Yellowknife Snowmobiling & Ice Cave: 3-Hour Guided Adventure

Ride a snowmobile across frozen lake to an ice cave, then explore on foot

A three-hour guided snowmobiling and ice cave adventure in Yellowknife starts with hotel pickup, a safety briefing, and equipment check before you ride a snowmobile across Great Slave Lake to an ice cave. You explore the cave on snowshoes, then ride back past the Snow Castle and houseboats anchored on the lake, finishing with a hot beverage at the end. Not suitable for children under 8, travelers with spinal injuries, pregnancy, or poor cardiovascular health. Moderate fitness required.

Step-by-step itinerary

Snowmobile and ice cave adventure

• Hotel pickup and safety briefing
• Equipment demonstration
• Snowmobile across Great Slave Lake
• Stop at Snow Castle for photos
• Snowshoe to ice cave
• Explore ice cave
• Sled past Yellowknife Bay house boats
• Enjoy complimentary hot beverage
• Return to hotel

The experience

The day begins with pickup from your Yellowknife hotel and a safety briefing on how to operate the snowmobile and use the snowshoes and walking poles you'll need. Once geared up with a helmet and ready, you ride out across the frozen surface of Great Slave Lake, the deepest lake in North America, on your own snowmobile, moving through the arctic landscape toward the Yellowknife Ice Cave.

At the ice cave, you dismount and explore on foot with snowshoes, walking through the frozen formations. The ride back follows a different route: you pass the Snow Castle, an erected structure visible in March, and sled past the houseboats anchored in Yellowknife Bay on the lake's surface. A licensed guide leads the entire three-hour experience and can speak English or Chinese, depending on your preference.

The adventure ends back at your hotel with a complimentary hot beverage. Snowmobile and safety helmet use, snowshoes, walking poles, ground transportation, and the guide are all included. Tips are separate.

What’s included

• Snowmobile and safety helmet use.
• snowshoes and walking poles.
• three-hour guided experience with a licensed guide in English or Chinese.
• round-trip hotel pickup and ground transportation.
• hot beverage at the end of the adventure.

Options for this experience

2 options

Yellowknife Snowmobiling and Ice Cave Adventure Combo, PrivateUp to 6 per booking · Guide in English or Chinese · Available from 10 Jan 2027Pickup is included

Private group of 10Up to 10 per booking · Guide in English or Chinese · Available from 9 Jan 2027Pickup is included, with heated helmets

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesNext departure: 9 Jan 2027

Book up to2d before

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Chinese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 8 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Good to know

Moderate physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Arctic Tours Canada

Is this one for you?The private group format keeps numbers small and the pace manageable for moderate fitness levels, while the three-hour window fits into a single afternoon without dominating your Yellowknife schedule.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Chinese.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is the Yellowknife Ice Cave like when you get there?

The Yellowknife Ice Cave is a frozen formation you explore on foot using snowshoes and walking poles provided by the operator. The cave itself is the destination after your snowmobile ride across Great Slave Lake.

Do I ride my own snowmobile or ride as a passenger?

You operate your own snowmobile across Great Slave Lake to reach the ice cave. A safety briefing and equipment demonstration happen before you depart, and a licensed guide leads the group throughout the three hours.

What happens on the ride back to Yellowknife?

The return route passes the Snow Castle, an erected structure visible in March, and the houseboats anchored in Yellowknife Bay on Great Slave Lake before you return to your hotel for a hot beverage.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes, round-trip ground transportation with hotel pickup is included in the adventure. The guide will collect you and return you to your accommodation after the three-hour experience.

What should I know about fitness and age requirements?

The activity requires at least moderate physical fitness. It is not suitable for children under 8 years old, and not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, pregnancy, poor cardiovascular health, or mobility challenges.