National park · Canada
Qausuittuq National Park
Go only if you can charter a plane from Resolute and carry everything: entry is free, the season is roughly late June to early September, and the realistic window for a trip is July to mid-August. Otherwise skip it and use the Queen Elizabeth Islands page.
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
11,000 km²4,247 sq mi
approximate
Established
2015
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
- 11,000 km²4,247 sq mi
- About two thirds of Bathurst Island; larger than Kosovo (check against current Parks Canada figures).
- Established
- 2015
- Best months
- Jul–Aug
- Permits
- For some areas
Qausuittuq covers about 11,000 km² of northwest Bathurst Island in Nunavut — rolling sedimentary hills, eskers and beach terraces in the Western High Arctic natural region, with no roads, no lodges and no campsites. The Inuktitut name means "place where the sun does not rise", and the climate matches: mean January temperatures near −35 °C, July near 5 °C, under 130 mm of precipitation a year. Access is by chartered aircraft from Resolute, itself reached by air from Iqaluit. This is a park for experienced, self-sufficient parties with a genuine reason to be there — Peary caribou and muskox habitat, or the archaeology of 4,500 years of occasional Inuit use.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 2015.
Size and age
11,000 km²4,247 sq mi · national park since 2015
About two thirds of Bathurst Island; larger than Kosovo (check against current Parks Canada figures).
Why go
- One of the least-visited national parks in Canada: a handful of parties a year, and no infrastructure to meet them.
- Peary caribou and muskox country, plus Arctic wolves, Arctic foxes and snowy owls.
- A genuine expedition: you plan the charter, the food and the route, and there is no one else on the ground.
- Rolling limestone and sandstone hills with eskers and raised beach terraces left by past glaciation.
When to go
- JanAvoid
- FebAvoid
- MarAvoid
- AprAvoid
- MayAvoid
- JunCaution
- JulBest
- AugBest
- SepCaution
- OctAvoid
- NovAvoid
- DecAvoid
- JanMean about −35 °C; polar nightMean about −31 °F; polar night
- FebExtreme cold; no access
- MarStill deep winter
- AprCold; no visitor access
- MayAccess not open until June
- JunPark accessible from early June; snow and ice likely
- JulBest access window; 24-hour daylight
- AugAccess until mid-August; snow possible late
- SepAccess until end of September; freezing nights
- OctWinter closes in
- NovPolar night begins
- DecDark and extreme cold
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peary caribouJun–Sep · The park protects important habitat; numbers are low and sightings are not guaranteed. | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
| MuskoxenJun–Sep | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
| Arctic wolves and Arctic foxesJun–Sep | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
| Snowy owls, snow geese, king eiders, jaegers, gulls and shorebirdsJun–Aug | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no |
| Polar bears, walrus, beluga, narwhal and bowhead whales (marine)Jun–Sep · Polar bears are a year-round hazard on land and ice. | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
How to get there
From Resolute (Qausuittuq's access point)
Chartered aircraft from Resolute on Cornwallis Island to a landing site on Bathurst Island; no scheduled service into the park.
1–2 h depending on aircraft and site
From Iqaluit
Scheduled flight to Resolute, then charter.
3–4 h flight, plus charter
Open the page →
From Ottawa or Montréal
Fly to Iqaluit first, then onward to Resolute.
Full day or more
Open the page →
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Northwest Bathurst Island | The park itself: rolling hills, eskers, beach terraces and the north coast with 19th-century expedition cairns. | Open with registration; no trails or facilities. |
| Resolute and Cornwallis Island | The nearest community, with the flights, the charter operators and the last resupply. | Open; services limited. |
| Polar Bear Pass National Wildlife Area | Protected lowland south of the park, on the route between Resolute and Bathurst. | Not a visitor area; wildlife protection. |
Sketch map
- 1Park area, northwest Bathurst Island · Headquarters≈76.124, -101.031Approximate centre of the park (Wikidata coordinates).Map ↗
- 2Resolute · Town≈74.697, -94.829Nearest community and access point, on Cornwallis Island.Map ↗
- 3North coast cairn area · Viewpoint≈76.400, -101.500Approximate; 19th-century expedition cairns on the north coast.Map ↗
- 4Polar Bear Pass National Wildlife Area · Trail≈75.700, -98.800Approximate; protected lowland south of the park.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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entry | Free | person | No entry fee is charged for this park (check with the park office before you fly). |
| Charter aircraft, Resolute to Bathurst Island | CAD 10,000–30,000 (≈ US$7,500–25,000) | aircraft | 2026 estimate; depends on aircraft, load and landing site — arrange through an operator such as Kenn Borek Air (check). |
| Return flight Iqaluit to Resolute | CAD 2,000–3,500 (≈ US$1,500–3,000) | person | 2026 estimate; limited seats, book early. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Visitor registration permit or guide
Charter and landing arrangements permit or guide
Park rules
- Registration
- Every visitor must register with Parks Canada before entering the park.
- No trace camping
- No lodges or established campsites exist; camp without leaving any trace and carry out all waste.
- Wildlife
- Do not approach or feed wildlife; keep food secured and store it away from your sleeping area because of polar bears.
- Archaeological and historical sites
- Do not move, dig at or remove artefacts or cairn stones.
- Firearms and bear deterrents
- Rules on carrying firearms and deterrents in the park must be confirmed with the park office before you travel (check).check
Where to stay
In the park
Camping in the park
No lodges or campsites: you camp where you land and move on, fully self-supported.
Near the park
Resolute
The only practical base before and after the charter; limited accommodation, book ahead.
Safety
Polar bears high
Cold and sudden weather change high
No rescue infrastructure high
Charter delays medium
Accessibility
- There are no trails, boardwalks or facilities of any kind; the park is not accessible for limited mobility.
- Access itself depends on boarding small charter aircraft at Resolute.
Visiting lightly
- Follow no trace camping: pack out everything, including human waste, where the park office requires it.
- Keep distance from caribou, muskox and denning sites; the park exists mainly for this habitat.
- Use an operator that flies with full loads and follows Parks Canada landing guidance.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Qausuittuq National Park?
There is no entry fee for this park (check with the park office). The real cost is getting there: a return flight Iqaluit–Resolute plus a chartered aircraft from Resolute to Bathurst Island, which together run into thousands of Canadian dollars per person — a 2026 estimate of roughly CAD 2,000–3,500 for the scheduled legs and CAD 10,000–30,000 for the charter aircraft, shared between the group.
What are the best hikes in Qausuittuq National Park?
There are no marked trails. Parties route-find across rolling sedimentary hills, eskers and beach terraces, usually from a landing site toward the north coast cairns or inland toward caribou and muskox habitat. Treat every walk as an expert-level, self-supported expedition.
When is the best time to visit Qausuittuq National Park?
The park is accessible from early June to the end of September, but the practical window is July to mid-August, when landings are most reliable and there is 24-hour daylight. June can still be snow-covered and late August can bring early snow.
How do I get to Qausuittuq National Park?
Fly to Iqaluit, then to Resolute on Cornwallis Island, then charter a small aircraft to a landing site on Bathurst Island. There is no road or scheduled service into the park, and all visitors must register with Parks Canada first.
Can I camp in Qausuittuq National Park?
Yes, but there are no lodges or established campsites. You camp where you land and practise no trace camping, carrying out all waste. Expect polar bears, so food storage and a deterrent plan matter.
Do I need a park pass for Qausuittuq?
No entry fee is charged here, so a Discovery Pass is not needed for this park. See the national park passes page for how passes work at other Parks Canada sites.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go