Arctic Red River Campground — Tsiigehtchic
Sitting right at the confluence of the Arctic Red River and the Mackenzie River in Tsiigehtchic (formerly Arctic Red River), this campground is a genuine waypoint for anyone running the Dempster north from Fort McPherson toward Inuvik. The ferry here is seasonal — it connects you across the Mackenzie when the river isn’t frozen solid or breaking up — and the campground gives you a place to wait it out if there’s a queue or a weather hold. Flat, simple sites, vault toilets, fire rings. Nothing fancy, and that’s exactly right for this corner of the world.
The crossing operates on demand during open-water season (roughly June through October, ice bridge in deep winter, and nothing during freeze-up and breakup). Cell signal is essentially zero. Fuel is not available here — top up in Fort McPherson before heading north. The campground is managed by the GNWT and is one of the few legit stopping points on this stretch of the highway.
Ferry crossing camp on the Mackenzie.
Place Details
| Type | Established Campground |
|---|---|
| Elevation (ft) | 220 ft |
| Nearest town | Tsiigehtchic, NT |
| Miles from pavement | 0 mi |
| Minimum vehicle | Any vehicle |
| Access road surface | Gravel |
| Cell service | None |
| Cost (USD/night, 0 = free) | Free |
| Reservation required | No |
| Stay limit (nights) | 14 nights |
| Best season | June-October |
| Land manager | Other |
| Permit required | No |
| Amenities | Fire ring, Picnic table, Toilets |
| Coordinates | Open directions |
| Find on Google | Search on Google → |
