Northwest Territories Forts

Canadian Forts

NORTHWEST TERRITORIES

Last Update: 15/AUGUST/2025

NOTE: Established in 1820, administered by the Hudson's Bay Company until 1869 as part of Prince Rupert's Land (granted to HBC in 1670 by the British Crown).
Independent and commercial (non HBC) trading posts established after 1870 are not included here.

Fort Smith
(1874 - 1897), Fort Smith
A Hudson's Bay Co. post (HBC records begin 1875) on the northern rapids of the Slave River at the Alberta border. HBC retail operations have continued here to the present. Of interest in town is the Northern Life Museum and Cultural Centre at 110 King Street. The city is located adjacent to Wood Buffalo National Park.

The HBC originally built Smith's Landing Post at the southern rapids in 1872.

The North West Mounted Police also later established a post here at Fort Smith (date ?).

Salt River Post
(1927 ? - 1937), Salt River
An HBC outpost located just northwest of Fort Smith, a subpost of Fort Smith.

Slave River Post (2)
(1927 - 1928), near Salt River
An HBC outpost located just downriver from Salt River, just below the "Grand Detour", on the east bank at "Michael's Place".

Chiswick House
(1803 - 1806), near Fort Resolution
A Hudson's Bay Co. post at the mouth of the Slave River.

Fort Resolution (National Historic Site)
(1786/1818 - 1926), Fort Resolution (Deninu Kue)
The first fur trade posts on Great Slave Lake were established in 1786 by Cuthbert Grant Sr. of the North West Company and his rival Laurent Leroux of the "Little Company". These included Grant’s Slave River Fort (1), which was twice moved westward, finally settling on Moose Deer Island near the mouth of the Slave River in 1791. This post remained largely unchallenged by competing traders until, in 1818, Aualay McAulay of the Hudson's Bay Company built a competing post nearby, which he named Fort Resolution (aka Great Slave Lake Post). After the union of the two companies in 1821 the two forts were merged, and were moved to a small peninsula facing the Resolution Islands. Fort Resolution became the Hudson's Bay Company's principal post on the lake, and remains an active community. There are no above ground remains of the original post.

The North West Mounted Police established a post here in 1913. Patrols were made here as early as 1897 from posts in Alberta.

Rocher River Post
(1921 ? - 1963), near Fort Resolution
A Hudson's Bay Co. post located on Great Slave Lake, east of the Slave River delta.

Thekulthili Lake Post
(1924 - 1925), Thekulthili Lake
An HBC post located northeast of Fort Smith, at the head of the Thekulthili River at the south end of Thekulthili Lake.

Snowdrift Post
(1926 - unknown), Snowdrift (Lutselk'e)
A Hudson's Bay Co. post at the mouth of the Snowdrift River. The settlement was renamed in 1992.

Fort Reliance (National Historic Site)
(1833 - 1834, 1855), Reliance
Originally built in 1833 by Alexander McLeod of the Hudson’s Bay Company for the use of Capt. George Back, of the British Royal Navy, during the Arctic Land Expedition to the Arctic Ocean via the Back River. The expedition, partly scientific and partly searching for the missing Capt. John Ross (since 1829), used Fort Reliance as a winter camp. Back's fort was made up of a main house with several smaller ones that were constructed from logs. The houses had stone and clay chimneys for heating. The outline of the logs along with the chimneys and some storage pits still exist. In 1855 the Hudson's Bay Company's Chief Factor James Anderson rebuilt the fort. It was intended to be used as winter quarters while searching for the lost expedition of John Franklin, but it was again abandoned after one season. It was not a fur trading outpost although the site was later used by trappers in the Thelon River area. In 1897 a log cabin, using one of the chimneys, was built by the American trapper Buffalo Jones. An HBC store later operated here in 1926 - 1930 (?). See also Northern Vignettes from Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre

The RCMP later established a post here on Police Bay from 1928 - 1961. Site now the Trophy Fishing Lodge.

Fort Providence (1)
(1786 - 1823), Old Fort Providence, near Yellowknife
A North West Co. post, later a Hudson's Bay Co. post, located east of Wool Bay. Established by Laurent Leroux, it was composed of at least four log cabins, and was primarily a supply post for other nearby trading posts. This was John Franklin's base camp during the first Arctic Land Expedition in 1820. Stone fireplaces still remain at the site. The ruins were excavated in 1969 - 1971. See also Northern Vignettes from Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre

Yellow Knife Fort
(1802 - 1803 ?), Yellowknife
A North West Co. post.

Yellowknife Posts
(1930's - unknown), Yellowknife
The HBC (1938) and the RCMP (1937 ?) both established posts here prior to 1940.

The HBC established Yellowknife River Post (1924 - 1928) at Detah, on the east side of the river, a subpost of the main post on the west side of the river.

Trout Rock Post
(1922 - 1927), near Yellowknife
An HBC outpost on the north shore of the North Arm of Great Slave Lake, west of the city.

Fort Rae
(1853 - 1925), Rae (Behchokö)
A Hudson's Bay Co. post, originally built at Marten Lake (Lac La Martre) in 1852, but relocated to Old Fort Rae in 1853. Relocated to "new" Rae in 1906. The town was renamed in 2005.

A North West Co. trade post was originally located nearby in 1787.

The NWMP / RCMP also later established a post here sometime before 1940 (date ?).

Lac La Martre Posts
(1789 - unknown, 1852), Marten Lake (Whatì)
A North West Co. trade post built by Laurent Leroux was originally located here. The Hudson's Bay Co. later established a post here in 1852 before it was relocated to Old Fort Rae. The community was renamed in 1996.

Fort Enterprise
(1820 - 1821), near Snare Lake (Wekweètì)
A winter camp on the Snare River, established by John Franklin and George Back of the British Navy's first Arctic Land Expedition. In the winter of 1820 Back made a round-trip journey of almost 1,800 kilometres, from Fort Enterprise to Fort Chipewyan, Alberta, when Franklin’s expedition ran short of supplies. The community was renamed in 1998.

Buffalo Lake Post
(1927 ? - 1929 ?), Buffalo Lake
An HBC outpost located due south of Hay River, at the west end of Buffalo Lake just north of the Alberta border. A subpost of Hay River Post.

Hay River Posts
(1868 - 1875, 1893 - 1970), Hay River
A Hudson's Bay Co. post, originally located on the east bank at the mouth of the East Channel. The town was relocated to Vale Island in 1948, and was relocated again in 1966 south of Vale Island after severe flooding in 1963. The Hay River Museum Society Heritage Center is located in the former HBC store built in 1948. See also History of Hay River from Town of Hay River

The NWMP / RCMP also later established a post here sometime before 1940 (date ?).

Big Island Post
(1847 - 1850 ?), Big Island
A Hudson's Bay Co. post located on Big Island, located at the head of the Mackenzie River outlet at Great Slave Lake.

Fort George
(1804 - unknown/1840 ?), Kakisa
A North West Co. trade post originally located at Kakisa Lake. Taken over by the Hudson's Bay Company in 1822, and possibly relocated to the Hay River at or near the present town of Hay River, or further south into Alberta. Wherever it was located at the time, this post was abandoned before 1840. (see also Fort George (2) on ALBERTA page 2)

Fort Providence (2)
(1850's ?, 1869/1871 - 1907), Fort Providence
A Hudson's Bay Co. post.

The NWMP / RCMP also later established a post here sometime before 1940 (date ?).

Horn River Post
(1927 - 1928 ?), near Fort Providence
An HBC outpost located about one-half mile from the mouth of the Horn River. This was previously an independent trade post built in 1924 by Noel Verville, and sold to the HBC in 1927. Also known as Willow River Post.

Trout Lake Post
(1926 ? - 1933), Trout Lake
An HBC outpost located at the northeast end of the lake. A subpost of Fort Simpson. Briefly closed in 1927-28. The present settlement at the south end of the lake was established in 1964.

Deer Lake Post
(1937 - 1938), near Trout Lake ?, or near Fort Liard ?
An HBC outpost on the north shore of "Deer Lake". Location undetermined.

Livingston's Fort
(1796 - 1799), near Jean Marie River
A North West Co. trading post built by Duncan Livingston, located on the Mackenzie River near the mouth of the Trout Lake River, southeast of town. Livingston and his men were killed by local Indians.

Fort Simpson
(1804 - 1811, 1822 - 1948), Fort Simpson
A North West Co. post, originally called Fort of the Forks. Possibly originally located at present-day Heritage Park. Transferred to the Hudson's Bay Company in 1822 and renamed (HBC records begin in 1818). This was the oldest continuously occupied post on the Mackenzie River. Eight pre-1940 buildings once stood here, the last remaining is the 1935 Company Shed on McKenzie Drive. See also Fort Simpson History and Attractions from Village of Fort Simpson

The North West Mounted Police established a post here in 1913.

Liard River Rapids Post
(1928 - 1930 ?), near Fort Simpson
An HBC post on the east bank of the Liard River at the rapids, just south (upstream) of Fort Simpson. A subpost of Fort Simpson.

Fort Liard
(1805/1807 - 1903), Fort Liard FORT WIKI
A North West Co. post located on Liard Island in the Liard River, near the BC border. Abandoned in 1813 after the traders were killed by local Indians, it was not re-established until 1820. It was turned over to the Hudson's Bay Co. in 1822.

The NWMP / RCMP also later established a post here sometime before 1940 (date ?).

Rocky Mountain Fort
(1800 - 1803), near Wrigley
A North West Co. post built by John Thomson, located on the Mackenzie River near the Nahanni River, about halfway between present-day Wrigley and Fort Simpson.

Fort Alexander
(1804 - unknown), near Wrigley
A North West Co. trading post located on the Mackenzie River at the mouth of the Willowlake River, south of town.

Fort Wrigley
(1887/1890 - 1904/1910), Wrigley
A Hudson's Bay Co. post originally located at the "Little Rapid" of the Mackenzie River (Old Fort Wrigley) as an outpost of Fort Simpson. The post was relocated in 1904 to "old" Wrigley, and again to its present site in 1965 at "new" Wrigley. The HBC continued retail operations at each site.

The NWMP / RCMP established a post at "old" Wrigley sometime before 1940 (date ?).

Fort Castor
(1804 ? - 1810 ?), near Fort Norman
A North West Co. post on the Mackenzie River at "Old Fort Point", near the mouth of the Redstone River. Built before 1810, but no earlier than 1804.

Fort Norman
(1810 - 1911), Fort Norman (Tulita)
First a North West Co. post, originally located near the mouth of the Blackwater River. Became a Hudson's Bay Co. post begining in 1822, then relocated downriver in 1825 to the vicinity of the present town. The post was relocated again in 1851 to its present site. HBC retail operations were continued through the 1960's. The hamlet was renamed in 1996.

The RCMP also later established a post here sometime before 1940 (date ?).

Camp Canol
(1942 - 1945), near Norman Wells
A Hudson's Bay Company provisioning post for the American and Canadian military and civilian construction crews on the Canol Road Project during World War II. The American military engineers, as well as the civilian workers from Bechtel-Price-Callahan, also shared the camp, and an airfield was also built nearby, which was integrated into the Northwest Staging Route. Located about four miles across the Mackenzie River from town. The Canol Road was a primitive service road that paralleled the Canol (Canadian American Norman Oil Line) Pipeline, from the oil fields at Norman Wells, through Yukon Territory to the refinery at Whitehorse, then to Johnson's Crossing at the Yukon - Alaska border, where it connected to the Trans Alaska-Canada Highway. The pipeline was completed in February 1944, but was discontinued in March 1945 and was removed in 1948, but the road remains today as the Canol Heritage Trail.

Fort Franklin
(Déline Fishery - Fort Franklin National Historic Site)
(1825 - 1826), Fort Franklin (Déline)
A Hudson's Bay Co. winter post and staging area for John Franklin's second Arctic Land Expedition. This site was excavated by the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre in 1987. No above ground remains. See also Northern Vignettes from Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre

A North West Co. trade post was originally located nearby in 1805.

An independent trade post was later built here in 1926 by A.W. Boland, which was sold to the HBC in 1932 and continued as a subpost of the Fort Norman HBC store until 1950. The town was renamed in 1993.

Fort Confidence
(1837 - 1839, 1848), Great Bear Lake
A Hudson's Bay Co. post located at the mouth of the Dease River on the eastern tip of the Dease Arm of Great Bear Lake. Built by Peter Warren Dease and Thomas Simpson during exploration of the Great Bear Lake and Coppermine River area. The structure was a log building, but burned down a short time later. In 1848 the post was rebuilt and used by John Richardson and Dr. John Rae as a base of operations during the search for explorer John Franklin, who went missing along the Arctic Coast in 1845. These buildings were still standing in 1902, but had again been destroyed by fire by 1911 when George M. Douglas' expedition to the Coppermine River passed through the area. The present remains consist of four stone and clay chimneys. Fort Confidence was featured in Jules Verne's book "The Fur Country".

Dease Bay Post
(1923 - 1933), Great Bear Lake
An HBC trade post located about two miles southeast of the mouth of the Dease River, near the site of Fort Confidence. A Lamson and Hubbard Company trade post was first located here in 1920, which was bought out by the HBC in 1923 and continued. Relocated to Cameron Bay.

Port Radium Posts
(1937 - 1941), Port Radium
An HBC post and RCMP post were located here at the former mining community along the McTavish Arm of Great Bear Lake.

Cameron Bay Posts
(1933 - 1937), Old Port Radium
An HBC post (aka New Fort Dease) and RCMP post were located here. Both relocated to "new" Port Radium.

Old Fort
(unknown dates), near Fort Good Hope
An undetermined old trade post site located on the Mountain River, about 50 miles south of town.

Fort Good Hope
(1805 - 1918), Fort Good Hope
A North West Co. post, then a Hudson's Bay Co. post in 1822. Also known as Fort Charles. This was the oldest trade post in the lower Mackenzie River Valley, and also the most northerly post of the North West Company. It was relocated at least five times along the Mackenzie River. The NWC post was originally located somewhere between the mouths of the Peel River and the Arctic Red River. The HBC moved the post about 100 miles upriver in 1823. In 1826 the post was moved further upriver to the present vicinity of Fort Good Hope. It was relocated twice in 1836.

The RCMP also later established a post here sometime before 1940 (date ?).

Rabbitskin River Post
(1925 ? - 1927), near
An HBC post located at the north end of Yeltea Lake. The settlement has long been abandoned, and the name was officially rescinded in 1958.

Thunder River Post
(1936 - 1938 ?), near Arctic Red River
An HBC post on the Thunder (aka Travaillant or Traviar) River, near its junction with the Mackenzie River, or the other way around. Upriver, or east, of the Arctic Red River settlement. Exact location undetermined.

Arctic Red River Posts
(1902 - unknown), Arctic Red River (Tsiigehtchic)
An HBC post was established here not long after a Roman Catholic mission was established in 1895. It was a subpost of Fort McPherson until 1905. The community was renamed in 1994.

A NWMP / RCMP post was also later established sometime before 1940 (date ?).

Raney Post
(1925 ? - 1931), near Arctic Red River
An HBC outpost on the Arctic Red River, about 90 miles south of the settlement of Arctic Red River. A subpost of that post. Also spelled Ramey. Also known as Trail Creek Post.

Fort McPherson (National Historic Site)
(1840 - 1940), Fort McPherson
A Hudson's Bay Co. post built by John Bell, also known as Peel River Post (1), originally located about four miles upriver from the present community. Relocated in 1848.

The North West Mounted Police established a post here in 1902. It became an important base for exploration and patrolling the Northern Arctic territories of Canada. The NWMP's "Lost Patrol" was found frozen to death near here, about 40 km away, in March 1911.

Husky River Post
(1926 ? - 1930 ?), near Fort McPherson
An HBC outpost located on the Peel River at the Husky (or Aksis) River junction, just below Fort McPherson. Also known as Askis River Post. A subpost of Fort McPherson.

Rotten Eye Creek Post
(1927 ? - 1930 ?), near Fort McPherson
An HBC outpost located on the Peel River at Rotten Eye Creek, just east of Husky River Post, about 18 miles below Fort McPherson. A subpost of that post.

Peel Channel Post (2)
(1928 - 1930 ?), near Fort McPherson
An HBC outpost located on the west bank of the Peel River channel within the Mackenzie River delta, just north of Rotten Eye Creek Post.

East Channel Post
(1927 - 1930), near Arctic Red River
An HBC outpost located on the east bank of the main channel of the Mackenzie River, on the north (downstream) side of its junction with the East Channel, about 35-40 miles below the Arctic Red River. A subpost of Fort McPherson.

Aklavik Posts
(Pokiak Territorial Historic Site)
(1912 - 1935), Aklavik
A Hudson's Bay Co. post (HBC records cover 1929 - 1935). The first post here was actually located across the river in Pokiak (Old Aklavik), relocated in 1924. HBC retail operations continued here through the 1970's.

The RCMP also later established a post here sometime before 1940 (date ?).

A Northern Traders Ltd. trade post located at Pokiak in 1913 was known as Sinik or Fort Scenic, which also relocated in 1919. Sold to the HBC in 1938.

Big Rock Post
(1929 - 1930 ?), near Inuvik
An HBC outpost located on the East Channel of the Mackenzie River delta, south of Inuvik. A subpost of Aklavik Post.

Reindeer Station Post
(1949 - 1968), Reindeer Station
An HBC post located on the East Channel of the Mackenzie River delta, south of Tununuk.

Kittigazuit Post
(Kittigazuit Archaeological Sites National Historic Site)
(1912 - 1933), Kitigaaryuk, Kittigazuit Island
A Hudson's Bay Co. post (HBC records cover 1925 - 1926) on an island at the mouth of the Mackenzie River. A subpost of Aklavik Post. The ruins of a log house and ice house once used by the HBC are still extant. Relocated to Tuktoyaktuk.

Tuktoyaktuk Posts
(1934 - unknown), Tuktoyaktuk
An HBC post and Roman Catholic mission were established here in 1934. The settlement was originally known as Port Brabant until 1950.

A RCMP post was established sometime prior to 1940.

The Canalaska Trading Co. also had a post nearby from 1938 - 1939.

Nicholson Peninsula Post
(1927 - 1929), near Nicholson
A small HBC outpost located near the mouth of the Anderson River at Wood Bay. A subpost of Baillie Island Post.

Fort Anderson
(1861 - 1862),
A Hudson's Bay Co. post located at the great bend of the Anderson River, about 100 miles from its mouth, roughly 150 air miles north of Fort Good Hope.

Maitland Point Posts
(1936 - 1941), near Nicholson
A RCMP post located near Cape Bathurst.

An HBC post was also located here in 1939 - 1941.

Baillie Island Posts
(1916 - 1939), Baillie Island
A Hudson's Bay Co. post on a small island in the Arctic Ocean at Cape Bathurst (HBC records cover 1926 - 1935). Relocated to Maitland Point.

The RCMP also later established a post here sometime before 1940 (date ?).

Letty Harbour Post
(1927/1932 - 1935, 1954 - 1959), near Paulatuk
A Hudson's Bay Co. outpost of Baillie Island. The HBC transferred the second store, a subpost of Read Island, to Cape Parry in 1959 (closed 1967).

Pearce Point Posts
(1931 - unknown), near Paulatuk
A RCMP post, according to the "National Atlas of Canada" (1974).

An HBC post was also located here (1927 - 1934), a subpost of Baillie Island. It was temporarily closed during 1929-30.

Alaervik Post
(1923 - 1928), Victoria Island
A Hudson's Bay Co. post on the north shore of Prince Albert Sound. Also known as Fort Brabant. Relocated to Walker Bay.

Holman Island Post
(1939 - unknown), Holman (Ulukhaktok), Victoria Island
A Hudson's Bay Co. post, relocated from Walker Bay. The hamlet was relocated one mile west in 1965, and was renamed in 2006.

Walker Bay Posts
(1928 - 1939), Victoria Island
A Hudson's Bay Co. post located near the western tip of the island at the confluence of the Prince of Wales Strait and Minto Inlet. Also known as Fort Collinson. Relocated to Holman Island.

The Canalaska Trading Co. also had a post nearby from 1932 - 1938.

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