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Driving to the Arctic Ocean – Exploring Tuktoyaktuk

By Matthew G. Bailey 20 Comments

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best things to do in tuktoyaktuk

Last updated: June 23, 2020

Located right on the Arctic Ocean in Canada’s Northwest Territories is a little fishing village called Tuktoyaktuk. Like Easter Island, Tuktoyaktuk is one of those places totally off the beaten path. In fact, up until the end of 2017, Tuktoyaktuk was only accessible via boat, plane, or a winter ice road. Now, thanks to the newly opened Inuvik-to-Tuktoyaktuk Highway, Tuktoyaktuk can be reached year-round by vehicles and is officially Canada’s first highway to the Arctic.

However, just because there’s a year-round road doesn’t mean Tuktoyaktuk will no longer be off-the-beaten-path. It still remains very isolated and only a true adventurer would dare make the road trip. Why? Well, to get there, you must first drive all the way to Canada’s Yukon, starting with the capital city of Whitehorse. You’d then have to drive another 530 km north to the city of Dawson, an incredible wild-west looking town made famous by the Klondike Gold Rush. Then, the real adventure begins with the Dempster Highway, a 700-km dirt road with only one service station, located right in the middle.

This is an exciting road trip but one that certainly requires a good vehicle and some good planning. The Dempster Highway is definitely the most challenging part of this epic road trip, but if you succeed in making it to Inuvik, you’ll only have an additional 140 kilometres of dirt road left to take you all the way to Tuktoyaktuk. Of course, you then have to come all the way back down as there’s only one road in and one road out. I’m not trying to scare you in any way, but I wouldn’t be trying this in a big motorhome or a little beater car.

Table of Contents

  • The History of Tuktoyaktuk
  • Road to 150 – Road Trip to Tuk
  • Things to Do in Tuktoyaktuk
    • Visit the Tuktoyaktuk Welcome Sign
    • See the Pingos
    • Ride a Snowmobile Around Town
    • Meet the Locals and Eat Muktuk
    • Dip Your Toes in the Arctic
    • Our Lady of Lourdes Ship
    • Go on an Adventure Tour
  • Things to Do in NWT

The History of Tuktoyaktuk

With a population of less than 1,000, the residents survive some of the harshest elements in the country. Formerly known as Port Brabant, the community was renamed Tuktoyaktuk in 1950 and was the first place in Canada to revert to the traditional Native name, which in this case means “resembling a caribou”. According to legend, a woman looked on as some caribou waded into the water and turned into stone. Today, reefs resembling these petrified caribou are said to be visible at low tide along the shore of the town.

Tuk has a varied history of indigenous, military, and pop culture that has largely been cut off from the rest of the world. In the late 1800’s it was home of the whale-hunting Kittegaryumiut Inuit, who were wiped out due to a series of epidemics in the early 1900s. The Inuit who settled at the site after it was established by the Hudson’s Bay Company in the mid-1930s were from the immediate area and from other parts of the great white north. Then, in the 1950s, radar domes were installed as part of the Distant Early Warning (DEW) Line, to monitor air traffic and detect possible Soviet intrusions during the Cold War.

Inuit culture here is quite unique compared to other northern regions, as they are one of the only Inuit cultures that had a steady source of wood. The Mackenzie River runs north, and so does the driftwood, all flowing into the Arctic Ocean around Tuk. Most Inuit cultures living above the tree line had no source of wood and therefore built igloos to be nomadic and move around to follow their food supply. In Tuk, however, they built sod and wood houses to stay permanently.

Up until October 2017, Tuktoyaktuk was only accessed via ice road in the winter or via a small plane. Now, an all-season road is in place from Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk, making it easier than ever to visit this small northern town. It’s also the first highway in Canada to reach the Arctic ocean.

Fun Fact: On September 3, 1995, Metallica and other popular bands flew into Tuk and made the little town internationally famous. The bands played a concert in Tuk as a publicity event for Molson Brewing Company to promote their new ice-brewed beer. It put Tuk on the map in the world of pop culture.

arctic treeline driving to the arctic

driving the tuktoyaktuk highway

Road to 150 – Road Trip to Tuk

The isolation of a place like Tuktoyaktuk is what makes the journey to get there that much better. Back when we drove across Canada for 150 days, we knew we wanted to dip our toes in all three oceans. Unfortunately, the new highway was not yet opened but thanks to our project, the government granted us permission to make the drive, making us one of the first people EVER to drive the new Tuktoyaktuk highway from Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk. I was so excited to see a place I had never dreamed of visiting. The only downfall of our trip was that we only had four hours in Tuk. We were supposed to be there for two nights but due to all the rainfall and the soft road it has created, the construction crew wanted to bring us back the same day to avoid us potentially getting stuck along the way and/or ruining their highway. Still, we weren’t about to turn down the offer of being one of the first people to drive the new highway and experience a place that most Canadians know nothing about.

We arrived in Tuk in the late morning and immediately began to connect with locals who could help us out. We then jumped on a local tour that took us to some of the popular spots such as the Tuktoyktuk Welcome Sign, and a nearby Pingo, which we were able to climb for beautiful views of the area. For those of you who don’t know what a Pingo is, it’s a mound of Earth-covered ice found only in the Arctic and subarctic regions. Some of them have even been designated a Pingo National Landmark! They remind me of a pimple on the Earth’s surface, except they’re much prettier. After climbing up and snapping some photos, we then went to a locals house to try some traditional food and wear some traditional clothing. Traditional food in Tuk consists of wild game such as caribou and beluga whale. We got to try Muk-Tuk, which is the skin and lard of a beluga whale, often eaten raw. I’m not sure if ours was raw but it was very rubbery and fishy tasting. I didn’t mind it but Karla wasn’t a big fan. The worst part was knowing that we had snorkelled with belugas in Manitoba just a couple of months prior, which was one of the top experiences of our lives. However, this is the way it has been up here for centuries and due to the climate, it’s hard to grow a variety of food.

pingos in tuktoyaktuk northwest territories

Next was an opportunity to wear some winter clothing, which was also really cool to experience. Traditional clothes are often made from caribou hide and goose down, combined with a ruff made from wolverine or wolf fur. Ours was made from wolverine and even had the claws left on it. With Tuktoyaktuk weather dipping down to -70 Celcius with the wind chill, it’s easy to see why they need this type of clothing.

Afterwards, we walked out front and dipped our toes in the Arctic ocean, which was just steps from the home we were visiting. The water coming into the beach area was very shallow, making it easy for a toe-dip but not very easy for a whole-body plunge. So, after the ceremonial toe dip with Karla, we drove to another location near the Great Trail sign where I could easily dunk my whole body in, a goal I’ve had during the entire trip. As cold as it was, it wasn’t nearly as cold as the Atlantic Ocean back in May when I took the plunge there. I believe the water here (in late August) was around 7 degrees Celcius versus the -1 Celcius we had to endure in Newfoundland during the month of May. Talk about refreshing! But hey, now I’ve jumped in all three oceans surrounding Canada! If you’re going all the way up to Tuktoyaktuk, I really think a “polar plunge” is an absolute must-do!

Aside from that, we drove around the town, visited the town hall, looked at the all houses built on stilts (due to the permafrost), and checked out the grocery store to see the outrageous prices on some of the food. Considering the isolation of this place, you can imagine how much the food costs! I saw one bottle of Gatorade for $7! No wonder they still get most of their food from hunting and fishing.

With only four hours in Tuk, this was about the most we could accomplish. We would have loved to sit down with locals and learn more about their culture and listen to their unique stories but I guess that just gives us an excuse to come back. If you’re looking to experience an Arctic fishing village far removed from much of Canada, Tuktoyaktuk northwest territories is a wonderful place to visit. I highly doubt it will ever become a place that attracts “mass tourism”, which makes it a great authentic adventure for those willing to head that far north.

tuktoyaktuk

Things to Do in Tuktoyaktuk

For those of you looking to make the adventurous journey to Tuktoytaktuk, there’s a lot more to the town than just dipping your toes in the Arctic Ocean. To really experience Tuk, as the locals call it, it’s best to stay a night or two, talk to some locals, learn about its history, visit the lone grocery store, and just get a feel for this isolated Northern Canadian town.

Visit the Tuktoyaktuk Welcome Sign

Perhaps the easiest thing to do is to get a photo in front of the “Welcome to Tuktoyaktuk” sign. It makes for a great keepsake.

See the Pingos

Pingo’s are a very unique geological formation. A pingo is a dome-shaped mound consisting of a layer of soil over a large core of ice, occurring in permafrost areas. This natural phenomenon is a sight to see and one of the main attractions in the region. Home to roughly 1,350 pingos, Tuk has one of the highest concentrations of pingos in the world. These pingos can reach up to 230 feet in height and 2,000 feet in diameter! They are pretty impressive to see in the winter or in the summer, with the largest one (Ibyuk Pingo) standing 15-storey’s high.

Ride a Snowmobile Around Town

If you’re visiting Tuk in the winter months, do like a local and drive around on a snowmobile. These are much more popular than cars in the winter months. After all, a snowmobile is the vehicle of choice in the Canadian Arctic. If you can, get on a snowmobile and ride around the town, over the Arctic Ocean, and visit the DEW Line and Pingos.

Meet the Locals and Eat Muktuk

Whether you get the opportunity to meet the elders or anyone else that’s local to the area, take the opportunity to enlighten your experience and worldview. They have stories and a wealth of knowledge that you’ve never heard before. You may even get to try some local food, such as muktuk (Beluga whale skin and fat), Eskimo donuts, smoked beluga, and muskox.

Dip Your Toes in the Arctic

If you make it all the way to Tuk, you’re probably excited to either dip your toes or completely dunk yourself in the Arctic ocean. It’s a popular activity. There are some beaches where you can just walk out in the shallow water, or you can find another spot and go right under. It’s cold, so in some ways, it’s easier to just jump in completely than to walk out from a shallow beach. Maybe you can even do it while visiting the Arctic Ocean sign.

Our Lady of Lourdes Ship

This beautifully restored schooner is sitting off the main street by the Catholic mission. This schooner delivered supplies to far-flung Catholic missions in the Arctic in the 1930s and ’40s, braving storms and shifting ice floes.

Go on an Adventure Tour

Considering the remoteness of such a region, there are a variety of ways to go on an adventurous tour, whether it’s a snowmobile tour to see the caribou migration or a floatplane tour over the Pingos and the MacKenzie River. These are typically quite expensive and are based at certain times in the season, but if you can do it, it will surely become the memory of a lifetime.

Things to Do in NWT

If you’ve made it all the way up to Tuktoyaktuk, you’ve likely passed through Inuvik and perhaps, the Dempster Highway. Between both the Yukon and the Northwest Territories, there are so many incredible things to see and do, ranging from gold panning in Dawson to a boat trip around the Mackenzie Delta in Inuvik.

For more on what to do in the area, check out these articles below:

  • Things to Do in Inuvik
  • Things to Do in the Northwest Territories
  • Tips for Driving the Dempster Highway
  • Things to Do in the Yukon
  • Things to Do in British Columbia
  • Things to Do in Alberta

 

 

So, what do you think? Is Inuvik and Tuktoyaktuk on your bucket list now?

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driving to tuktoyaktuk canada

 

 

About Matthew G. Bailey

Matthew G. Bailey is the founder and editor-in-chief of Must Do Canada. Growing up in Alberta to a mother from Quebec and a father from Newfoundland, Matt spent his childhood playing hockey under the Northern Lights and hanging out in the forest before moving to Calgary and travelling to more than 250 cities spanning 42 countries and 6 continents. He loves travel, learning new things, playing sports, writing, making videos, photography, and scuba diving. You can also find him at LiveLimitless.net.

 

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kelly says

    April 18, 2018 at 10:42 pm

    C’est bon! J’aime!
    Mycket bra!
    Great work and fun

    Reply
    • Patrick Martin says

      May 4, 2020 at 9:10 am

      If I was a young man, I would love to drive from Oregon after my family drove the old Alkan (Gravel) back in the 50s to Alaska. Thanks for the great review and pictures!

      Reply
      • Matthew G. Bailey says

        May 4, 2020 at 4:23 pm

        Oh wow, I’d love to do that “top of the world” highway when we make it back up there one day. It’s certainly more travelled today but still off-the-beaten-track 🙂

        Reply
  2. jerry scott says

    September 29, 2019 at 12:43 pm

    made it to tuk by bicycle in 2017 was also there in 2015 bicycled to Inuvik flew to tuk came back to Inuvik by boat

    Reply
    • Matthew G. Bailey says

      September 29, 2019 at 9:00 pm

      Amazing! We met someone doing it by bike in 2017 as part of a documentary to feature bad issues with Canada and certain people. Was that you?

      Reply
      • jerry scott says

        September 30, 2019 at 12:05 pm

        The north is beautiful, the tuk road itself not so great not for the faint of heart!!! The road was still settling in!! You don’t meet the real Dempster highway until you go thro a couple days of rain and the road turns into a mud bath chewing up bicycle parts and spitting them out!!But the scenery is super , you can see Tuk off in the distance when approaching, looks like 5 kms away but the road circles around and you get there 30 kms later!!

        Reply
        • Matthew G. Bailey says

          October 1, 2019 at 12:23 am

          haha it’s like a mirage in the desert. Seems so close, yet so far…

          Reply
  3. freddy says

    February 26, 2020 at 1:56 pm

    I drove the dalton highway to prudhoe bay in Alasks this past winter and it was amazing, but something about this sounds even better. I plan to do this soon, possibly spring or summer and if not then next winter. I will leave from Seattle. I’m hella excited

    Reply
    • Matthew G. Bailey says

      February 27, 2020 at 1:37 am

      That sounds pretty cool too. The main benefit of fall vs spring would be less bugs and the changing colours. Winter could be challenging but I’ve never done it at that time

      Reply
  4. Nick says

    March 1, 2020 at 7:06 pm

    My wife, youngest daughter (16), and I took a road trip from Niagara to Nova Scotia this past summer and rode our motorcycles on the Cabot Trail in Cape Breton. Amazing trip! This summer we’re going as far south as you can (pelee island… fortunately 3 hrs from here) in 2-3 years time, we’re then taking 4 weeks to do Niagara thru all provinces to tuktoyaktuk then as far west as we can go! Would love a suggested “map” to see our best options in a reasonably straight line to tuk lol. The girls will be flying home from B.C. and I’ll be towing the bikes back.Hope your future travels go as good as your past ones! Nick, Lisa, and Mya

    Reply
    • Matthew G. Bailey says

      March 3, 2020 at 12:39 am

      That’s so awesome. It sounds like an amazing trip. We actually met some Mexicans who had flown their motorcycles to Alaska and then road all the way back to Mexico. That gives us a lot of time to work on the guide. We’ve been thinking of making actual ebook travel guides that could be bought and downloaded on a phone or a tablet. Think you’d be interested in something like that?

      Reply
      • Nick says

        March 8, 2020 at 2:23 pm

        Ya… that sounds great! I’m hoping theres a way we can go on an approx. 30 degree straight line to tuk, but of course we have to stop in Banff and Lake Louise along the way. Not interested in seeing any major cities, but rather old Canadiana. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thx again

        Reply
        • Matthew G. Bailey says

          March 11, 2020 at 12:37 am

          Sounds awesome. Yeah, and even in Northern BC, Liard Hot Springs are awesome. Then Whitehorse and Dawson in the Yukon. You could go to Yellowknife but that would add 10 hours or so to the trip

          Reply
  5. Tony Lee says

    October 7, 2020 at 3:11 am

    We drove to Tuk in a 35 foot class A last year. Not the worst road we have ever been on

    Reply
    • Matthew G. Bailey says

      October 20, 2020 at 9:33 am

      Oh, really? How was the Dempster Highway for such a big rig?

      Reply
  6. Colleen says

    March 24, 2022 at 11:19 am

    I had the pleasure of being employed in Tuktoyaktuk for one year 1982 to 1983. It was strictly fly In and fly out back in the day. The 24 hour darkness for 2 months in Winter and 24 hour sunlight for 2 months in Summer, that was a fantastic experience. We do not realize how much energy the sun gives us. In Summer, co-workers and I would sit around the living room visiting until someone would say, hey it’s 4:00 A.M. we better get to sleep we have work at 8:00 A.M. Wintertime we sometimes just had supper and would relax in our rooms and sleep would not be far off. School was not mandatory there as the children were taught to live off the land by hunting and fishing aka whaling. Being that all foods were flowing in or brought in on ships, the costs were very very expensive. I am grateful that our meals were supplied by our employer, over and above our rate of monthly pay. The employer was Joe Pitborchinski (spelling) and his wife was Betty or Betsy and they had a couple of children. I really hope that everyone had the experiences that I had in that year. Thank you for listening.

    Reply
    • Matthew G. Bailey says

      March 24, 2022 at 1:08 pm

      Wow, that’s a super cool experience. Yes, I can imagine that about the sun. Even in Fort McMurray, my hometown, we had about 4 hours of darkness in the summer, and you can definitely stay up late without realizing it.

      Reply
  7. Lonnie Sinclair says

    July 1, 2022 at 12:56 am

    I think I’m going to head up there next week. I want to stand on the shores of the Beaufort Sea. I hope it’s not busy.

    Reply
  8. Jim McArdle says

    July 24, 2022 at 2:34 pm

    Good job Matt! I was up there in July 2018. I to had a couple of hours in the Hamlet, did the dip and had a meal of Caribou soup and smoked fish. No Muktuk, as none was available until 2 days later. I bought a toque hand crochet by Clara Bates, a local resident, that says Tuktoyaktuk knitted on it plus a carving from a local resident. I want to go back as I also took in the Great Northern Arts Festival in Inuvik at the same time. Mid July.

    Reply
    • Matthew G. Bailey says

      July 24, 2022 at 6:36 pm

      Going there for a festival would be super cool. We definitely want to return as well

      Reply
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