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Adventure for every explorer

Prelude Lake Territorial Park

General Information

Prelude Lake Territorial Park is a water lover’s dream. The largest developed park on the Ingraham Trail, it has numerous facilities to enjoy and campsites to choose from. Enjoy a range of water activities from the sandy beach, including swimming, canoeing, wind surfing, and water skiing. The park’s trail system offers a short stroll to a panoramic view or a longer, interpretive hike.

Park Size

99.12 ha

Operating Date

May 15 – September 15. Road Access to Prelude Lake year-round.

Address

Prelude Lake Territorial Park is located 34 km from the City of Yellowknife, on NWT Highway 4, also known as the Ingraham Trail. The park is accessible 28km from the junction of NWT Highways 3 and 4.

Phone

867-767-9206

Email

parks@gov.nt.ca

On this page

Amenities

Accessible
Beach
Boat Launch
Campsites
Drinking Water
Dump Station
Firewood
Interpretive Displays
Picnic / Day Use Area
Picnic Shelter
Playground
Showers
Washrooms

Nearest community

City of Yellowknife. The only city in the Northwest Territories, Yellowknife has the charm and friendliness of a small town mixed with the amenities of a busy city.

Park Highlights

A popular vacation spot for Yellowknife residents, Prelude Lake Territorial Park is the largest developed park on the Ingraham Trail. The lake, about 16 km long, stretches east and west and forms part of the Cameron River system. There are several islands, and many pleasant places to fish for trout and pike as well as a sandy beach for swimming, a dock, and a boat launch.

If you're in the mood for a hike, choose between the Panoramic Trail or the Nature Trail. The Panoramic Trail offers an easy, well-marked half-kilometre walk, much of it on boardwalks, to two lookout points that provide splendid views of Prelude Lake. The Panorammic Trail is accessed from either the boat launch parking area near the beach or from the parking lot located between the boat launch and the campsites. The Nature Trail forms a loop, passing through several natural zones that vary from loose sand to bedrock to muskeg and swamp, with an equally varied array of inhabitants. The “Nature trail” is accessed by a parking lot beside Loop D. Follow a series of informative signs along the way, with pictures of some of the creatures that you may see, including squirrels, ruffed grouse, whiskey jacks, snowshoe hares, and crossbills.

Advisories

Information

Extended Stay Campsites 2025

Prelude and Reid Lake Parks Extended Stay Campsite Draw is on Saturday, February 22 in Yellowknife. Find out more here!
Information

2025 Camping Reservations

Discover when you can start reserving campsites online! Find information on campground operating dates and the availability of extended stay campsites.

Camping

  • 67 non-powered campsites that can accommodate a variety of equipment types
  • 12 walk-in tent sites

Activities

Camping
Canoeing
Fishing
Hiking
Scenic Lookout
Swimming
Trails
Water Sports

Special Notes

Accessibility
The shower building and the Loop D outhouse are wheelchair accessible.

Nearby Attractions
Make the short stroll from downtown Yellowknife to the Old Town, billed as Canada's Weirdest Neighbourhood. A mish-mash of mansions, houseboats, and historic shacks are home to shops, galleries, restaurants, and festivals.

Safety information
For general information about safety resources while in the Northwest Territories, check our Safety resources page.

Weather 
See current weather conditions and forecasts from Environment Canada.