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Blachford Lake Lodge & Wilderness Resort
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada · Independent · Accessible Luxury
A 20-minute float-plane hop from Yellowknife lands at Blachford Lake Lodge, an 11-room off-grid camp that began as a 1981 fishing outpost on a 1940s trapper's cabin. In 2011 William and Catherine paddled from here to Eagle Island, which the owners still call Honeymoon Island. Nunavut operator Arctic Kingdom bought the lodge out of bankruptcy in December 2023; the spruce main lodge still runs on solar and wind.
- 11 rooms
- Opened 1981
- Neighborhood: Blachford Lake
About Blachford Lake Lodge & Wilderness Resort
- William and Catherine canoed from the lodge to Eagle Island on 5 July 2011 during their first overseas tour as a married couple.
- Owners Mike Freeland and Tessa Macintosh named it Honeymoon Island after spending their 1991 wedding night there.
- Started as a 1981 wilderness fishing camp on the site of a 1940s trapper's cabin; the handcrafted spruce main lodge went up in 1999.
- Fly-in only by float or ski plane from Yellowknife. Off-grid solar and wind, outdoor hot tub, cedar sauna, and a Dene tipi for aurora watching.
- Arctic Kingdom Polar Expeditions of Iqaluit bought the lodge out of bankruptcy; the sale closed 22 December 2023.
History
Established as a wilderness fishing camp in 1981 on the site of a 1940s trapper's cabin, the lodge expanded in 1999 with a handcrafted main lodge of locally harvested spruce. Prince William and Catherine visited on 5 July 2011 during their first overseas tour, canoeing to Eagle Island (called Honeymoon Island by then-owners Mike Freeland and Tessa Macintosh). After Taiga Sports and Fishing filed for bankruptcy in 2023, Nunavut operator Arctic Kingdom Polar Expeditions acquired the lodge; the sale closed 22 December 2023.
Experiences
- Northern Lights viewing — Aurora viewing in season, with staff wake-up service at night.
- Guided wilderness adventures — Guided wilderness adventures offered at the lodge.
- Fishing for Northern Pike and Lake Trout — Shore or boat fishing on Blachford Lake; catch and release available; ice fishing in winter.
- Hiking — Hiking trails through boreal forest.
- Snowmobiling — Snowmobile trail rides in winter.
- Flightseeing and Indigenous community visits — Available through customisable Beyond Blachford packages.
Amenities
- Fly-in bush plane access (float or ski plane) from Yellowknife
- Overnight Aurora watch and wake-up service
- Outdoor hot tub and cedar sauna overlooking Blachford Lake
- Off-grid sustainable energy system powered by solar and wind
- Traditional Dene tipi for campfire gatherings and Aurora viewing
- Guided wilderness activities including trophy fishing, hiking, and snowmobiling
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