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Blachford Lake Lodge

Blachford Lake Lodge

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        • What to Bring: Winter
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        • Snowmobiling Canada’s Northern Wilderness
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    • Autumn Aurora Packages
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Getting Here

Getting to Blachford is part of the experience!
We love the scenic bush plane flight to our wilderness lodge, but first you have to get to Yellowknife.

Getting to Yellowknife

Our lodge is the only fly-in wilderness resort situated on Blachford Lake, which is a remote 17 kilometre (12 mile) lake.  The lodge is a 25-minute bush plane flight from Yellowknife, the capital of the Northwest Territories and is located north of the East Arm of Great Slave Lake.  Yellowknife is easily accessible with daily jet service from most major U.S. and Canadian cities, and same-day connections through Calgary and Edmonton, Alberta.  Currently, the airlines flying into Yellowknife from major southern centres are: Canadian North, Air Canada, West Jet 

Connecting to Blachford/Lodge Flights

When booking your flights in/out of Yellowknife please ensure that you arrive into Yellowknife prior to 09:00am on your day of departure to the lodge. Flights from Yellowknife to the lodge depart at 10:00am. Flights from the lodge to Yellowknife will have you back in the city around 11:30am. Flight times are not set In stone and may change. Please check with us prior to booking your departing flight from Yellowknife (we do not recommend anything earlier than 13:45pm departing Yellowknife). 

Our flight schedule is as follows:

Sundays, Wednesdays               Yellowknife/Blachford          10:00     10:30

Sundays, Wednesdays              Blachford/Yellowknife          11:00     11:30

History of Bush Flights

Boarding a float plane for a flight to Blachford is like taking a step back into history. Bush planes and bush pilots have been flying in this area for over 80 years. There are no roads to Blachford. Flying is still the fastest and most scenic way to get around in this part of the country. You board a Twin Otter or Caravan aircraft at the historic Old Town docks in Yellowknife. You take off on Yellowknife Bay, and head cross-country to Blachford Lake, located near the East Arm of Great Slave Lake.

Your flight will take approximately 30 minutes from the time you take off in Yellowknife, to landing on Blachford Lake. Along the way you can see the vast shore of Yellowknife Bay on your right and a series of fingerlike lakes on the left – Jennejohn, Harding, Hearne, Watta and finally Blachford. See how the glaciers carved the landscape. Here and there, you can spot a small camp, a river, rapids, or a waterfall. As you travel, at about 5000 feet, you get a birds eye view of the land. Watch for moose, and bear.

The Dene, the Aboriginal people of this area, lived and hunted here for millennia. Imagine the effort it took to explore on foot in summer. In winter the frozen lakes and rivers made travel by snowmobilling possible. In the 1930s and 1940s, prospectors combed this area looking for gold. Instead they found magical wilderness, and wonderful fishing lakes with protected bays, just like your destination, Blachford Lake. You land on Blachford Lake, summer and winter, just below the main lodge.

Waiver

To complete your booking, all guests travelling must complete a liability waiver.
We require this waiver to be signed and completed upon booking.

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FAQ

 

Q: What is my baggage allowance? 


A: 
Each guest is allowed one large bag (up to 40 lbs), and one smaller "carry on style" bag (around 8 lbs).

 

Q: Do I require insurance to visit?


A: 
While it is not exactly mandatory, we 100% recommend that all guests have emergency medical insurance while visiting us. Please remember you're travelling into the true wilderness!

 

Q: Can you prepare vegetarian or special dietary meals?


A: Definitely. Please, advise us of your special needs prior to your arrival.

 

Q: When and from where will my charter flight depart?


A: 
We will inform you via email approximately 4 weeks prior to your scheduled departure. There are a number of factors that will determine where you depart from, so thank you for your patience!

 

Q: How big is the aircraft that goes to the lodge?


A: 
Typically, you will fly on a Twin Otter. At times, you may however, have the opportunity to fly on a Cessna, Beaver, or Caravan. All are considered "bush planes". They are all very safe, and flown by experienced pilots. If you're feeling a bit nervous, feel free to bring your own water bottle or ginger tablets with you.

 
Q: Is it guaranteed I will see Aurora, or catch the biggest fish?

A: 
Sorry, we can't guarantee anything... but we will try our best! The NWT is scientifically the best place in the world for Aurora viewing, so you've picked the right place. The science behind the Aurora says that if you stay for 3 nights minimum, you have around a 90% chance of getting a special lights show.

 

Q: How crowded does Blachford Lake get in the busy season?


A: We are the only lodge on 17 km long Blachford Lake. There is no road access here, so you are unlikely to meet anyone other than your fellow lodge guests during your stay. The peace and quiet will be one of your best memories of your Blachford trip.

 
Q: Does that mean I can see Aurora all summer?

A: 
Not quite. From May through the beginning of August, we have 24 hours of light, so the Aurora are not visible.

 

Q: What amenities do you have at Blachford?


A: In addition to northern wilderness, clear lake water, miles of trails, cozy accommodations and sumptuous meals, we offer: hot tub, tipi, aurora viewing room, fireplace, full bar service, full washroom facilities with hot showers, toiletries, hairdryers, and daily housekeeping service.

 

Q: How do we arrange guide service?


A: Guide service is available for all guests. Ask our office staff before you arrive. We do require pre-booking of guides to ensure that your needs are accommodated.

 

Q: Is alcohol available to purchase at the lodge?

A: Yes. We have a fully stocked bar on site.

 

Q: I assume there is a liability waiver to sign, is this correct?


A: 
Yes. During the booking process, each traveller will be required to complete a waiver and sign off on our Terms & Conditions. This is mandatory for all guests and must be completed prior to arrival in Yellowknife.

 
Q: When are you in operation?

A: We are open from mid-December through mid-April, and from June to mid-October. We are closed a few weeks in autumn, while the lake freezes and in spring when the lake thaws.

 

Q: Is there wifi available on site?


A: 
Surprisingly, yes! While your cell phone won't work (sorry, not sorry!) - we do have wifi that comes in via satellite. Each guest is provided with 250 MB/day of internet free of charge.

 

Q: What do you have in the way of outdoor activities?


A: Summer activities include fishing, SUP boarding, hiking, canoe/kayaking, swimming, motor boating, interpretive tours, bird watching, plant and animal identification. Winter activities include cross-country skiing (20 km groomed trails), snowshoeing, hiking, snowmobiling, ice fishing, ice skating, fat tire biking, igloo building, kick sledding, quinzhee or igloo building.

 

Q: Do you provide transportation from Yellowknife Airport to the Air Charter Base?


A: We can arrange transportation for you. We can also arrange for tours and hotel or B & B accommodations in Yellowknife. Air charter flights depart from a float plane base on the shores of Great Slave Lake.

 

Q: What is your fishing policy?


A: We actively encourage a barbless "catch & release" program. However, a few small fish can be kept for a "shore" lunch or be brought back to the lodge for our chef to prepare.

 
Q: How long has Blachford Lake Lodge been in business?

A: We have been in operation since 1981. Blachford is owner-operated with the owner and most of the staff residents in Yellowknife.

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