Ivvavik National Park

Travel to Ivvavik National Park begins in Inuvik, 200 km east of the park in the Northwest Territories. With a population of approximately 3,450, this town is the regional centre of the Western Arctic where you will find the Parks Canada office and other amenities.

At the Parks Canada office, you will receive a mandatory orientation session, register and deregister your trip in the park.

You can also purchase fishing permits and souvenirs.

In Inuvik, you can find:

aircraft charter companies providing services in the region

grocery stores, restaurants, and hotels

a bank and ATM

a hospital

the Western Arctic Visitor Centre

Charter aircraft is the most common and practical means of accessing the park. Aircraft charter services are available from Inuvik. Inuvik is the largest community in the region and is served by the Dempster Highway and by daily flights from southern Canada.

Northern Park Backcountry Excursion/Camping Permit valid at Ivvavik, Aulavik, Auyuittuq, Nahanni, Quttinirpaaq, Sirmilik, Tuktut Nogait and Vuntut National Parks (per person, 2024):

Daily $33.25

An annual pass is available for less than the cost of 7 day passes.

Fishing permit: daily $20, annual $69

Hiking. Wildlife viewing, photography and birding are all popular activities for visitors travelling on foot. You are likely to see some of the natural inhabitants of the park, such as caribou, grizzly bears, wolves, foxes, muskoxen, gyrfalcons, and golden eagles. The hiking season extends from mid-June until mid-August. A particularly beautiful time to visit is the end of June and early July, when the tundra is carpeted with wildflowers and the caribou are migrating through the park. Hikes can be extended into the third week of August when the autumn colours are at their peak. However, hikers who are en route that late in the season must be prepared for winter-like conditions and delays due to heavy fog. There are no designated trails in Ivvavik: you follow approximate routes, directions, and landmarks such as creeks, rivers, valleys, lakes, eskers, and hills. Investigate your intended hiking route thoroughly using topographic maps and, if possible, air photos. Contact the Park Office to discuss your plans. You must supply a detailed description of your planned route on 1:50 000 scale before your departure to the park. Air access points for hiking include Sheep Creek, Margaret Lake, Komakuk Beach and Stokes Point. (updated Mar 2018)

Ivvavik Fly-in Base Camp, toll-free: +1 867 777-8800, Inuvik.info@pc.gc.ca. A Parks Canada guided Arctic base camp trip. Fly in a Twin Otter bush plane over the Mackenzie Delta and into the heart of the British Mountains. Inuvialuit hosts lead you through the mountain wilderness of Ivvavik National Park. 7-day self-guided/non-catered $2,700, 5-day catered trips $3,700-4,450. (updated Mar 2018)

Rafting the Firth River to the Arctic Ocean. Plenty of rapids, canyons, and ample hiking opportunities to view wildlife. Rafting trips begin by flying into Margaret Lake in the heart of the park. Raft a succession of canyons – like the furious Class IV rapids below Sheep Creek – over the course of one or two weeks. In early summer, rafters can watch migrating caribou herds or nesting raptors. Late summer paddlers can fish for Dolly Varden char, hike jagged ridgelines, or explore Engigstciak, a dramatic peak rising from the coastal plain. Organise your own trip with experienced rafters, or sign up for a guided trip with a commercial operator. (updated Mar 2018)

See Inuvik.

There is the Ivvavik Base Camp in the national park. It offers cabins, kitchen, flush toilet and hot shower facilities.

Ivvavik National Park is adjacent to another Canadian national park, Vuntut National Park. Also, the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge lies just across the Canada–US border in Alaska.

The closest village is Old Crow, although there are no roads to or through that village. The closest Canadian settlement with road access is Inuvik in the Northwest Territories.