Tibbitt to Contwoyto Winter Road — Yellowknife to Contwoyto Lake Diamond Mine Route
The world's longest ice road. For real.
The Tibbitt to Contwoyto Winter Road is the real deal — roughly 85 percent of it runs directly over frozen lake ice, making it the longest ice road on the planet by surface coverage. Built each winter by a consortium of diamond mining companies, it stretches from Tibbitt Lake east of Yellowknife all the way to the Contwoyto Lake area near the Nunavut border, supplying Diavik, Ekati, and other mines with the fuel and equipment they can’t get any other way. Driving it means watching the ice flex visibly under your tires at certain speeds, crossing lake crossings where the road crews post weight limits in tonnes, and pushing through whiteout conditions with nothing but GPS and orange survey stakes between you and open water. The Lupin and Jericho mine camps are ghost infrastructure along the route now, which adds a haunting quality to an already otherworldly landscape.
This road is not a recreational joyride — access for non-commercial vehicles is heavily restricted during operational season (roughly late January through late March) and requires mining company authorization or specific permissions. Outside of operational season the ice is unsafe. When it runs, minimum vehicle is a well-maintained 4WD truck with cold-weather gear, satellite communication, spare fuel, and survival kit. Temperatures routinely hit -40°C. No dispersed camping, no cell service, no margin for mechanical failure. What you get is one of the most surreal drives on earth — flat white wilderness, creaking ice, and the weird silence of the Barren Lands stretching to every horizon.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Expert |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Overland Route |
| Surface | Mixed |
| Features | Historic, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 373 mi / 600 km |
| Duration | 2-3 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 1200 ft |
| Best season | Late January–Late March |
| Minimum vehicle | 4WD truck with cold-weather survival kit |
| Nearest town | Yellowknife, NWT |
| Land manager | Nuna Logistics / Arctic Canadian Diamond Company |
| Permit required | Yes |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | No |
| Dispersed camping | No |
| Official sources | nunalogistics.com |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
| Copy both for Google Maps directionsClick to copy the directions URL · or open it directly in a new tab | |
| Find on Google | Search on Google → |
Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can I drive my personal 4x4 truck on this road?
No. The Tibbitt to Contwoyto Winter Road is a private industrial haul road operated by Nuna Logistics for diamond mine supply operations. Private recreational vehicles are not permitted — this is not a public overland route you can just show up and drive.
When exactly is the road open each season?
Typically late January through late March, depending on ice thickness. The road requires a minimum ice thickness to support heavy truck loads, so opening and closing dates shift year to year based on weather conditions.
Do I need a permit to access this road?
Yes, and getting one as a non-commercial driver is extremely difficult. Access is controlled by Nuna Logistics and the mining operations — you'll need authorization from them directly, and they prioritize industrial haul traffic.
What makes this route genuinely dangerous compared to other winter roads?
You're driving on lake ice over open water for the majority of the 600 km, in temperatures that can drop to -40°C or colder, with zero cell service, no towns, no fuel stops, and no rescue services nearby. A breakdown or vehicle submersion in those conditions is a survival emergency, not an inconvenience.
Where do you fuel up on a 600 km route with no towns?
There are no public fuel stops along the route. Industrial operators carry everything they need. Any authorized traveler must have enough fuel range to complete the full stretch or arrange supply through the mining operations — do not attempt this road without a full tank and significant reserve capacity.
Trail track
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