Discover Fort Smith

Fort Smith can be explored along a variety of trails and through its history: the Thebacha Trail runs for 5 km through the town, while the Trans-Canada Trail covers more than 30 km from Fort Fitzgerald to the town centre. There are also hiking trails at the Slave River rapids and places that focus on the culture, history and natural environment of the Thebacha region. This gives you the choice of outdoor activity, cultural discovery or a combination of both during your stay.

Trails of different lengths and destinations

The 5 km Thebacha Trail runs through Fort Smith, from Queen Elizabeth Campground to Axe Handle Hill. Its length and the two named endpoints offer a clear guide when choosing a route. If you’d like to include a longer trail in your plans, consider the Trans-Canada Trail: it covers more than 30 km from Fort Fitzgerald to downtown Fort Smith on the south bank of the Slave River. At over 30 km, it is considerably longer than the Thebacha Trail; the distances make it easy to compare these options based on how far you’d like to travel.

A shorter hiking option is Rapids of the Drowned. This 2–3 km trail is in the town centre and leads to a rocky outcrop beside the rapids. From May to September, it is considered a particularly good place to see American white pelicans up close. If pelicans and the rapids are among your travel interests, this trail offers a distinct focus. The Mountain Portage Loop is another option for views of the rapids and the American white pelican nesting area.

The four rapids sections of the Slave River can be reached on foot, by bicycle, on skis and on snowshoes. These options offer different ways to experience the landscape and apply to all four sections. The Mountain Portage Loop stands out for its views of the rapids and nesting area, while Rapids of the Drowned focuses on the short walk to the rocky outcrop and the chance to see pelicans up close. This lets you choose a trail based on the experience you want, without treating their distances or destinations as interchangeable.

Culture and history in Fort Smith

Fort Smith Mission Historic Park is a 1.8-hectare territorial park in the Northwest Territories, located in the town centre. It sits on part of the original Roman Catholic mission grounds. The park is also home to the only surviving official Catholic bishop’s residence in the Northwest Territories. This distinctive combination of historic mission grounds and a bishop’s residence makes the park a unique place to visit if you’re interested in the town’s history.

The Northern Life Museum & Cultural Centre explores the culture, history and natural environment of the Thebacha region. The museum offers guided tours and educational programs. For families looking to accommodate different interests, this offers a different way to experience Fort Smith than the trails by the rapids: the focus here is on regional topics and how they are presented. When planning your trip, you can decide whether to focus on nature and trails, culture and history, or a mix of both.

Choose the right focus for your stay

When looking for a vacation rental in Fort Smith, it’s worth first deciding which experiences you’d like to shape your stay. If you mainly want to compare trails, you can choose from the 5 km Thebacha Trail, the 2–3 km Rapids of the Drowned trail and the 30 km Trans-Canada Trail, each with different lengths and destinations. For a focus on culture and history, the Mission Historic Park and the Northern Life Museum & Cultural Centre offer different points of interest.

Other destinations: Camlaren, Yellowknife, Hay River, Fort Liard, Fort Providence.

For the broader travel overview: Fort Smith Region.