
Alone (US) · Seasons 5 & 6
Great Slave Lake
Subarctic Canadian Shield — boreal forest, granite shoreline, and a lake big enough to make its own weather.
Northwest Territories, Canada
Where on earth
Satellite imagery flying in from a world view to Great Slave Lake, Northwest Territories, Canada. Use the + / − buttons, or click the map to zoom with your scroll wheel; drag to pan and pinch to zoom on touch.
- Region
- Northwest Territories, Canada
- Biome
- Subarctic boreal / Canadian Shield
- Canoeing
- Kayaking
- Fishing
- Hunting
- Climbing
- Winter Camping
- Skiing
- Wildlife Viewing
Key takeaways
- Biome: Subarctic boreal / Canadian Shield
- Biome
- Subarctic boreal / Canadian Shield
- Lake size
- 27,200 km² (10th largest on Earth)
- Winter lows
- -30 to -40 °C
- Key food
- Lake trout, pike, moose
- Big predators
- Black bear, wolf, wolverine
Topic summary
Subarctic Canadian Shield — boreal forest, granite shoreline, and a lake big enough to make its own weather. Great Slave sits on the northern edge of the Canadian Shield — thin soil over ancient granite, tight boreal forest of black spruce and jack pine, and a lake so big it behaves like a small sea. Winters are brutal, summers
Key takeaways
- Biome: Subarctic boreal / Canadian Shield
- Lake size: 27,200 km² (10th largest on Earth)
- Winter lows: -30 to -40 °C
- Key food: Lake trout, pike, moose
- Big predators: Black bear, wolf, wolverine
Intended uses
Alone (US) Seasons 5 & 6 filming location background
Climate suitability
Subarctic boreal / Canadian Shield
Verification notes
Compiled from published show records, regional agencies, and topographical / satellite imagery. Region: Northwest Territories, Canada. Coordinates: 62.400, -110.750.
The country
Great Slave sits on the northern edge of the Canadian Shield — thin soil over ancient granite, tight boreal forest of black spruce and jack pine, and a lake so big it behaves like a small sea. Winters are brutal, summers are short and buggy, and everything about how you camp bends to the water.
Why the show came here
Two back-to-back seasons for a reason: reliable fish (trout, pike, whitefish), workable timber, and a filming window that lets producers push participants toward the winter transition — the point where cold, not calories, decides who stays.
Planner-relevant notes
Freeze-up timing rules everything. Build a shelter you can insulate as the temperature drops, not just one that sheds fall rain. A reliable open-water fishing setup + a plan for hard-water fishing after freeze-up outperforms any single loadout choice.
Top experiences
Paddle the East Arm's Pethei Peninsula and Christie Bay, lake-trout fish over the deep (world-record 72 lb was caught here), watch the aurora from mid-Aug on, and boat to McDonald Peninsula's cliff country. Ice-road access to Yellowknife opens a whole winter travel corridor.
Field notes
- Onshore winds on this lake are dangerous — plan a bail-out camp above high water.
- Wolverine sign near your cache means the cache is already lost.
- Ice safety: 10 cm clear black ice supports a person, 15 cm for groups.
- East Arm National Park Reserve (Thaidene Nëné) is co-managed with the Łutsël K'é Dene — respect community-designated closure zones.
- Late-Sep snow can lock a paddle trip in place — plan a weather buffer.
Frequently asked about Great Slave Lake
- Where was Alone (US) Seasons 5 & 6 filmed?
- Great Slave Lake is in Northwest Territories, Canada. Subarctic Canadian Shield — boreal forest, granite shoreline, and a lake big enough to make its own weather.
- What is the climate like at Great Slave Lake?
- Subarctic boreal / Canadian Shield. Great Slave sits on the northern edge of the Canadian Shield — thin soil over ancient granite, tight boreal forest of black spruce and jack pine, and a lake so big it behaves like a small sea. Winters are brutal, summers
- Can you visit the Alone (US) Seasons 5 & 6 filming site?
- Exact drop points are on public land or private timber leases and are not published, but the general area around Great Slave Lake is accessible with permits, guides, or self-supported trips.
Build a ten for Great Slave Lake
Assemble your own 10-item Alone loadout tuned to this biome — cold, wet, and food strategy already scoped.
Open the builderShelter that suits this terrain
Browse shelter builds and site-selection guides matched to conditions like the ones here.
Wildlife
Wildlife found around Great Slave Lake
Same ground, different cast
Seasons filmed at Great Slave Lake
Compare how contestants adapted their loadouts to the same terrain in different years.
- Alone Season 5
Mongolia2018 Sam Larson
- Alone Season 6
Great Slave Lake2019 Jordan Jonas
The gear behind what you just read
Ranked lists for the exact categories that decide a season.
- Top 10 Winter JacketsDown parkas, synthetic belay pieces, and heavy wool coats for real cold.See the ranking
- Top 10 Merino Wool Base LayersNext-to-skin wool that works in real cold, real heat, and days between washes.See the ranking
- Top 10 Three-Season Sleeping BagsDown and synthetic bags that cover the honest 20°F–40°F working range.See the ranking
- Top 10 Winter Camping LocationsCold-country trips built around snow, ice, and quiet skies.See the ranking
- Best Cold-Weather HatsWool watch caps, ushankas, and windproof beanies for real winter.See the ranking










