$50–100

The only accommodations with rooms for less than $100 are bed-and-breakfasts. Ask at the Visitors Centre for a current list of B&Bs, or contact Captain Ron’s (8 Lessard Dr., 867/873-3746, $85 s, $95 d), overlooking the floatplane base. It has four guest rooms, a sundeck, a library, and a guest lounge.

$100–200

Eagle’s Nest B&B (222 Niven Dr., 867/920-2688, www.ykeaglesnest.ca, $100 s, $110 d) is a modern home in a new housing estate, and a 10-minute walk from both downtown and Old Town. Three of the four smallish guest rooms share a bathroom, but all have a clean, modern outlook, with hardwood floors and comfortable beds. Amenities include a living room, business center, den, private balconies, and a kitchen open for guest use. Rates include a light breakfast.

Yellowknife’s least expensive motel is the Arnica Inn (4115 Franklin Ave., 867/873-8511, www.arnicainn.ca, $149–169 s or d), halfway between downtown and Old Town. Rooms are in reasonable shape and come with wireless Internet. The small in-house café is inexpensive and open daily for breakfast and lunch.

Chateau Nova (4401 50th Ave., 867/873-9700 or 877/839-1236, www.chateaunova.com, $179–219 s or d) is the rather grand name of a newish hotel a few blocks from downtown on the way to Old Town. Rooms are modern and come with niceties such as bathrobes and a writing desk. Other amenities include free airport shuttles, a small fitness room with a big hot tub, a business center with Internet access, spa services, and a restaurant with the best pizza in town.

$200–250

With 187 rooms, the Explorer Hotel (4825 49th Ave., 867/873-3531 or 800/661-0892, www.explorerhotel.ca, $220–232 s or d) is Yellowknife’s largest accommodation. It also has the nicest rooms, with modern conveniences such as coffeemakers, hairdryers, and free wireless Internet, as well as big city extras such as room service and free airport shuttles. It also has a restaurant, lounge, fitness room, and gift shop.

Camping

The city’s only campground is at Fred Henne Territorial Park (867/920-2472, $17–21), across from the airport and a one-hour walk from downtown. Amenities include bug-proof cooking shelters, woodstoves, showers, and some powered sites.

Along the Ingraham Trail, at Reid Lake, and at Prelude Lake Territorial Parks are primitive campgrounds. All three are open mid-May–mid-September and online reservations can be made at www.campingnwt.ca.

© Andrew Hempstead, from Moon Western Canada, 3rd Edition