National park · Canada
Naikoon Provincial Park
Base yourself in Tlell or Masset and drive: the Tow Hill blowhole boardwalk is 20 min and free, the 100 km beach walk needs 4–6 days and a food drop, and camping is CAD 18 per party per night from 1 Jun to 30 Sep.Base yourself in Tlell or Masset and drive: the Tow Hill blowhole boardwalk is 20 min and free, the 62 mi beach walk needs 4–6 days and a food drop, and camping is CAD 18 per party per night from 1 Jun to 30 Sep.
Map to the park
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Area
692 km²267 sq mi
approximate
Established
1973
Best months
Jun–Aug
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 6Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
- North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
- North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
- North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
- Canada ↗Visa-exempt travellers flying to or through Canada usually need an eTA; check your passport on the official Government of Canada site (canada.ca) and apply only there.
- Canada ↗A Parks Canada pass is needed to stop in national parks such as Banff and Jasper; some spots (for example Moraine Lake) are reached only by shuttle or tour, so book ahead.
- Canada ↗Keep well away from bears, elk and moose; carry bear spray on Rockies trails and follow trail closures.
At a glance
- Country
- Canada
- Area
- 692 km²267 sq mi
- 69,166 hectares per BC Parks; the figure is sometimes rounded to about 690 km² (check).
- Established
- 1973
- Best months
- Jun–Aug
- Permits
- For some areas
Naikoon covers the northeast corner of Graham Island in Haida Gwaii: about 69,000 hectares of coastal temperate rainforest, bog, dune and roughly 100 km of sand beach, with Tow Hill and Rose Spit as its landmarks. It is Haida Nation territory, with village sites and food-gathering places inside the boundary. Most visitors see it as a day stop off Highway 16; the long walk along North Beach is a separate, self-supported trip.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 1973.
Size and age
692 km²267 sq mi · national park since 1973
69,166 hectares per BC Parks; the figure is sometimes rounded to about 690 km² (check).
Why go
- Roughly 100 km of open sand beach on the north and east shores, walkable for days.Roughly 62 mi of open sand beach on the north and east shores, walkable for days.
- Tow Hill: a basalt outcrop with a boardwalk to a blowhole and a view over the north beach.
- Rose Spit, the 5 km point that gives the park its Haida name, is a major stopover on the Pacific Flyway.Rose Spit, the 3.1 mi point that gives the park its Haida name, is a major stopover on the Pacific Flyway.
- Old homestead clearings and place names from the failed 1900s settlement are still visible in the forest.
When to go
- JanAvoid
- FebAvoid
- MarCaution
- AprCaution
- MayGo
- JunBest
- JulBest
- AugBest
- SepGo
- OctCaution
- NovAvoid
- DecAvoid
- JanStorms, rain, short days; campgrounds unserviced
- FebWet and windy; no services
- MarCold rain; roads open but quiet
- AprLonger days; still wet underfoot
- MayGrey whale and fur seal migration north; cool
- JunFull services start 1 Jun; longest daylight
- JulDriest and warmest; busiest beach camping
- AugWarm; rain still possible any day
- SepServices run to 30 Sep; fewer people
- OctWet; services end, no fees
- NovStorm season; driftwood and surf on the beach
- DecDark, wet, unserviced
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grey whales and northern fur seals moving northMay–Jun · Watch from shore; do not approach by boat or kayak. | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Harbour seals at Rose Spit and along the north beachAll year | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Migrating shorebirds and sandhill cranes on the Pacific FlywayAug–Oct · Rose Spit is the main gathering point. | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no |
| Black bears in the forest and along the beach edgeApr–Oct · Store food in a vehicle or hang it; never leave scraps at camp. | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no |
| Sitka blacktail deer and introduced small mammalsAll year | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
How to get there
From Tlell (park headquarters)
Highway 16 runs along the park edge; the headquarters and Misty Meadows are just off it.
From Masset
Tow Hill Road east from Masset to the Tow Hill and Agate Beach turn-offs.
20–30 min
From Sandspit airport
Drive Highway 16 north through Tlell to the park; a vehicle is needed.
1.5–2 h
From Prince Rupert
BC Ferries to Skidegate, then drive north on Highway 16.
Ferry 7–8 h plus 1–1.5 h drive
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| North Beach and Tow Hill | The basalt outcrop, the blowhole boardwalk, Agate Beach campground and the long open beach. | Drive-in; boardwalk is accessible. |
| Rose Spit Ecological Reserve | The 5 km sand point between Dixon Entrance and Hecate Strait; endangered plant community and bird habitat.The 3.1 mi sand point between Dixon Entrance and Hecate Strait; endangered plant community and bird habitat. | Walk in; no motorised vehicles. |
| Tlell and Misty Meadows | Park headquarters, river mouth, Misty Meadows campground and the east-side beach. | Drive-in; open year-round, weather permitting. |
| Forest and bog interior | Spruce and cedar rainforest, wetlands, old homestead clearings and rough routes. | Walk-in; no facilities, expect wet ground. |
Sketch map
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Camping, Agate Beach or Misty Meadows | CAD 18 | party per night | 1 Jun–30 Sep, 2026 estimate; no services and no fee outside that window (check). |
| Day use (Tow Hill, beach access, trails) | Free | person | No day-use fee; BC Parks does not charge entry at Naikoon (check). |
| Backcountry camping | Free | party per night | No facilities and no fee; you carry everything (check). |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park entry no permit
Camping fee permit or guide
Rose Spit Ecological Reserve no permit
Park rules
- Dunes
- Do not walk or drive on the sand dunes; broken grass roots cause blowouts that bury forest, trails and campsites.
- Rose Spit Ecological Reserve
- Motorised vehicles are prohibited; it protects an endangered plant community and bird habitat.
- ATVs
- Allowed only on North and East Beaches, high on the beach and below the driftwood line; not in campsites, not on trails, not on Tow Hill Road unless registered and plated.
- ATV fine
- Running a non-licensed ATV on a roadway carries a CAD 600 fine.
- Water
- Potable water at park campgrounds and the Tlell headquarters; treat any surface water before drinking.
- Fires and rubbish
- Keep fires small and in rings where provided; carry out everything you bring in.
Where to stay
In the park
Agate Beach campground
39 vehicle-accessible sites near Tow Hill; full services and fees 1 Jun–30 Sep, no reservations.
In the park
Misty Meadows campground
30 vehicle-accessible sites near Tlell; same service window, no reservations.
In the park
Backcountry camping
Allowed on the beach and in the forest with no facilities and no fee; carry water and a bear-safe food store.
Near the park
Tlell and Masset
Guesthouses, lodges and a few motels outside the park; the practical base for a short visit.
Safety
Tides and soft sand on the beach walk high
Weather change medium
Bears medium
Remote self-rescue medium
Drinking surface water medium
Accessibility
- The Tow Hill trail to the blowhole lookout is universally accessible, including the interpretive signs.
- Two wheelchair-accessible tables at the Tow Hill day-use trailhead.
- Misty Meadows has two accessible outhouses; Agate Beach has one, plus accessible water standpipes.
- Beach walking is possible on firm sand but there are no boardwalks beyond Tow Hill.
Visiting lightly
- Stay off the dunes and the upper beach grass; use established access points only.
- Keep ATVs to the permitted beach zone and below the driftwood line.
- Do not collect cultural material, including old homestead artefacts and shell middens.
- Pack out all rubbish; there is no collection in the backcountry.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Naikoon Provincial Park?
Nothing. There is no day-use or entry fee. Camping at Agate Beach or Misty Meadows is CAD 18 per party per night from 1 Jun to 30 Sep (2026 estimate); outside that window there are no services and no fee. Backcountry camping has no fee.
What are the best hikes in Naikoon Provincial Park?
The Tow Hill boardwalk to the blowhole lookout is the easiest and is accessible. The North Beach walk is the main long route, roughly 100 km from Tlell to Tow Hill, usually done in 4–6 days with a food drop. Rose Spit is a 2–4 hour walk out and back on sand. Forest and bog routes are rough and wet, with no marked trails.
When is the best time to visit Naikoon Provincial Park?
June to August for the driest, warmest and longest days, with full campground services from 1 Jun to 30 Sep. May brings migrating grey whales and fur seals. October to April is storm season: wet, windy and unserviced, though the campgrounds stay open weather permitting.
Do I need a reservation to camp?
No. Campsites at Agate Beach and Misty Meadows cannot be reserved; you pay on arrival during the service season. In July and August, arrive early in the afternoon for a beach-side site.
Can I drive on the beach?
Only on North and East Beaches, and only high on the beach below the driftwood line. Vehicles are banned from Rose Spit Ecological Reserve, from all trails and from campsites. Beach driving needs a tide table and a plan for getting unstuck.
Is there drinking water in the park?
Yes at the campgrounds and at the Tlell headquarters during the service season. Outside it, and anywhere in the backcountry, treat or filter surface water before drinking.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go