pioneer for Aurora Tourism in Chinese market. Yellowknife Tours won the Best 2015 Operator of the Year Award & 2017 Business of the Year Award! The Most deluxe and unique...