Please call 9-1-1 if you see that someone has fallen through the ice or is in distress.
The City of Yellowknife Fire Division strongly recommends that you stay off the ice until it measures 6 inches thick. Please be careful when traveling on the ice, especially in a vehicle or on a machine, and keep these tips in mind:
- Be aware of your surroundings
- Travel with a partner
- Carry dry clothing and an emergency kit including matches, a whistle, and rope
- If travelling in a group (when snowmobiling), spread out when stopped (to spread the weight across the ice sheet)
- Carry a form of communication to call for help if you break through the ice
- Stay off the rivers; flowing water under the ice creates very thin ice even in cold temperatures
- Leave a detailed travel plan with someone, including your destination, route, and an expected return date/time
- If you are unsure of the ice thickness, drill a test hole or stay off the ice
Each year the City partners with the Great Slave Snowmobile Association to conduct ice testing on lakes in proximity to the City. A huge thank you to Great Slave Snowmobile Association Trail Riders for their assistance!
Note: Ice measurements have been completed as all areas tested have reached 6 inches.
| Ice Assessment Thickness | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Body of Water
|
Area
|
Inches
|
Centimeters
|
Distance from shore Meters |
Date
|
|
Back Bay (beside 34 Morrison Drive) |
NE |
9" | 23 | 210 | Nov 22/25 |
|
Back Bay (Wardair Dock) |
NE |
10" | 25 | 210 | Nov 22/25 |
|
Dettah Ice Road (School Draw) |
NE |
6" | 15 | 270 | Nov 22/25 |
|
Niven Lake |
NE |
10" | 25 | middle | Nov 22/25 |
|
Yellowknife Bay (Boat Launch) |
NE |
9" | 23 | 180 | Nov 22/25 |
|
Yellowknife Bay (by Air Tindi) |
NE |
6" | 15 | 210 | Nov 22/25 |
|
Government Dock |
NE |
8" | 20 | middle | Nov 29/25 |
|
Fault Lake |
NW |
10" | 25 | middle | Nov 22/25 |
|
Long Lake Plane Launch |
NW |
10" | 25 | 210 | Nov 22/25 |
|
Long Lake Boat Launch |
NW |
10" | 25 | 210 | Nov 22/25 |
|
Stock Lake (Jackfish) bottom of sliding hill |
NW |
7" | 18 | 240 | Nov 22/25 |
|
Frame Lake (by City Hall) |
S |
10" | 25 | 100 | Nov 22/25 |
|
Frame Lake (by Co-op) |
S |
10" | 25 | 100 | Nov 22/25 |
|
Kam Lake (by City Garage) |
S |
10" | 25 | 100 | Nov 22/25 |
|
Kam Lake (off Curry Drive) |
S |
10" | 25 | 250 | Nov 22/25 |
|
Grace Lake (off 180 Kam Lake Road) |
S |
6" | 15 | 250 | Nov 22/25 |
|
Grace Lake (below 209 Grace Lake Road) |
S |
8" | 20 | 150 | Nov 29/25 |
|
Pond behind Kasteel Drive |
S |
10" | 25 | middle | Nov 22/25 |
|
Range Lake (behind Circle K) |
S |
10" | 25 | 100 | Nov 22/25 |
|
Range Lake (by Parker Field) |
S |
11" | 28 | 200 | Nov 29/25 |
|
Rat Lake |
S |
10" | 25 | middle | Nov 22/25 |