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Festivals and events
There is always something going on in Fort Smith, where there is something for everyone.
The Wood Buffalo Frolics winter carnival in mid-March helps wave farewell to winter and welcome spring. The whole community gathers for Canada Day festivities in July, with an enthusiastic parade and delicious fish fry. The renowned South Slave Friendship Festival in mid-August features musicians from Fort Smith and across the North.
Fort Smith Visitor Guide
Grosbeak Lake - WBNP
photo by Cheryl HvalGrosbeak Lake is part of Wood Buffalo National Park’s extensive band of salt plains which cover an area of 370 square kilometres. Unique in Canada, they are formed by water that percolates through underground salt deposits left by an ancient sea around 390 million years ago. At the location of the Salt Plains, impermeable bedrock has forced the saline water to the surface. As the water evaporates, salt deposits are left behind.
Pine Lake Campground and Day-Use Area, Kettle Point Group Camp - WBNP
courtesy WBNPSituated in Wood Buffalo National Park, Pine Lake is an aquamarine lake in the middle of the boreal forest, about 60 km (a 45-minute drive) from Fort Smith. Created by a series of three sink holes, the lake is a get-away destination for residents of Fort Smith.
Salt River Day-Use Area - WBNP
Located on Pine Lake Road. Featuring: Karstland Interpretive Trail with exhibits, picnic area and shelter, hiking trails. Wheelchair-accessible.
WBNP contains the best example of gypsum karst terrain in North America. Here, just inside the park boundary, the Salt River Trail System offers an opportunity to explore this unusual landscape of caves, sinkholes and underground streams.
Trails include the Karstland Loop (750 m), Salt River Meadows Loop (1.5 km), South Loop (9 km), and the North Loop (7.5 km).
Salt Plains Viewpoint and Day-Use Area - WBNP
photo by Ian Forsyth
The Salt Plains are a unique combination of geology, plants, wildlife and climate. Located 25 kms west of Fort Smith in WBNP, the flat salt-encrusted landscape covers 370 square kilometers. Here, salt-saturated water rises to the surface and evaporates, leaving layers of salt behind. In some places, brilliant white salt mounds, up to one metre in height can be found.
photo by Heidi Selzler
Angus Fire Tower and Day-Use Area - WBNP
Located near the entrance to the park off Highway No. 5. Featuring: Large sinkhole with interpretive exhibit, fire tower, picnic area with playground. Wheelchair accessible.
Read more about Angus Fire Tower and Day-Use Area
Snake pits
photo by Heidi SelzlerEvery spring (April and May), visitors flock to the Salt River Day-Use Area in Wood Buffalo National Park to check out the “Snake Pits”, the northern-most colony of red-sided garter snakes in North America. During this time, the snakes make a brief above-ground appearance for mating prior to migrating to their summer feeding grounds. At this time, the males form “mating balls” around the females, resulting in piles of dozens of small garter snakes all over the ground.
Wood Buffalo National Park
courtesy WBNP
Wood Buffalo National Park is Canada’s largest national park. It was established in 1922 to protect the world's largest herd of free-roaming wood bison, currently estimated at more than 5,000. It is the only known nesting site of whooping cranes.
Little Buffalo River Falls Day-Use Area
photo by Heidi Selzler
Little Buffalo River Falls Day-Use Area is located approximately 50 km northwest of Fort Smith on Highway 5.
The site has a kitchen shelter, tables, fire pits, and outhouses.
A short distance from the site is the boat launch to the Little Buffalo River.
Fort Smith, Northwest Territories, X0E 0P0, CANADA
Phone: (867) 872-8400, Fax: (867) 872-8401
Email: Town of Fort Smith
Office hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30AM - 12:00PM, 1:00-5:00PM
Closed weekends and statutory holidays
Copyright 2010 Town of Fort Smith. All rights reserved.