High Level, Alberta, is a charming town nestled in the northern part of Alberta, Canada. Situated at the crossroads of the Mackenzie Highway (Highway 35) and Highway 58, it is approximately 733 kilometres north of Edmonton and 725 km south of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. Founded in 1947, High Level is part of Mackenzie County and serves as a trading hub for nearly 20,000 people.
High Level's name is derived from the height of the land that separates the Peace and Hay Rivers. The original location was about 5.6 km north of the current town, along the old Fort Vermilion/Meander River freighting trail. This spot served as a stopping place, not a town, and was known as Tloc Moi (Hay Meadow). The first fur traders arrived in 1786, but it wasn't until 1947 that High Level was settled, largely due to the development of road access to Fort Vermilion. The town's first power plant was established in 1957, followed by the first post office in 1958. The 1960s saw the discovery of oil fields and the arrival of the Mackenzie Northern Railway in 1963.
High Level marks the northern boundary of the Peace River Country and boasts some of the northernmost lands suitable for agriculture in Canada. The town is surrounded by muskeg tundra to the north and west.
High Level experiences a subarctic climate (Köppen climate classification Dfc), with most precipitation falling during the spring and summer. The town sees wide temperature variations, with warm summers and cold winters. The highest recorded temperature was 35.2 °C on August 9, 1985, and the coldest was -50.6 °C on January 13, 1972.
High Level is home to a diverse range of wildlife, including wolves, coyotes, ravens, and various insects. Hunters can find moose, deer, bear, and geese. Over 150 species of birds are known to nest in the area.
According to the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, High Level had a population of 3,922 living in 1,313 of its 1,467 total private dwellings, a 24.2% increase from its 2016 population of 3,159. The town covers a land area of 28.7 km2, resulting in a population density of 136.7/km2 in 2021.
High Level offers both airplane and helicopter services. Due to its remote location, medevac and chartered services are provided by Nor-Alta Aviation, Highland Helicopters, and Delta Helicopters to serve the surrounding communities. Scheduled airline service is offered by Central Mountain Air and Northwestern Air, with daily flights to Edmonton, Calgary, Lloydminster, Rainbow Lake, Hay River, and Fort Smith. Telephone service is provided by Telus and Northwestel, and the High Level and District Chamber of Commerce represents regional businesses.
