Comments on: Go north young man.

Question: Go north young man.

Newbornstranger — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 17:49:35 -0800

How far north can I drive in Canada?

A friend and I are looking to go on a northward-bound road trip, looking to see the great white north. We'd be leaving from southern Ontario. What's the northernmost place we could realistically drive to?

After a bit of google mapping, I've discovered Flin Flon Manitoba and also Goose Bay, Newfoundland. Am I missing anything obvious?

By: sunshinesky

sunshinesky — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 17:55:54 -0800

Why not Yellowknife?

By: canoehead

canoehead — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 18:02:34 -0800

You could take the Dempster Highway in the Yukon to Inuvik near the Arctic Ocean

By: GuyZero

GuyZero — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 18:03:32 -0800

You can also drive to Cochrane ON and then take the Polar Bear Express train to Moosonee which is about the same latitude as Flin Flon. It's not driving per se, but you get there.

By: sunshinesky

sunshinesky — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 18:04:52 -0800

Am I missing anything obvious?

I'm still wondering how you seemed to have missed the obvious Territories above the provinces you mentioned.

By: Emanuel

Emanuel — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 18:10:44 -0800

Drive the Dempster Highway from Dawson City, Yukon to Inuvik, Northwest Territories? That's pretty far north (68 degrees). But first you'd have to go a long way west.

By: Flunkie

Flunkie — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 18:28:41 -0800

If you're willing to cross into the USA, you can drive to Deadhorse, Alaska, which is farther north than Inuvik (70 degrees 12 minutes).

By: KokuRyu

KokuRyu — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 18:45:29 -0800

You can drive all the way to Inuvik.

By: Country Dick Montana

Country Dick Montana — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 19:22:47 -0800

You can still drive to Tuktoyuktuk but only in winter. To reach Tuktoyaktuk you must drive on the Ice Road, which is the frozen Mackenzie River plowed to allow for vehicles to drive on it. The drive on this ice road from Inuvik is approximately 150 kms and takes up to 3 hours.

Now THAT is a road trip. take pictures and post!

By: Johnny Assay

Johnny Assay — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 19:58:11 -0800

Another interesting location is Chisasibi, QC, which is the only place you can drive to James Bay from the rest of North America (and the closest you can get to Hudson Bay.) You could even continue along the Route Transtaïga if you were feeling particularly devil-may-care. Here's a pretty detailed website about the James Bay Road and the Transtaiga.

By: avocet

avocet — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 20:27:13 -0800

In Ontario, Pickle Lake is where the paved roads end and the Northern Ontario Resource Trail begins. I really want to see that someday.

By: Songdog

Songdog — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 20:35:16 -0800

From Johnny Assay's James Bay Road link: "It is paved for its entire 620km length, but there is only one gas station." Wow.

The Dempster Highway (up Tuktoyuktuk way) looks like a beautiful drive.

By: Casuistry

Casuistry — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 20:50:55 -0800

I strongly encourage taking me with you. For I would like to see these northern places. Yes.

There are ice roads that go fairly far north in Sask, which I've always wanted to go up. But now Chisasibi looks like a good road trip. Hm, hm.

By: Vindaloo

Vindaloo — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 05:47:52 -0800

Tips from hunters I know who go Caribou hunting:

- Take a 4x4 truck (a real 4x4 truck, not a Ford Escape).
- Take at least 2 extra cannisters of fuel.
- Bring lots of food with you, and some form of water purification system.
- Beware logging trucks, they hog the middle of the road and drive at ridiculous speeds.
- Bring lots of maps, and talk to locals about points of interest or areas to avoid.
- Bring a rifle.

Good luck, this sounds like an awesome road trip!!

By: Jupiter Jones

Jupiter Jones — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 07:38:46 -0800

I've been to Pickle Lake in Ontario. Unless you're going to go camping or fishing, which is awesome around there, you're not missing much.

In 1994 we drove as far north as there are summer roads to drive in Ontario, put in canoes and kept going north. I think the lake where the gravel roads ended was called Windigo Lake. There will definately be winter roads that go further north to service the native reservations up there.

Take survival equipment if you're going north in the winter.

By: chugg

chugg — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 08:53:39 -0800

Take survival equipment if you're going north in the winter.

Absolutely. If your vehicle breaks down in winter you will probably die.

By: ethnomethodologist

ethnomethodologist — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 21:49:58 -0800

If you want to go NORTH by car you have to head west. Pickle Lake?? Is that even as far north as Edmonton?

As noted, Inuvik. West. Not Ontario, for Christ's sake.