Nahanni Range Road — Fort Liard to Tungsten via Netla River Country

Built to service the Cantung tungsten mine in the 1960s, the Nahanni Range Road leaves Fort Liard and climbs hard into the Mackenzie Mountains, crossing the Liard River tributaries and threading through the Nahanni Range before arriving at the abandoned community of Tungsten, Northwest Territories — not to be confused with the BC Cantung mine access from Watson Lake. This NWT version follows the Flat River drainage corridor through spruce flats and increasingly dramatic limestone peaks. The Netla River crossing is the road’s defining moment — unbridged, typically knee-to-thigh deep in July, with a soft riverbed that will swallow the hesitant. Sheep and grizzly are common in the upper sections.

This is genuine expedition territory. High clearance and 4WD are non-negotiable; a locker rear or front is strongly recommended for the upper switchbacks and the Netla crossing. Carry a minimum of two full spare tires — the road surface is sharp shale in sections. Fuel range must cover the full 372-kilometre return from Fort Liard; no services exist beyond town. Best window is mid-July through August after snowmelt subsides. Satellite communicator is mandatory. You will not see another vehicle for hours, possibly days.