Old Town & Bush Pilots Monument
Old Town / Bush Pilots Monument
The birthplace of Yellowknife, its old town. Climbing to the Bush Pilots' Monument on the rock gives 360-degree views over Great Slave Lake, the houseboats and the old-town log cabins.
Yellowknife grew during the gold rush of the 1930s. Its earliest settlement stood on this rocky peninsula at the edge of Great Slave Lake. The old town keeps its colourful wooden cabins, seaplane docks and several popular restaurants. At Bullocks' Bistro, the fried lake fish (lake whitefish and pike) is a must for visitors. On The Rock, the highest point of the old town, stands the Bush Pilots' Monument, honouring the bush pilots who opened northern aviation. The wooden steps to the top take only a few minutes to climb, and from there you can see Yellowknife Bay, the houseboat fleet, the new-town skyline and the lake beyond. The old town also has art shops and quirky street names such as Ragged Ass Road, whose street signs are often taken by tourists. It is about 20 to 25 minutes' walk from downtown, or 5 minutes by taxi. In winter the steps ice over, so wear non-slip shoes.
Opening hours
Open all day
Nearby sights
- Wildcat Cafe
- Bullocks Bistro
- Ragged Ass Road
- Great Slave Lake (Yellowknife Bay)
- Snowking Winter Festival Snowcastle
- Twin Pine Hill Trail
- Tin Can Hill
- Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre