Queen Charlotte Islands - Sea Kayaking Gwaii Haanas National Park
Sea kayaking in Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlotte Islands) is a spectacular experience. From remote wilderness travel, fantastic wildlife, and a rich First Nations heritage, this area encompasses it all. If you are looking for a true wilderness experience that has you traveling through a rich and diverse ecosystem along with rich Haida culture, then this is the trip for you!
Isolated from British Columbia by the infamous Hecate Strait, the Queen Charlotte Islands are ecologically unique. Called Haida Gwaii, or ‘Islands of the People”, these emerald isles are often referred to as the ‘Canadian Galapagos’. The 100 kilometres of open water has isolated the archipelago from the BC mainland, to the extent that there are at least 39 distinct subspecies of plants and animals that are found no place else in the world!
Haida Gwaii is home of the Haida Nation, and our trips travel their traditional waterways and visit traditional cultural sites, including the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ninstints, Hotspring Island, and the village of Tanu.
Our trips take place in the Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and Haida Heritage Site, voted as the #1 wilderness park destination in North America by National Geographic. Visitors to this area are limited, due the remoteness and a strict quota system implemented by Parks Canada.
We offer the following trips in Haida Gwaii:
- Tanu (T’aanuu Linagaay) – Burnaby Island – 8 days
- Burnaby Island – Ninstints (SGang Gwaay Linagaay) – 8 days
- Ninstints (SGang Gwaay Linagaay)– Hotspring Island (Gandll K’in Gwaayaay) – 10 days
- Tanu (T’aanuu Linagaay) – Ninstints (SGang Gwaay Linagaay) – 15 days
Our Haida Gwaii kayaking trips are operated with the same high level of customer care as the rest of our offerings. Where many operators in the area require you to provide much of your own equipment, we include all paddling and camping gear in your trip cost.
All trips depart Sandspit, utilize zodiac or floatplane transport, and include all necessary equipment. Due the remoteness and conditions in this area, it is best suited to those with prior kayaking experience, or at least those with camping skills and a sense of adventure!
- Maps of the Queen Charlotte Islands (Haida Gwaii) and Gwaii Haanas National Park
- Traveling to Sandspit, Queen Charlotte Islands (Haida Gwaii)
Additional Gwaii Haanas Features:
- About 750,000 seabirds breed in Gwaii Haanas; millions more stop here at some point during spring and fall migrations.
- There are more eagle nests per kilometre of shoreline than anywhere else in Canada and the highest breeding density of Peregrine falcons in the world.
- The only confirmed nesting site in Canada for horned puffins.
- Grey whales are migratory visitors during spring and summer.
- Sightings of humpbacks and minkes are common in Juan Perez Sound.
- The largest breeding colony of Steller sea lions on the west coasts surrounds Cape St. James, at the southern tip of Gwaii Haanas. One third of the province's sea lion population calls the Charlottes home.
- Burnaby Narrows: Studies conducted in 1992 and 1993 determined that this area contained some of the highest levels of living material (called biomass) of any intertidal zone in the world. -the park is working to increase visitor knowledge of these fragile environments, advocating a no-walk policy for the intertidal zones.
- At least 39 distinct subspecies of plants and animals in the archipelago, including seven mammals, three birds and fifteen species of the stickleback fish are found nowhere else in the world.
- The Haida Gwaii black bear has developed exceptionally strong jaws in order to take advantage of the abundance of hard shelled sea creatures available - they are the largest black bears in North America.
- Endemic bird species include a small saw-whet owl and unique forms of Steller's Jay and Hairy woodpecker.
- Watchmen are posted at the five most frequently visited village and cultural sites in Gwaii Haanas from May to September.
