Wood Buffalo Highway

Highlights:

• Travel through Wood Buffalo National Park
• See wildlife, including bison and black bears along the highway
• Scenic Karst area and unusual Salt Plains

Head south from Hay River to historic Fort Smith, 333 kilometres away. The route is partly paved, with several interesting spots to stop. The highway cuts through the northern section of Wood Buffalo National Park, home of a large free roaming bison herd. Relatives of the plains bison, they have interbred with the larger, native Wood Bison. These majestic creatures can often be seen along the road.

A side road, approximately 40 km north of Fort Smith, leads to the Salt Plains an unusual area where salt is carried in springs from under the ground and dries on salt flats. Amazing colours and unusual salt tolerant plants offer good photo opportunities.

Fort Smith is headquarters for the park. Visitor information is available from the town Visitor Centre and the Parks Canada office. There's a museum, a campground and scenic trails beside the Slave River Rapids. Local outfitters offer community tours, hiking along the Slave River with views of the Slave River Rapids, fly-out fishing and air tours of the park.

Fuel available at Hay River and Fort Smith.