Castle Hours

March 2-29, 2024

Tuesdays to Sundays 12 Noon to 5 PM

+Special Events

Closed Mondays

admission

Adults $10

Teens (13-18), Students with valid ID, Seniors (65+) $8

Kids (6-12) $5

Littles (under 6) FREE

Family (6 people max, up to 2 adults) $35

Special events have special rates

We accept Visa, MasterCard, debit, and cash

season passes

Daytime $85

Family (Daytime admission for 6 people max, up to 2 adults) $250

VIP (Full access throughout the festival) $350

Passes give access to the castle from March 1-26, are non-transferable, and must have the pass holders name on them.

Pre-purchase in our online shop or at the ticket booth during regular admission hours.

frequently asked questions

When will the Snow Castle open?

The Snow Castle will be fully constructed and open for the season on March 2nd 2024, which we’ll celebrate with our traditional opening ceremony, including the cutting of the castle door. If you want to enjoy the slide, watch a performance etc., plan to come between March 2 and 29!

Our 8th annual Snow Carving Symposium, which occurs outside the castle walls, will be March 1st- 3rd, with 9 teams competing for snow sculpting supremacy.

I see the castle is being built. Can I come watch?

Just like any other construction site with busy workers and heavy equipment, for everyone’s safety, we ask the public to stay away from the action. You may join one of our guided construction tours February 1 -25, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 1:30pm where you will be guided through the site and learn all about how the castle is built. The tours last around 20 minutes, followed by a stop in our Visitor’s Centre.

How do I get tickets for the evening events?

Tickets will be sold on our online shop (coming soon).

Can I bring my dog?

Sorry, but dogs are not allowed inside the castle. We love dogs, but we don’t like yellow snow. You may bring your dog to the site and check out the exterior grounds including the snow carvings. Please clean up after your dog and do what you can to keep the site free of yellow snow. Thank you!

Can I take photos and/or videos?

Absolutely! The Snow castle provides amazing photo opportunities by day and by night. We really appreciate when our visitors share photos on social media. Please tag us @snowkingyk and #snowking_yk so we can show them off too.

Why are the snow carvings roped off?

Not only do we want the fragile sculptures to remain as pristine as possible, for as long as possible, for as many visitors to enjoy as possible, we also don’t want anyone to get hurt. Breaking-off and falling sculpture pieces can be very heavy and may cause serious injuries. Thank you for never crossing into the roped off area around the snowcarvings at any time. Also, see Dogs.

How should I dress?

March can be anything from a calm and sunny -40, to gusty snow in -20, or calm but overcast around -5. The best advise is to dress for the weather. Inside the Great Hall it is usually a few degrees warmer, but don’t be deceived - you’d still want to come to our events in your biggest boots and warmest coat. On a sunny day, don’t forget your sunglasses or pick up a pair of cool shades from our Visitor’s Centre.

Do you have bathrooms?

We do! They are very basic but do the job if you’re in a pinch.

Can I bring food and beverages?

Warm bevvies keep our bodies warm and snacks keep the kiddos fueled for a little more fun on the slides - we get it. All we ask is that you make use of our garbage cans, and most importantly: be mindful of spills. Therefore, no open beverages are allowed inside the castle. Keep a lid on it and keep the Snowcastle clean. We recommend using reusable, well sealed to-go mugs instead.

Where is the castle? AKA: How to find us!

The Snow Castle is located on the ice of Yellowknife Bay, also known as Houseboat Bay, nestled into the shores of Great Slave Lake next to Old Town's Woodyard neighbourhood. We love it if you walk, bike, ski, or take the bus to the castle.

If on foot, there are many ways to get here. The most direct route from Franklin Avenue is: turn right on Hamilton Drive, walk straight ahead for two blocks until you see the entrance to the Woodyard shack community. Keep straight on the path through the trees, and you will come out on the ice directly behind the Snow Castle. The closest bus stops are by the Gallery of the Midnight Sun (going to N’dilo), and across from Hak’s (going downtown).

During the month of March, taxi service is usually available to and from the Snow Castle. 

If you're driving, head down Franklin Avenue into Old Town, and turn right at the boat launch at Wiley Road and drive onto the ice. Keep to the road on the right, and you've found us! Please don’t idle your vehicle in our parking lot. It smells bad, looks ugly on photos, and is very bad for the environment and people’s health. Let’s all be role models for the kids that visit the castle. Thank you!

**ALWAYS PRACTICE CAUTION WHILE ON THE ICE. *Never* go on the ice before December unless wearing a life jacket (and even then, it's risky!). Even when the ice is solid, there are places around Yellowknife Bay with currents and thin spots. Please stick to the well-trodden areas near the Snow Castle unless accompanied by a guide or you know where you're going. Stay safe out there!**