cities

Fort Chipewyan

Open on map More cities Spin a random place Ask WorldAI

Overview

Fort Chipewyan , commonly referred to as Fort Chip, is an unincorporated hamlet in northern Alberta, Canada, within the Regional Municipality (RM) of Wood Buffalo. It is located on the northwest shore of Lake Athabasca, which flows into the Slave River, thence to the Mackenzie River and the Arctic Ocean. First built as fur trading post in the late 1700s, Fort Chipewyan is one of the oldest European settlements in the Province of Alberta.

Facts

Rank

—

Coordinates

—

Source

WBP almanac

External sources

Wikivoyage Wikipedia

Media

From Wikipedia1,937 words

WBP editorial3

A River‑Bound Waypoint for Wilderness‑Based Travel

Because Fort Chipewyan sits on the rim of Lake Athabasca, it serves as a natural launchpad for canoeists and anglers who are looking to navigate the lake‑Slave‑Mackenzie waterway without the pressures of a major hub. Small charter operators provide single‑day trips that thread through remote bays dotted with muskeg islands, offering chances to see breeding waterfowl and the occasional wandering boreal wolf silhouette. The town’s modest dock facilities mean you’ll disembark on a narrow, gravel‑lined pier, and the lack of tourist‑grade amenities pushes you to plan supplies in advance—an approach that filters out casual sightseers and leaves space for a more measured, immersive experience of the sub‑arctic shoreline.

Cultural Continuity in a Remote Community

While the hamlet’s origins lie in the fur trade, today its identity is shaped by a blend of Indigenous Dene, Métis, and Anglo‑Canadian influences that persist in daily life. Local gatherings often feature drumming circles and storytelling sessions in community halls that are not listed in standard guidebooks. Visiting during seasonal feasts, such as the annual fish harvest, provides an unmediated look at how traditional foodways intersect with modern supply chains. Respectful participation—asking permission before joining a drum circle or photographing a ceremony—offers travellers a nuanced perspective that goes beyond the usual historic plaque narrative.

Logistics for the Self‑Sufficient Traveller

Reaching the hamlet requires careful coordination, as the only year‑round access is via a gravel airstrip and a seasonal ice road that links to the North Saskatchewan highway network. For those who prefer ground travel, timing the ice road’s opening—typically late December through early March—allows you to drive a robust 4×4 loaded with provisions, avoiding the premium air‑fare rates that peak in summer. Because services such as fuel and grocery stocks are limited, successful visitors pack a ‘buffer kit’ of non‑perishable foods, extra warm clothing, and a portable power bank, turning the journey into a low‑tech, self‑reliant adventure rather than a conventional tourist hop.

Introduction

Hamlet / designated place in Alberta, CanadaFort ChipewyanHamlet / designated placeAerial view of Fort ChipewyanFort ChipewyanLocation of Fort ChipewyanCoordinates: 58°42′52″N 111°09′30″W / 58.71444°N 111.15833°W / 58.71444; -111.15833CountryCanadaProvinceAlbertaRegionNorthern AlbertaCensus division16Specialized municipalityRM of Wood BuffaloSettled1788Government • TypeUnincorporated • MayorSandy Bowman • Governing body Wood Buffalo Municipal Council Mike AllenTy BrandtLance BussieresLuana BussieresDon ScottJennifer VardyKendrick CardinalGreg "Cowboy" MarcelStu WigleKyle Vandecasteyen Area • Land9.93 km2 (3.83 sq mi)Elevation221 m (725 ft)Population (2021) • Total798 • Density80.4/km2 (208/sq mi)Time zoneUTC−7 (MST) • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)Postal codeT0P 1B0Area code+1-780ClimateDfc Fort Chipewyan /ˈtʃɪpəwaɪən, -pwaɪ-, ˈtʃɪpəwən/, commonly referred to as Fort Chip, is an unincorporated hamlet in northern Alberta, Canada, within the Regional Municipality (RM) of Wood Buffalo. It is located on the northwest shore of Lake Athabasca, which flows into the Slave River, thence to the Mackenzie River and the Arctic Ocean. First built as fur trading post in the late 1700s, Fort Chipewyan is one of the oldest European settlements in the Province of Alberta.

History

[edit] Fort Chipewyan 1900 and SS Grahame Fort Chipewyan HBC post in 1900 Fort Chipewyan is one of the oldest European settlements in the Province of Alberta. It was one of Canada's important fur trading posts in the late 1700s and early 1800s, serving as a distribution and collection point for furs, goods and men trading in the Peace, Slave, Athabasca and Mackenzie river basins. It was established as a trading post of the North West Company in 1788. It is named after the Chipewyan living in the area. Its original location was Old Fort Point, on the southwest shore of Lake Athabasca, west of the Old Fort River. The first fur trading post in the area was the NWC's Pond House, or Pond's Fort on the Athabasca River, about 48 to 64 km (30 to 40 mi) from its mouth, established in 1778. Fort Chipewyan on the shore of Lake Athabasca was founded in 1788. It was built on a prominent peninsula, now known as Old Fort Point, on the south shore of Lake Athabasca, about 9 km (5.6 mi) to the east of the Athabasca River delta. Alexander Mackenzie set out from Fort Chipewyan on his expeditions down the Mackenzie River and to the west coast. One of the founders of Fort Chipweyan in 1788, Roderick Mackenzie of Terrebonne served as its administrator until 1794. He had a taste for the written word. He opened correspondence with traders all over the north and west, asking for descriptions of scenery, adventure, folklore and history. He also founded a library at the fort that served the residents of Fort Chipewyan, as well as traders and clerks of the whole Lake Athabasca region. He hoped it would be what he called, in an imaginative and somewhat jocular vein, "the little Athens of the Arctic regions." This library, started in 1790, held more than 2000 books. It became one of the most famous in the whole extent of Rupert's Land. In 1798, the NWC's Fort Chipewyan was relocated to a site on the north shore, the site of today's hamlet. A new post, now known as Fort Chipewyan III, was built in 1803, not far away. In 1802, the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) set up a post, Nottingham House, on English Island at the mouth of Slave River, the outlet of Lake Athabasca. It was abandoned in 1806. From about 1815 to 1821 the HBC operated a competing Fort Wedderburn (named after Andrew Colvile's family) on Coal or Potato Island 2.4 km (1+1⁄2 mi) from the North West Company's fort. This fort was established by John Clarke. Sir George Simpson stayed here 1820–1821, during which time he reorganized the fur trade. When the HBC and NWC merged in 1821, Fort Wedderburn was abandoned and all HBC's fur-trade operations on the lake moved to Fort Chipewyan. Sir John Franklin used Fort Chipewyan as a way-station on his overland Arctic Coppermine expedition in July 1820. In 1887–1888 there was a great famine in the Fort Chipewyan area. Electricity and electric lights arrived in Fort Chipewyan in 1959. In 2023 about a thousand people were evacuated from the centre due to threat by a wildfire. Historic sites[edit] Old Fort Point, the site of the first Fort Chipewyan, established in 1788 southeast of the present site of Fort Chipewyan, was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1930. Historic places in the community include the site of the third Fort Chipewyan, established in 1803, the Anglican Church built in 1880 and Day School built in 1874, and the Roman Catholic Mission Church built in 1909.

Geography

[edit] It is located on the western tip of Lake Athabasca, adjacent to Wood Buffalo National Park, approximately 223 km (139 mi) north of Fort McMurray. Climate[edit] Fort Chipewyan has a subarctic climate (Köppen Dfc) with long, very cold, dry winters and short, warm, wetter summers. The highest temperature ever recorded in Fort Chipewyan was 39.3 °C (102.7 °F) on 30 June 2021. The coldest temperature ever recorded was −51.1 °C (−60 °F) on 1 February 1917. Climate data for Fort Chipewyan (Fort Chipewyan Airport)Climate ID: 3072658; coordinates 58°46′N 111°07′W / 58.767°N 111.117°W / 58.767; -111.117 (Fort Chipewyan Airport); elevation: 232.0 m (761.2 ft); 1981–2010 normals, extremes 1883–present Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year Record high humidex 7.3 10.6 15.0 26.4 32.4 38.3 37.7 40.6 32.1 26.0 14.1 8.4 40.6 Record high °C (°F) 10.5(50.9) 11.0(51.8) 15.5(59.9) 27.1(80.8) 32.4(90.3) 39.3(102.7) 36.1(97.0) 34.1(93.4) 31.2(88.2) 26.5(79.7) 14.4(57.9) 8.8(47.8) 39.3(102.7) Mean daily maximum °C (°F) −15.8(3.6) −12.3(9.9) −4.8(23.4) 5.4(41.7) 14.5(58.1) 21.0(69.8) 23.4(74.1) 21.3(70.3) 14.6(58.3) 5.2(41.4) −5.7(21.7) −13.1(8.4) 4.5(40.1) Daily mean °C (°F) −21.0(−5.8) −18.4(−1.1) −11.7(10.9) −0.9(30.4) 7.9(46.2) 14.5(58.1) 17.2(63.0) 15.2(59.4) 9.0(48.2) 1.0(33.8) −10.0(14.0) −17.9(−0.2) −1.3(29.7) Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −26.2(−15.2) −24.5(−12.1) −18.5(−1.3) −7.3(18.9) 1.2(34.2) 8.1(46.6) 10.9(51.6) 9.1(48.4) 3.4(38.1) −3.2(26.2) −14.2(6.4) −22.8(−9.0) −7.0(19.4) Record low °C (°F) −50.0(−58.0) −51.2(−60.2) −43.8(−46.8) −34.1(−29.4) −21.8(−7.2) −7.0(19.4) −0.9(30.4) −4.2(24.4) −12.2(10.0) −30.0(−22.0) −39.8(−39.6) −47.8(−54.0) −51.2(−60.2) Record low wind chill −57.6 −58.6 −52.4 −41.0 −25.3 −6.7 0.0 −6.2 −16.5 −33.1 −47.1 −59.1 −59.1 Average precipitation mm (inches) 18.1(0.71) 16.6(0.65) 17.8(0.70) 12.8(0.50) 26.5(1.04) 42.8(1.69) 64.0(2.52) 57.7(2.27) 51.0(2.01) 25.8(1.02) 17.9(0.70) 20.1(0.79) 370.9(14.60) Average rainfall mm (inches) 0.2(0.01) 0.0(0.0) 0.2(0.01) — 23.8(0.94) 42.7(1.68) — 54.6(2.15) 51.8(2.04) — — — — Average snowfall cm (inches) 12.4(4.9) 14.2(5.6) 14.9(5.9) — 2.4(0.9) 0.0(0.0) 0.0(0.0) 0.0(0.0) 0.7(0.3) — — — — Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm) 12.9 12.1 12.3 7.5 11.3 13.5 14.2 13.9 13.8 12.5 13.9 14.3 152.1 Average rainy days (≥ 0.2 mm) 0.2 0.1 0.3 — 10.3 12.1 — 12.9 13.3 — — — — Average snowy days (≥ 0.2 cm) 10.3 9.9 9.6 — 1.4 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.4 — — — — Average relative humidity (%) (at 1500 LST) 73.4 66.1 54.7 47.0 42.8 46.3 50.8 55.3 59.4 67.5 78.9 77.1 59.9 Source: Environment and Climate Change Canada (February minimum) (June maximum) (July maximum)

Demographics

[edit] Fort Chipewyan fur trader 1890s with $35,000 worth of furs Population history of Fort ChipewyanYearPop.±%1941441—    1951466+5.7%1956304−34.8%1961717+135.9%19661,026+43.1%19711,122+9.4%19761,179+5.1%1981944−19.9%1986922−2.3%YearPop.±%1991537−41.8%1991A1,004+87.0%1996935−6.9%2001902−3.5%2006756−16.2%2011847+12.0%2016852+0.6%2021798−6.3%Source: Statistics Canada In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Fort Chipewyan had a population of 798 living in 309 of its 387 total private dwellings, a change of -6.3% from its 2016 population of 852. With a land area of 9.93 km2 (3.83 sq mi), it had a population density of 80.4/km2 (208.1/sq mi) in 2021. The population of Fort Chipewyan according to the 2018 municipal census conducted by the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo is 918, a decrease from its 2012 municipal census population count of 1,008. As a designated place in the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Fort Chipewyan had a population of 852 living in 295 of its 372 total private dwellings, a change of 0.6% from its 2011 population of 847. With a land area of 10.7 km2 (4.1 sq mi), it had a population density of 79.6/km2 (206.2/sq mi) in 2016. The hamlet's population is predominantly made up of Cree and Chipewyan (Dene) First Nations and Métis.

Transportation

[edit] The Fort Chipewyan Winter Road traverses the Peace-Athabasca Delta Air[edit] The hamlet is served by the Fort Chipewyan Airport, opened on June 18, 1966. Air is one of two methods of access to Fort Chipewyan in the summer. Water[edit] In the summer, the hamlet also can be accessed by boat from Fort McMurray via the Athabasca River. Road[edit] There are no all-weather roads to Fort Chipewyan, but it can be reached via winter roads in the winter. These include roads from Fort Smith to the north and from Fort McMurray to the south. In June 1998, and as part of the Northwestern Canadian Integrated Road Network Plan, the Alberta government conducted studies on all-weather road access by extending the existing Highway 63 from Fort McMurray. As of 2008 Highway 63 has been extended from Fort McMurray to Syncrude; there are currently no plans on extending it further to Fort Chipewyan. In December 2005, one-third of Fort Chipewyan's residents signed a petition to request the government to build a 50 km (31 mi) all-weather road to connect with existing roads to the northwest that provide access to Fort Smith, Northwest Territories.[citation needed] The major expenditure would be a bridge over the Slave River.

Solar energy

[edit] In September 2014, the community of Fort Chipewyan in collaboration with Keepers of the Athabasca installed a 1.8 kW solar array on the roof of the Elder Lodge to be used for emergency backup power. An energy baseline study was completed for Fort Chipewyan by the Pembina Institute in 2012. The table below shows the mean daily global insolation (kWh/m2) in Fort Chipewyan for each month of the year using five different fixed solar array orientations and one which tracks the sun. The data was provided by Natural Resources Canada's Municipality database of photovoltaic potential and insolation which used data collected over 50 years from 144 locations compiled from Environment Canada's CERES CD. Mean daily global insolation (kWh/m2) in Fort Chipewyan Month South facing (tilt = vertical) South facing (tilt = latitude) South facing (tilt = lat+15o South facing (tilt = lat-15o Two-axis sun-tracking Horizontal (tilt=0o) January 2.64 2.46 2.63 2.14 2.86 0.56 February 4.23 4.17 4.33 3.77 5.02 1.42 March 5.48 5.92 5.88 5.65 7.74 3.02 April 4.95 6.26 5.78 6.41 9.38 4.71 May 3.82 5.55 4.84 6.02 9.59 5.82 June 3.38 5.2 4.43 5.78 9.76 6.23 July 3.38 5.09 4.37 5.61 9.26 5.82 August 3.66 5.04 4.51 5.34 8.19 4.5 September 3.35 4.04 3.82 4.03 5.56 2.8 October 2.68 2.85 2.86 2.69 3.51 1.49 November 2.16 2.07 2.18 1.84 2.42 0.65 December 1.98 1.82 1.96 1.56 2.09 0.34 Annual 3.47 4.2 3.96 4.24 6.29 3.12 Fort Chipewyan Solar Farm[edit] The Fort Chipewyan Solar Farm was developed by Three Nations Energy LP, and constructed in 2019 through 2020. ATCO was the designer and builder, and operates the system. The Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation, Mikisew Cree First Nation, and Fort Chipewyan Métis Local 125 own the project. The solar farm is expected to supply approximately 25 percent of Fort Chipewyan's energy and annually replace 800,000 litres of diesel fuel. A battery storage system will store 1.5 MWh of power. Phase 1 was planned to include 1,500 panels (400 kW) but was reported at the project completion as a 600 kW facility, while phase 2 was planned include 6,000 panels and was reported at the project completion to include 5,760 panels with the planned output of 2,200 kW. The Government of Canada provided $4.5M and the Government of Alberta provided $3.3M of the project's $7.8M cost. ATCO will buy the solar farm's energy under a long-term purchase agreement and supply it to the local power grid, which is disconnected from the province-wide grid. ATCO stated that with the completion of the 2.2 MW-capacity project, about 25 fewer tanker trucks will trek across the winter ice road connecting the community with Fort McMurray, 220 km (140 mi) to the south. In the summer, the community is only accessible by air or barge.