Reservation and Park Rules

Reservations

There are 20 campgrounds across the Northwest Territories that offer campsite reservations. Reservations for the upcoming season can be made beginning in April. NWT Parks do fill up during the summer months. To ensure your campsite, reservations are always recommended.
Reservations can be made online via our website or by calling (888) 822-2647. 

First Come First Serve Parks

There are five NWT Parks campgrounds that are not available for reservations online. Campsites are available on a first come first serve basis upon arrival to the parks (campsites are generally available). 

  • Nataiinlaii Territorial Park
  • Vadzaih Van Tshik Campground (Gwich'in Territorial Park)
  • Gwich'in Territorial Park Campground
  • Little Buffalo Falls Territorial Park
  • MacKinnon Territorial Park 

 

Reservation fees

A non-refundable reservation fee of $6.00 is required for all reservations and is charged at the time of the reservation. This fee offsets the cost of providing the NWT Parks reservation system, including call centre agents, online reservations, and more.

Reservation Rules 

There are a few important details about making your reservation:

  • Campsite reservations with in 24 hours of arrival cannot be reserved online. Contact the park directly to book within 24 hours of the arrival date.
  • Picnic Shelter reservations within 48 hours of arrival cannot be reserved online. Contact the park directly to book within 48 hours of the arrival date.
  • Reservations must be made in the name of the person who will occupy the campsite. 
  • The maximum number of reservations that can be booked at one time is six. 
  • Check-in time is after 2:00 p.m.
  • Check-out time is at 12:00 p.m. (noon).

 

Maximum Stay Rule

Some NWT Parks have a maximum stay allowance. Visitors are not permitted to camp more than 14-days within a thirty-day period during peak season (June 15 to August 15) at:

  • North Arm Territorial Park
  • Fred Henne Territorial Park

This 14-day rule is subject to change without prior notification. When you are reserving a site at the above-noted NWT Parks, the system will notify you if your reservation exceeds the allowable limit. Reservation holders in excess of the booking limit risk their reservations being cancelled.

Late Arrivals

Reservations will be held until 1:00 pm the day following the scheduled arrival date. If the reservation holder does not arrive by this time and notice of a late arrival is not provided, the reservation will be cancelled, and the site will be released. Arrangements for late arrivals can be made by contacting the park directly.

Reservation Changes and Cancellations

Reservation changes (including extending, reducing, or cancelling a reservation) can be made online via our website by logging into your account and selecting My Reservations. 

Or by phone:

Canada: (888) 822-2647 or International : (867) 322-0253
8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. MST time March 25 – September

Cancellation fees may apply. Please review NWT Parks refund policy.

For additional support managing reservations, please see our FAQ page. 

Transferring (Reselling) Reservations for profit

Reservation holders are not permitted to resell any reservation for profit. Anyone attempting to sell a reservation for profit, for example, listing a reservation on social media or buy and sell websites for re-sale for profit, may have their reservation cancelled and all applicable fees will apply.

Park Rules

Camping 

  • The minimum age is 16 to obtain a daily campsite permit. All permits are non-transferable.
  • The maximum number of people staying overnight at a campsite may not exceed six persons without permission from a Parks Officer.
  • Quiet hours are from 10:30 pm to 7:00 am. Guests are not permitted during quite hours.
  • Only one recreational vehicle is permitted per campsite. All equipment, e.g. tents, campers, trailers (including boat and ATV trailers) or vehicles, must be on the site pad and not on the roadside or in the trees.
  • Sites are not to be altered in any fashion (e.g. by extending site pads, moving fire rings or other fixture, building of fire pits or any construction activity).
  • Wood cannot be collected within the park. This includes removal of branches from trees, cutting branches from trees, cutting down trees or shrubs, and collecting deadwood from in the park.
  • Pets must always be leashed and are not permitted in the following places: a beach area, a shower washroom or change house, an area designated in sign as a children’s play area or picnic shelter, concession area or other public building or structure.
  • Pet owners must clean up waste left by their pets and dispose of it in a receptacle provided.
  • ATV permits are required for use within designated parks, including all parks with campgrounds. ATVs must be insured and registered. Off-road ATV use is not permitted. 
  • Fires are restricted to areas provided or designated for that purpose. Fires must not be more than 0.5m in diameter and 0.5m in height and must not be left unattended unless extinguished.
  • The campsite must be left in a satisfactory state. All garbage, sewage, bottles, cans, paper, plastic containers, other litter, waste or obnoxious materials must be properly disposed of in a receptacle provided for that purpose or removed from the park.

Day Use

  • Day Use is permitted from 7:00 am to 10:30 pm daily.
  • All permits are non-transferable.
  • Sites are not to be altered in any fashion (e.g. by extending site pads, moving fire rings or other fixture, building of fire pits or any construction activity).
  • Wood cannot be collected within the park. This includes removal of branches from trees, cutting branches from trees, cutting down trees or shrubs, and collecting deadwood from in the park. 
  • Pets must be leashed at all times and are not permitted in the following places: a beach area, a shower washroom or change house, an area designated in sign as a children’s play area or picnic shelter, concession area or other public building or structure. Pet owners must clean up all waste left by their pets and dispose of it in a receptacle provided for that purpose.
  • ATV permits are required for use within designated parks, including all parks with campgrounds. They must be insured and registered and off-road use is not permitted. 
  • Parking on roadways is not permitted.
  • Fires are restricted to areas provided or designated for that purpose. Fires must not be more than 0.5m in diameter and 0.5m in height and must not be left unattended unless extinguished.

Picnic Shelter Use

  • The minimum age is 18 to obtain a picnic shelter permit.
  • The shelter is for use by the permit holder and guests only.
  • Reservations and permits are non-transferable and not for resale.
  • The maximum occupancy on the permit may not be exceeded.
  • Users are permitted access only on the arrival date and time listed on the permit.
  • Obey quiet hours where posted. Quiet hours are from 10:30 pm to 7:00 am.
  • The Picnic Shelter and outdoor area are not to be altered in any fashion (e.g., by extending site pads, moving fire rings or other fixtures, building of fire pits or any construction activity).
  • Pets, other than service dogs, are not permitted in the picnic shelter or any other public building or structure in the Park. Pets must always be leashed.
  • All vehicles will require a permit for entrance to the park. Shelter parking space is limited. Vehicles exceeding the designated parking spaces are required to park in day use parking areas. Parking on roadways is not permitted.
  • Fires are restricted to areas provided for that purpose. Fires must not be more than 0.5m in diameter and 0.5m in height and must not be unattended unless extinguished. The burning of construction materials i.e. wood pallets is not permitted.  
  • Subject to the Forest Management Act and the Territorial Parks Regulations, wood cannot be collected within the park. This includes removal of branches from trees, cutting branches from trees, cutting down trees or shrubs, and collecting deadwood from in the park.
  • The picnic shelter must be left in a satisfactory state at the end of the permit holder’s stay. All garbage, sewage, bottles, cans, other litter, waste, or obnoxious materials must be properly disposed of in a receptacle provided for that purpose or removed from the park.
  • Full pre-payment of all fees and reservation charges is required for all reservations.
  • Alcohol is permitted at picnic shelters, unless otherwise posted, providing use is in accordance with NWT liquor laws. Depending on the nature of the event, liquor permits may be required. It is the responsibility of the reservation holder to ensure they follow all NWT liquor laws. Those in non-compliance risk their reservations being cancelled.
  • Signing out keys requires a refundable $100 deposit. Lost keys are the responsibility of the individual to whom they are signed out. Lost or overdue keys will result in a withheld key deposit.

ATV Use  (at participating parks):

  • The operator shall be at least 14 years of age.
  • The operator shall;
    • hold a valid driver's licence issued under the Motor Vehicles Act or under the laws of another jurisdiction; or
    • be under the immediate supervision of the holder of a valid driver’s licence.
  • An operator is under immediate supervision when, at all times,
    • the operator is able to see the supervisor;
    • the supervisor is able to see the operator; and
    • the supervisor is able to provide immediate verbal or visual direction to the operator.
  • The operator shall wear a helmet while operating the special all-terrain vehicle.
  • The operator shall operate the special all-terrain vehicle with due care and attention and shall not drive recklessly.
  • The operator shall not operate the special all-terrain vehicle between 10:30 p.m. and 7:30 a.m.
  • The operator shall only operate the special all-terrain vehicle on a park road.
  • The special all-terrain vehicle must be covered by a motor vehicle liability policy that complies with the Insurance Act.
  • A special all-terrain vehicle permit is required for the operation of a special all-terrain vehicle in any designated Territorial Park.

For general information about visiting a territorial park, please contact us.