# Fort McPherson

Fort McPherson is a small Gwich'in community of about 650 people in the Northwest Territories, Canada. Located along the Dempster Highway, it is the only major settlement between the Yukon-Northwest Territories border and Inuvik.

## Understand

Fort McPherson is home to the Teetł'it Gwich'in First Nation and has a rich history dating back to its establishment as a Hudson’s Bay Company trading post in 1840. The hamlet played a key role in the fur trade and is best known as the final resting place of the "Lost Patrol," a tragic 1910 incident in which an RCMP patrol perished while attempting to cross the Arctic wilderness.

## Get in

Fort McPherson is accessible via the Dempster Highway, which connects to the Klondike Highway near Dawson City, Yukon. The nearest major airport is in Inuvik, from where you can drive south or take a small charter flight to Fort McPherson.

### By car

The Dempster Highway (Yukon Highway 5 / Northwest Territories Highway 8) runs through Fort McPherson. The road is unpaved and conditions can vary, especially in winter, so travellers should be well-prepared. In summertime, free ferries transport cars across Peel and Mackenzie Rivers. In winter, ice roads are constructed to cross the two rivers. You cannot reach it by car during spring break-up and fall freeze-up periods as the water levels are too shallow to ferry to cross or the ice is not thick enough to support the weight of a vehicle. Check DriveNWT for ferries and ice crossings.
In winter, there is a community-maintained ice road connecting Aklavik to Fort McPherson. It follows the winding Peel Channel and Peel River with the Richardson Mountains in the background on the west of this ice road. Whole journey takes about 2.5 hr.

### By plane

67.406944-134.8597221 Fort McPherson Airport (ZFM ) only has scheduled commercial flights by Aklak Air to Inuvik during the spring break-up and fall freeze-up on the Peel and Mackenzie Rivers (usually between May 1-30 and Nov 1-30). Flights from Inuvik are available M–F and take 30 min. Charter flights can be arranged from Inuvik, Yellowknife or Whitehorse.

## Get around

Fort McPherson is a small community, and most destinations are within walking distance. There are no public transportation or taxi services, but rides from locals may be available.
If you drove in from the Dempster, make sure you fill up at Fort McPherson's Co-op gas bar or the Northern gas station. The next available gas stations are Inuvik in the north and Eagle Plains in the south, each of which is almost 3 hours away from Fort McPherson.

## See

* 67.439-134.8851 Lost Patrol Gravesite (St. Matthew’s Anglican Church graveyard). A cemetery at the St. Matthew’s Anglican Church containing the graves of four Mounties who perished in the Arctic winter in 1910. (updated Mar 2025)
* 67.439444-134.8836112 Fort McPherson National Historic Site (in a hamlet just off the Dempster Highway). The site consists notably of the remains of the Hudson’s Bay Company trading post as it was in the 19th and early 20th centuries and of the post of the Royal North-West Mounted Police as well as the existing Anglican and a Roman Catholic missions. Official recognition refers to the boundaries of the community of Fort McPherson as it was mapped in 1898. (updated Mar 2025)

## Do

* Canoeing and fishing – The nearby Peel River offers great opportunities for paddling and catching Arctic grayling, Dolly Varden and northern pike.
* Northern Lights viewing – During the winter months, Fort McPherson is an excellent place to see the aurora.

## Buy

* 67.4376-134.88261 Fort McPherson Tent and Canvas, ☏ +1 867 952-2179. Local handmade canvas products, including tents, bags and embroidery. (updated Mar 2025)
* The Northern Store sells basic groceries and snacks.

## Eat

There are limited dining options in Fort McPherson.
* 67.4283-134.87991 Big Momma's, 317 William TNerysoo Dr, ☏ +1 867 377-2902. Food truck. Burgers and fries. (updated Mar 2025)
* Peel River Inn restaurant. Restaurant co-located with the hotel and Co-op gas station. (updated Mar 2025)

## Drink

Alcohol restrictions apply to Fort McPherson. Visitors may not bring more than 2280 mL of liquor (for one person) or more than 4560 mL of alcohol (in a vehicle with two or more people) into the community.

## Sleep

* 67.4326-134.8821 Peel River Inn. 8 rooms with queen size beds, private bathrooms, kitchenette suites, WiFi and cable TV. Wheelchair accessible. Locally owned. $349/night. (updated Mar 2025)
* Camping in Nitainlii Territorial Park (11 km south of Fort McPherson). The campground has 23 non-powered sites ($30/day) with picnic area, water, firewood, showers and toilets operating from May 19 to September 9.

## Go next

* Drive north on the Dempster Highway to reach Inuvik (2.5 hr), the gateway to the Arctic Ocean.
* Take the community-maintained ice road in winter to Aklavik (2.5 hr).
* Head south to Eagle Plains and Dawson City, Yukon, for historical and cultural experiences.