National park · Canada
Aulavik National Park
Go only if you can charter a plane and carry everything: fly from Inuvik to a gravel landing strip in late June–August, camp anywhere away from archaeological sites, and expect no marked trails, no services and no other people.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
12,200 km² (4,710 sq mi)4,710 sq mi (12,200 km²)
approximate
Established
1992
Best months
Jul–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
- 12,200 km² (4,710 sq mi)4,710 sq mi (12,200 km²)
- About 12,200 km², slightly larger than Jamaica; the park covers the northern end of Banks Island (check boundary figures).
- Established
- 1992
- Best months
- Jul–Aug
- Permits
- For some areas
Aulavik National Park protects the Arctic Lowlands at the northern end of Banks Island, in the Northwest Territories: 12,200 km² of treeless tundra, the Thomsen River and the Mercy Bay shore where HMS Investigator was abandoned in 1853. There are no roads, trails, campsites or services, and access is only by chartered aircraft from Inuvik to four gravel landing strips for a short window in late June to early September. The park recorded 34 visitors in 2022–23, among the lowest counts of any Canadian national park, and Banks Island holds the densest muskox population on earth. Treat a visit as a self-supported expedition, not a park day trip.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 1992.
Size and age
12,200 km² (4,710 sq mi)4,710 sq mi (12,200 km²) · national park since 1992
About 12,200 km², slightly larger than Jamaica; the park covers the northern end of Banks Island (check boundary figures).
Why go
- The highest concentration of muskoxen on earth: 68,000–80,000 animals are estimated on Banks Island, roughly a fifth of them inside the park.
- The Thomsen River is one of the most northerly navigable rivers in North America, a multi-day paddle through treeless tundra.
- Mercy Bay holds the wreck site and shore relics of HMS Investigator, abandoned in 1853 during the search for Franklin.
- Genuine solitude: the park recorded 34 visitors in 2022–23, among the lowest counts of any Canadian national park.
When to go
- JanAvoid
- FebAvoid
- MarAvoid
- AprAvoid
- MayAvoid
- JunCaution
- JulBest
- AugBest
- SepCaution
- OctAvoid
- NovAvoid
- DecAvoid
- JanPolar night; no visitor access (check with Parks Canada)
- FebDark and extremely cold; no visitor access (check with Parks Canada)
- MarNo visitor access (check with Parks Canada)
- AprNo visitor access (check with Parks Canada)
- MayNo visitor access (check with Parks Canada)
- JunLate June landings possible; 24-hour daylight (check with Parks Canada)
- JulPeak access window; rivers run, tundra greens up (check with Parks Canada)
- AugWarmest and driest; mosquitoes and flies at their worst (check with Parks Canada)
- SepEarly September possible, weather-dependent (check with Parks Canada)
- OctNo visitor access (check with Parks Canada)
- NovNo visitor access (check with Parks Canada)
- DecPolar night; no visitor access (check with Parks Canada)
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MuskoxenAll year · Year-round residents; the island holds the densest population on earth. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Peary caribou and barren-ground caribouJun–Sep · Peary caribou are endangered; sightings are not guaranteed. | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
| Polar bears along the north coastJun–Sep · Marine mammals including ringed and bearded seals, beluga and bowhead whales are also offshore. | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
| Ptarmigan and ravensAll year · The only birds considered year-round residents. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Snowy owls, gyrfalcons, rough-legged hawks, peregrine falconsJun–Aug · Raptors hunt lemmings; Arctic foxes, hares, wolves and lemmings are also present. | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Inuvik
Chartered aircraft to one of four park landing strips; about 750 km (466 mi) southwest of the southern park boundary. Flight time varies by aircraft and strip — check with the charter operator.Chartered aircraft to one of four park landing strips; about 466 mi (750 km) southwest of the southern park boundary. Flight time varies by aircraft and strip — check with the charter operator.
check
From Sachs Harbour
The only community on Banks Island; some charters stage here, and limited fuel may be available.
1–2 h
From Southern Canada
Daily flights to Inuvik, then charter; the Dempster Highway also reaches Inuvik by road.
1 day plus
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Thomsen River corridor | The park's main artery, a navigable tundra river running north toward Castel Bay. | Fly-in; paddle or walk, no facilities. |
| Mercy Bay | HMS Investigator wreck site and shore relics from McClure's 1850–53 winters. | Landing strip nearby; archaeological sites protected. |
| Northern coast | McClure Strait shoreline with polar bears, seals and beluga and bowhead whales offshore. | Experienced parties only; bear country. |
| Southern uplands | Sparsely vegetated plateau rising to about 450 m. | Walk-in from landing strips; no trails. |
Sketch map
- 1Inuvik (charter base) · Town≈68.361, -133.723Approximate; mainland staging point about 750 km (466 mi) southwest of the park.Approximate; mainland staging point about 466 mi (750 km) southwest of the park.Map ↗
- 2Sachs Harbour · Town≈71.986, -125.246Approximate; only community on Banks Island.Map ↗
- 3Park landing strips · Ranger station≈73.700, -119.919Approximate park-centre position; four strips exist, confirm which one your charter uses.Map ↗
- 4Mercy Bay · Beach≈74.050, -119.150Approximate; HMS Investigator wreck site and relics.Map ↗
- 5Castel Bay · Beach≈74.100, -119.600Approximate; northern bay on the Thomsen River route.Map ↗
- 6Thomsen River · Trail≈73.550, -119.900Approximate mid-course point; navigable river running north.Map ↗
Take the points offline
6 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Approximate positions for orientation only; the park has no roads and landing strips are not publicly mapped in detail.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entry (day use, per person) | Free | person | No entry gate is documented at Aulavik; confirm with Parks Canada whether any per-person fee applies (check). |
| Charter aircraft, Inuvik to park landing strip | Free | aircraft | No published rate; cost depends on aircraft type, group size, strip and fuel. Get a written quote from an Inuvik charter operator (check). |
| Camping (backcountry, no designated sites) | Free | night | No camping fee is documented; confirm with Parks Canada (check). |
| Discovery Pass (annual, Parks Canada) | CAD 75 (≈ US$55) | adult | 2026 estimate; covers entry at parks that charge day fees, not charters. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park registration / trip plan permit or guide
Aircraft charter permit or guide
Firearm or bear deterrent no permit
Park rules
- Camping
- No designated campsites; camp anywhere except at archaeological sites, and practise no-trace camping.
- Campfires
- Not allowed anywhere in the park; use a camp stove and bottled fuel.
- Fuel on aircraft
- Scheduled aircraft do not carry passenger fuel; buy stove fuel in Inuvik, with some types available in Sachs Harbour.
- Garbage
- Pack out all rubbish; nothing is collected in the park.
- Human waste
- Choose a level spot well away from water, dig a small hole in the active layer, and burn toilet paper before burying the remains; large groups should use one communal site.
- Archaeological sites
- Do not disturb or remove artefacts, including the Mercy Bay relics.
Where to stay
In the park
Backcountry camping
Camp anywhere away from archaeological sites; bring a tent that handles prolonged strong winds.
Near the park
Inuvik
Hotels and lodges on the mainland; the practical base before and after a charter.
Near the park
Sachs Harbour
The only community on Banks Island; accommodation availability is not documented — check before you rely on it.
Safety
Polar bears high
Wind and cold high
No rescue or services high
River conditions on the Thomsen medium
Insects medium
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- There are no roads, trails, boardwalks or facilities; access is by chartered aircraft to gravel strips.
- Visitors with limited mobility should treat the park as expedition-only and plan with the Inuvik office.
Visiting lightly
- Follow no-trace camping: pack out all garbage and keep camps away from water sources.
- Do not approach or feed muskoxen, caribou or foxes; keep distance and let animals move freely.
- Leave Mercy Bay and other archaeological material in place.
- Use a camp stove rather than any open fire, and keep group sizes small.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Aulavik National Park?
There is no entry gate and no per-person day fee at Aulavik, so entry itself is free (check). The real cost is the chartered aircraft from Inuvik, roughly CAD 25,000–60,000 per aircraft as a 2026 estimate, split between your group. A Parks Canada Discovery Pass covers day fees at parks that charge them, not charters.
What are the best hikes in Aulavik National Park?
There are no marked trails. Most parties either paddle the Thomsen River over 7–14 days or walk out from a landing strip across open tundra, often toward Mercy Bay for the HMS Investigator relics. Treat every route as off-trail navigation with no rescue services.
When is the best time to visit Aulavik National Park?
July and August, when chartered aircraft can land and the tundra is free of snow. Late June and early September are possible but weather-dependent. From October to May there is no visitor access, and the park sits in polar night for part of the winter.
How do I get to Aulavik National Park?
Charter a plane from Inuvik, about 750 km southwest of the southern park boundary, to one of four landing strips. Inuvik has daily flights from southern Canada and is also reached by the Dempster Highway. There is no scheduled service into the park.
Can I camp anywhere in Aulavik National Park?
Yes, except at archaeological sites. There are no designated campsites and no camping fee. Campfires are banned, so bring a camp stove and fuel bought in Inuvik, and pack out all garbage.
Will I see muskoxen?
Very likely if you walk the tundra, though never guaranteed. Banks Island holds an estimated 68,000–80,000 muskoxen, about 20% of them thought to be in the park. Keep a wide distance, especially around calves.
Are there polar bears in the park?
Yes, mainly along the north coast near McClure Strait. Travel in a group, carry deterrents, keep a clean camp and get current advice from the Parks Canada office in Inuvik before you fly.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go