Tibbitt to Contwoyto Winter Road — Yellowknife to Ekati Diamond Mine via the Arctic Ice Road (South Segment, Winter Only)
71 frozen lakes. No road. Just ice.
Every winter, when temperatures drop below -30°C and the lakes freeze thick enough to carry loaded semi-trucks, the Tibbitt to Contwoyto Winter Road opens across 71 lakes north of Yellowknife into the Northwest Territories and Nunavut Barren Lands. Built and maintained by a mining consortium, this is less a road than a seasonal engineering feat — the surface is scraped, monitored, and rated by ice thickness daily. The south segment runs from Tibbitt Lake, the road’s start 70 km northeast of Yellowknife, north through Lac de Gras to the Ekati Diamond Mine at kilometre 400. Key waypoints include the Narrows crossing on Tibbitt Lake and the long exposed run across Lac de Gras, where wind scour and pressure ridges can destroy a vehicle that isn’t moving with purpose.
This route is not a recreational trail — it is a regulated industrial haul road. Private vehicles are permitted during specific windows but must register, carry survival gear, maintain minimum speeds on ice, and never stop on lake sections. A minimum of a heavily equipped truck or SUV with full cold-weather survival kit, satellite communicator, and extra fuel is mandatory. The road typically opens late January and closes by mid-March. There is no cell service, no services, and temperatures that will kill you fast. What you get is one of the most remote, raw drives on the planet — frozen wilderness stretching flat to the horizon in every direction, Northern Lights overhead, and the unsettling sound of ice groaning beneath your tires.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Extreme |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Overland Route |
| Surface | Ice |
| Features | High Altitude, Historic, Remote |
| Length (miles) | 250 mi / 402 km |
| Duration | 1-2 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 1350 ft |
| Best season | Late January–Mid March |
| Minimum vehicle | 4WD truck with full Arctic survival kit |
| Nearest town | Yellowknife, Northwest Territories |
| Land manager | Nuna Logistics / Government of Northwest Territories |
| Permit required | Yes |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | No |
| Dispersed camping | No |
| Official sources | Nuna Logistics Winter Road GNWT Winter Roads |
| Verified | |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
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Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock 4WD pickup handle this ice road, or does it need modifications?
A stock 4WD truck can physically drive it, but 'stock' is irrelevant if you're not equipped for Arctic survival — you need cold-weather tires rated for extreme temps, a block heater, extra fuel (no services for 250 miles), and a full survival kit including sleeping bags rated to -40°C, food, fire-starting gear, and a satellite communicator. The ice doesn't care about your lift kit; it cares whether you freeze to death if you break down.
When exactly is the Tibbitt to Contwoyto Winter Road open, and how long is the season?
The road typically opens late January and closes mid-March, giving a roughly 6–10 week window depending on ice thickness and spring temps. Opening and closing dates vary year to year — check Nuna Logistics (nunalogistics.com) for the official status before you go anywhere near it.
Do you need a permit to drive this road, and is it open to the public?
Yes, a permit is required and this is primarily an industrial haul road — it exists to supply diamond mines, not tourists. Public vehicle access is restricted and must be coordinated through Nuna Logistics, the road operator. Do not show up and expect to just drive it; contact them well in advance.
What's the most dangerous section and what actually makes it hard?
The danger isn't one hard section — it's 71 consecutive lake crossings where the road IS the ice, full stop. Pressure cracks, overflow (water pushed up through cracks onto the surface), and rapidly changing ice conditions are constant threats. Heavy truck traffic from mine supply convoys also creates wave action under the ice that can weaken it unpredictably, and if you go through, there is no rescue coming fast.
Is there anywhere to refuel or get help between Yellowknife and the Ekati Mine?
No fuel, no services, no cell service for the entire 250-mile run. You need to carry enough fuel to complete the route and enough emergency supplies to survive multiple nights in Arctic conditions if something goes wrong. A satellite messenger (Garmin inReach or equivalent) is not optional here.
Trail track
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