Tourism & Parks
Twin Falls Territorial Park
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Alexandra & Louise Falls are both magnificent, and we have made it easy to take them in with well-placed viewing platforms, that are easy to get to from the parking lots. Alexandra Falls and Louise Falls both have picnic facilities, with cook shelters, tables, drinking water & outhouses; and of course ready access to the sights and sounds of the waterfalls. |
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| features of the park include | 1. A walk down a spiral staircase, that will take you from the top of the Hay River canyon to the lip of the Louise Falls waterfall itself, for a close-up view. 2. The three kilometre (2 mile) interpretive walking trail that winds along the top of the Hay River Gorge from Alexandra Falls, downstream to Louise Falls. (It is also possible to drive between the two ends of the trail along the highway, if preferred). The trail will take about an hour to explore, in each direction. 3. Drum-shaped interpretive display panels along the way provide interesting information about the spiritual significance of the falls to Dene people of this region. The people regard the Twin Falls as a sacred place. They believe that two spirits live here - the Grandmother and Grandfather. This couple will remain here until the Falls disappear, protecting the place and ensuring that human beings respect Creation. The Falls were a significant barrier to river travel for the native people in those times when the river was their first means of travel. The Interpretive Trail is located on the same side of the River as the original portage trail around the Falls. 4. The trail along the top of the canyon is especially attractive in the fall, when the aspen & poplar tree leaves are changing colour. The air also has that distinctive autumn aroma to it then. 5. Escarpment Creek is a little harder to reach at this time - the site is less developed, and the walking trail from the rest of the park is still under construction. The waterfall is smaller than the others, located on a creek that flows into the Hay River. But it is very pretty, and well worth a look, and there are tables, shelters and drinking water. Safety warning: the sights are tremendous, the views spectacular, many of the angles for your camera are special. BUT, please, do stay on the paths and lookout platforms, and do NOT climb over the safety fences. Flowing water, high cliffs and loose rock create many hazards in the park outside the fenced areas. And, of course, pay close attention to children and pets for their safety, too. |
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| The Geology of the Park | To understand how the waterfalls and the gorge were formed, we have to go back about 360 million years to the Devonian Era, when this area was covered by a warm, brackish inland sea. The warm water supported the growth of an abundance of small plants & animals. As the creatures died, they fell to the sea bottom, forming layers one upon another. This process created the limestone rock formations found here today. Whilst one sea environment produced a layer of hard rock, other layers were softer, and more prone to being eroded away. The Hay River has cut a deep gorge into the softer layers of rock, but has been resisted by the harder rock, which is where the waterfalls have formed. |
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| Attractions & Points of Interest |
Special programs offered at the park are the Dene Native Interpretive Walks. The nearest visitor information centre is also at Sixtieth Parallel Park at the Alberta border to the south. The next nearest NWT parks with camping facilities are in Hay River 50 Km to the north, and at the Sixtieth Parallel NWT/Alberta border crossing 72 Km to the south. |
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| Campsite Facilities at Alexandra Falls: | Place the cursor over each of the icons below, to see details of services available. View the Icon Legend. |
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On-line booking is available for this park at www.campingnwt.ca |
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| Campsite Facilities at Louise Falls: |
Place the cursor over each of the icons below, to see details of services available. View the Icon Legend. |
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On-line booking is available for this park |
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| Campsite Facilities at Escarpment Creek: |
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| Nearest Services: |
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| Nearest Communities: |
Enterprise is 12 km to the north. Hay River is 50 km to the north. |
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| Operational Season: | Twin Falls Territorial Park is open 8 a.m. to 11 p.m., seven days a week, from May 15th to September 15th. Trails within the park may be accessible on foot outside of those dates, but they will not be maintained clear of snow, and so you enter at your own risk. Services such as toilets and garbage removal are not provided outside the open season. |
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| Contact Information: | For more information about the park, please contact: |
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Parks
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