At the end of the Dempster Highway is the town of Inuvik, the governmental center for the western Arctic. Be sure to see the town's igloo-shaped church and Chuk Territorial Park, which offers a view of the delta of the Mackenzie River. Restaurants in town serve dishes suitable to the far north: caribou, musk ox and arctic char.

Inuvik is the jumping-off point for adventure in the western Arctic: Planes provide transportation to many outlying destinations, including Aulavik National Park, Tuktut Nogait National Park and Ivvavik National Park. You can also take a plane or boat to visit the community of Aklavik, across the Mackenzie River Delta. Aklavik was the hub of the area until the 1950s, when it was feared that the town might collapse because of thawing permafrost. (Inuvik was built to replace it.) A small community remains there, and you can visit some log buildings harking back to the days of rugged trappers and hunters. Other destinations that can be reached from Inuvik include Sachs Harbour and Paulatuk, both of which give the traveler a real taste of traditional Inuit life. Inuvik is 650 mi/1,050 km northwest of Yellowknife.

The capital of the Northwest Territories and the largest town, Yellowknife sits on the northern shore of Great Slave Lake. For an informative overview of the area, stop at the Northern Frontier Regional Visitors Centre, where you can take a simulated bush plane ride.

Plan to see the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre (history museum), the Legislative Assembly building, the Northern Images Inuit Art Gallery (original paintings and prints from northern artists) and the Bush Pilot's Monument (with a nice view of the town and the lake).

Take a day to follow the Ingraham Trail, which leads east from Yellowknife. On it you'll find Prelude Lake Park and Reid Lake Park, both popular for canoeing and fishing.

Annual festivals and events scheduled in Yellowknife include the biennial Arctic Winter Games (March), the annual Canadian Championship Dog Derby (a three-day race on Great Slave Lake—March), Festival of the Midnight Sun (July), Folk on the Rocks (Inuit and Dene performers and folk artists from southern Canada—July) and the Dead North Film Festival (November).