Queen Elizabeth Territorial Park is located at the eastern end of the Wood Buffalo Route, close to the centre of the community of Fort Smith, gateway to Wood Buffalo National Park. There are trails around the park, and to the Slave River & Rapids.

Fort Smith Mission Historic Park is not far away, located in the centre of town. It offers a fascinating glimpse into the origins of the community, and its importance to the early development of the Northwest Territories and northern Alberta.

Fort Smith features the mighty Slave River, the major source of water flowing into Great Slave Lake, with an estimated annual volume of 107 billion cubic meters.

Rapids on the Slave River at Fort Smith are renowned as a world-class venue for white water kayaking & rafting, a challenge for enthusiasts of all skill levels. A dramatic series of rapids culminate in the Rapids of the Drowned just north of the town.

The Rapids are also known for their summer colony of white pelicans, easily visible from the shoreline just a short ways from the park. They nest on rock outcrops in the middle of the river, safe from disturbance at the northernmost outpost of this species in the world. In the winter, they migrate to Texas & Mexico for a vacation. The fact that pelicans can flourish here gives you some idea of the quality of the fishing in these parts! The two best places to watch the pelicans are at Mountain Rapids and the Rapids of the Drowned .

Are you interested in reptiles? One of the fascinating natural features of this area is the annual cycle of the red-sided garter snake. There are few reptiles in the Northwest Territories - not the easiest place for a cold-blooded creature to flourish. The red-sided garter snake is at the northern limit of its range here. They spend an extended winter hibernating underground in the karst limestone sinkholes that underlie this region - places where flowing acidic water has eroded fissures & caves in the soft rock. In the spring, the snakes emerge en masse from their hibernaculum (nest). They writhe together in 'mating balls', before they disperse into the surrounding marshlands for the summer.

And remember, if you do see one - the red sided garter snake is a protected species, so please leave them where they belong.

The next nearest campsites are located at Pine Lake and Kettle Point in Wood Buffalo National Park. Consult the Wood Buffalo National Park Visitor Reception Centre for details. The centre is located at the Federal Building, 126 McDougal Road, Fort Smith. Open daily, June 20 - Sept.6. Closed on weekends the rest of the year. Features 20 minute show, exhibits, park information, backcountry registration, videos, souvenir sales (park video and park poster), and more. Wheelchair-accessible.

Hay River Territorial Park and campsite is located 333 Km to the east along the Wood Buffalo Route, NWT Highway #5.

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Fort Smith

Parks & Tourism
#156 Miron Drive
Hay River, NT X0E 0R2
Canada
Phone: (867) 875 5570
Fax : (867) 875 5551
E-mail: South Slave Parks

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