How long is the Dettah ice road?
Canada, north-america
6.4 km
N/A
hard
Year-round
Okay, picture this: you're in the North Slave Region of Canada's Northwest Territories, ready for a seriously cool adventure. I'm talking about the Dettah Ice Road, a wild stretch that connects Yellowknife with the little community of Dettah every winter.
So, what's the deal? It's basically a 6.4-kilometer (almost 4 miles) dash across the frozen Yellowknife Bay, part of the massive Great Slave Lake. When the ice is thick enough – we're talking about a meter of solid ice – it can handle some serious weight, like a fully loaded fuel truck.
Heads up, this isn't your everyday highway. This road has to be built from scratch every year, and it's only open for a short window, usually from late December to early April. But timing can be tricky; some years, it opens later due to weather. You'll want to make sure it is officially open before you hit the ice.
When it's open, the speed limits are there for a reason, so keep an eye on those signs. The road is wide, so there are pull-offs for taking some seriously epic photos.
In the summer, the drive between Yellowknife and Dettah is 27 km long — an all-weather track. But in the winter you can cross the ice road in about 15–20 minutes. The views are stunning, making it a must-do for any adventurous traveler hitting up the Northwest Territories!
Road Details
- Country
- Canada
- Continent
- north-america
- Length
- 6.4 km
- Difficulty
- hard
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