Life in the Knife

Hiking the Prelude Lake Nature Trail

Posted on 14. Aug, 2009 by Shane in Hiking Trips, Sports & Recreation

While researching our next NWT hiking adventure we wanted to experience something moderately challenging that showed us some great scenery too.  And eventually, this fine August weekend, we found our next adventure hike at the Prelude Lake Territorial Park and Nature Trail. Prelude Lake is located roughly 30 KM from Yellowknife along the Ingraham Trail. You know you have made it to the right place when you see the big Prelude Lake sign shown below. 

The hike features mostly Shield Rock, Jack Pine, Black Spruce, Muskeg, Willow, Dwarf Birch, Lodgepole Pine and you may encounter various birds and small fur bearing wildlife. Bring a bear bell or small belt size marine horn to warn any bears nearby that you are coming. You can purchase all these items including bear spray at any of the local outfitters in Yellowknife. Chances are you will never see a bear but it is better to be safer than sorry.

IMPORTANT HIKING TIP: The total hike time can range from 40 minutes for power hikers, 60 minutes for average adult hikers and up to 90 minutes for adults with children (not including breaks). Seniors and small children will have low to moderate difficulty along some of the rocky hilltops overlooking Prelude Lake. For those with more significant mobility challenges there is some rock climbing required at two or three rock faces - but you may be able to go around them and find a light incline to walk up (so expect to be a little adventurous here). Wear good running or hiking shoes, pack a light lunch (sandwich and banana), bring one water bottle per person, do not forget the bug spray and have a great time. Please leave a comment below and let me know what you think! Or tell me about your Prelude experience.

The sign for Prelude Lake Territorial Park along the Ingraham Trail in the Northwest Territories.

Here is the first sign you will see after you park your vehicle; thus, you know you made to the Prelude Lake Nature Trail.

Here is the second major sign a couple minutes into the hike. The trail forks here. You can go straight and go directly to the cliffs overlooking Prelude Lake. But if you go left you will get the full Prelude Lake Nature Trail experience!

These little blue signs mark the invisible path that you need to follow throughout the Prelude Lake Nature Trail. Without them you would get lost pretty quickly. There are a few spots along the rocks where you cannot see the next marker; thus, you may have to wander around to find them in a few places – but be patient because it does not take long to get back on the right course.

Here is the type of hiking terrain along the Prelude Lake Nature Trail.

Petra hiking along the rocky path.

Petra hiking the Prelude Lake Nature Trail on her way up the first major hill.

Shane hiking up the next rocky hill along the Prelude Lake Nature Trail.

These are the Boreal trees you will find along the trail. Jack pine, black spruce and some lodgepole pine were common at this spot.

Shane hiking through another rocky zone.

A view of the landscape along the trail.

Petra showing me her Kung Fu technique. As she always says: “The way is always forward young dragonfly.”

Petra taking a picture of a small lake along the path.

And here is the picture Petra was taking when I was taking a picture of her.

You can see from my obvious frustration that we cannot find the next marker. They were nowhere in sight. We made an educated guess on where to hike next and eventually found the next markers leading up to an impressive view of Prelude Lake. A couple women caught up with us during our lunch break. They had got lost in the same place shown above and went on a long detour through unmarked areas (I could hear them for some time talking loudly while crashing through the bush). TIP: If lost - heading toward the big part of Prelude Lake will get you back on the trail.

I am admiring the first major scenic vista that we encountered along the Prelude Lake Nature Trail. It was spectaculer! But the best was yet to come.

There are a few places where you have to do some very light bushwacking. Pretty easy for the average hiker.

We made it! The ultimate view of Prelude Lake. You are probably looking at one of the most scenic views in this region of the Northwest Territories behind me.

Petra was very calm and cool about the whole “Awesome View” before us. Eventually, she leaned over, while enjoying my “Shane’s Famous Hiking Sandwich”, and said she never wanted to leave our rocky perch above the lake – ever. And why not? The breeze was warm, the sun was shining, the air was clean, the birds were chirping… It was a little piece of heaven and a perfect August afternoon.

Just one of the many views of Prelude Lake.

The Inukshuks standing above Prelude Lake. Perhaps this is a place of power! (Photo by Petra)

A close up shot of an Inukshuk. (photo by Shane)

Petra leading the way along a boardwalk built over soft Muskeg.

At this point, we were having “awesome view overload”. It really seemed like the great view was never going to end - not that we really wanted it to. In this photo Petra is actually saying: “Common! Enough with the awesome views already!”

One last look at Prelude Lake before we hiked back down some cliffs to the truck.

Tags: 2009, August, Black Spruce, Dwarf Birch, Forest, hiking, ingraham trail, inukshuks, Jack Pine, lake, muskeg, nature trail, Petra White, Prelude Lake, Prelude Lake Nature Trail, Prelude Lake Northwest Territories, Shane Keller, Sheild Rock, Summer, trail, trees, Willow