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Ingraham Trail, Yellowknife, Northwest Territories
Photo: Alan Sim · CC BY-SA 3.0 · cropped

Drives Northwest Territories The Yukon and the Northwest Territories

Ingraham Trail

Ingraham Trail, Highway 4, Detah Road · Yellowknife → Reid Lake

Leisurely37 mi1 hr 5 min2,100 ft climbHigh point ≈ 700 ftOne way
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The drive

The Ingraham Trail, NWT Highway 4, runs about 36.6 miles east of Yellowknife along a chain of lakes and the Cameron River. The drive takes about 1 hr 6 min, with 2,120 feet of climb and a high point of 742 feet. It starts in Yellowknife city streets before joining Highway 3 and the trail.

Prelude Lake and Hidden Lake territorial parks are along the way, and Cameron Falls is reached on a short trail from Hidden Lake picnic area. The road is chipsealed to Reid Lake, where this drive ends. The remaining 10 km to Tibbitt Lake is gravel.

The road is open year round.

Along the way

  1. Yellowknife (Highway 3)
  2. Reid Lake
Elevation
2,100 ft of climbing · high point ≈ 700 ft
YellowknifeReid Lake
Curves
Mostly gentle curves
YellowknifeReid Lake
GentleHairpins

Good to know

  • Heavy truck traffic uses the first section in winter ice-road season.
  • The gravel stretch to Tibbitt Lake beyond Reid Lake is not part of this drive.

Open all year, weather permitting. Roads close for snow, fire, storms and repairs: before you set off, check NWT Highway conditions.

Questions about this drive

How long does the Ingraham Trail take?

Yellowknife to Reid Lake is 36.6 miles and takes about 1 hr 6 min.

Is the Ingraham Trail paved?

It is paved and chipsealed to Reid Lake. The last stretch to Tibbitt Lake is gravel.

What can you see on the Ingraham Trail?

Prelude Lake, Cameron Falls, Hidden Lake and Reid Lake.

What you get in the app

Turn by turn, on this roadSpoken directions along the exact route. Carve never reroutes you onto a faster one.
Preview it in 3DFly the whole drive over satellite and terrain before you go.
Drive it with no signalAPEXDownload the map and every turn before you go.
Live Group TrackingAPEXEveryone on the route, on the map, by name.
Road conditionsAPEXWet or dry, ice, fog and wind along the road before you go.
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Distance, time, elevation, curves and intensity are from Carve's route. Checked 2026-10-28.

Map of Ingraham Trail, from Yellowknife to Reid Lake