The Northwest Company established a post on Trout River in 1796 however it did not become an organized community until the late 1960s.
Today hunting, fishing and trapping are the major sources of income.
Trout Lake is one of the most remote and traditional communities of the Northwest Territories.
The community is located on the south shore of Trout Lake, 161 air km south of Fort Simpson and 442 air km southwest of Yellowknife.
The population here is roughly 68 (1996 Census).