Located on the south shore of Great Slave Lake, Hay River offers sandy beaches and magnificent waterfalls. In winter snowshoe on a frozen river to ice sculptured falls between steep ravines. Stand under an Aurora you can almost touch and skies so big that heaven seems within reach. Fish for monsters of the deep, dogsled in a boreal wonderland and experience a rich culture and history.
Hay River is a year-round outdoor paradise about a half day's drive from Yellowknife, Edmonton, Fort St. John or Grande Prairie.
April 23rd, 20191. Hit the beach
Relax on a sunny sand beach stretching along the south shore of Canada's second largest lake, Great Slave Lake. In summer enjoy over 20 hours of daylight. Huge piles of driftwood create cozy resting places and intriguing photo opportunities along the shoreline.
2. Snowshoe the river
By mid-winter, the Hay River boasts some of the best snowshoeing in the North. Explore myriad channels, the harbour, and the winter resting place of Mackenzie River barges. Watch for dog teams exercising on river trails, or set a line to fish below the ice.
April 23rd, 20193. Fall in love with our falls
Sightsee at two cascades on the Hay River, just a short drive south. There's the thundering Alexandra Falls, a 33-metre-high drop, and Louise Falls, a tiered waterfall with a dizzying staircase leading down to the very edge of the fast flowing river. Pack a picnic and enjoy a day on the trails in wooded Twin Falls Gorge Territorial Park.
April 23rd, 20194. Aurora you can almost touch
From late August through the winter, the Aurora dances overhead on clear dark nights. Choose a viewing spot by the lake, or on the shore of the Hay River, or catch the magical skies at Twin Falls Gorge Territorial Park.
April 23rd, 20195. A place where monsters exist
Hay River is home to a small fishing fleet, that shares its catch on the docks each summer Saturday. You don't have to go far from town to tackle some of the biggest, wildest, purest, hardest-fighting fish in the world. Cast a line on the river or venture out on the big lake with a guide. You’re likely to reel in one or several monsters on a single trip, for an unforgettable day on the water.
April 23rd, 20196. Ride with the Dogs
Dogs and dogsleds are still part of life in Canada's North. In Hay River, join a veteran dog musher for a peek into a dog’s daily routine. For a taste of tradition, hitch a ride on a dogsled and glide silently along groomed trails.
7. Experience Northern Culture
Immerse yourself in the rich culture of the people of Hay River. The area was a favorite location for fishing and annual gatherings of the Dene, the Indigenous people. Community feasts, traditional games and special events still mark the Hay River calendar. In addition, Hay River has a long established transportation and business community.
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The Hay River [South Slavey: Kátå’odehche] is a large river in northern Alberta and southern Northwest Territories, Canada.
It originates in the muskeg of north western Alberta, flows west to British Columbia, then curves northward and returns to Alberta, where it follows a north-northeast course towards the Northwest Territories. After passing over two main waterfalls, the Alexandra Falls and Louise Falls, it flows through the town of Hay River and discharges into the Great Slave Lake. From there, its waters are carried to the Arctic Ocean by the Mackenzie River.
Hay River has a total length of 702 kilometres [436 mi] and a drainage area of 48,200 square kilometres [18,600 sq mi].[1]
Tributaries of the Hay River are the Chinchaga River, Meander River [in South Slavey: Tahchee], Steen River, Melvin River and Little Hay River. The Hay River effectively flows through the Hay-Zama Lakes. Rainbow Lake is a widening of the river itself.[2]
Communities in the Hay River basin include Rainbow Lake, Zama City, Steen River, Indian Cabins [in South Slavey: Dzêtú] in Alberta and Enterprise and the homonymous Hay River in the Northwest Territories. There are two first nations communities in the river basin: Chateh and Meander River.
At the Alberta – Northwest Territories border, the annual discharge is 3,630,000 cubic decametres [2,940,000 acre⋅ft].[3]