Thaidene Nëné National Park Reserve is a gem!

This National Park Reserve, located on the East Arm of Great Slave Lake in the Northwest Territories, was opened in 2019. In 2022, after the COVID-19 restrictions were lifted, my friend John and I based our visit out of the Frontier Lodge, operated by the Łutsël K’é Dene First Nation, right on the edge of the park. Our Dene guides filled us with stories and the riches of the “Land of the Ancestors”.

We drank water directly from the pristine lake, and feasted on the lake trout that we caught every day. Fishing is the thing to do here, but the hiking is great too. While there are no trails, many hills are easy to scramble up. We got some great views of the lake and vast land.  

Sitting quietly in our fishing boat, we admired a herd of muskox grazing amongst the alder, birch, and juniper. Bald eagles watched us from their perches atop the tall, slim jack pines. An otter played in the surf over a shoal. 

Thaidene Nëné National Park Reserve is definitely rich in culture, history, animals, and vistas. Stunning!