National park · Canada
Mealy Mountains National Park ReserveAkami-Uapishku-KakKasuak-Mealy Mountains National Park Reserve
Go only if you are booking a guided boat or charter flight from Cartwright, Rigolet or Goose Bay: no roads, no fees collected at a gate, no facilities. Otherwise skip it and use Torngat Mountains instead.
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
10,700 km²4,131 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
- 10,700 km²4,131 sq mi
- About 10,700 km², larger than Lebanon; a proposed adjacent provincial waterway park would add roughly 2,300 km² more (check).
- Established
- 2015
- Best months
- Jul–Aug
- Permits
- For some areas
Mealy Mountains National Park Reserve is a 10,700 km² roadless reserve in central Labrador, established in 2015 and still awaiting settled land claims, so it is managed like a national park but holds no gate, no entry fee, no trails and no facilities. Access is by boat from Cartwright or Rigolet, or by charter helicopter or float plane from Happy Valley-Goose Bay, usually bundled with an outfitter's guiding or lodging. July and August give the best odds of usable weather and open access; October to May there is effectively no visitor access. The one established walk is the Wunderstrand, about 50 km of sandy beach along the Labrador Sea edge, reached by boat. Innu, Inuit and NunatuKavut beneficiaries keep rights to hunt, trap, fish and cut wood for personal use, and the threatened Mealy Mountains woodland caribou herd lives here. If you want a serviced northern park with a base and a season, compare Torngat Mountains before committing to a charter.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 2015.
Size and age
10,700 km²4,131 sq mi · national park since 2015
About 10,700 km², larger than Lebanon; a proposed adjacent provincial waterway park would add roughly 2,300 km² more (check).
Why go
- A 50 km stretch of sandy beach, the Wunderstrand, that can be walked at the edge of the park.A 31 mi stretch of sandy beach, the Wunderstrand, that can be walked at the edge of the park.
- Boreal forest, tundra, fjords and glacially rounded summits up to about 1,180 m above Lake Melville.
- One of the few protected areas where Innu, Inuit and NunatuKavut rights to hunt, trap, fish and cut wood for personal use continue.
- The threatened Mealy Mountains woodland caribou herd, plus wolves, black bear, marten and two fox species.
When to go
- JanAvoid
- FebAvoid
- MarAvoid
- AprAvoid
- MayCaution
- JunGo
- JulBest
- AugBest
- SepGo
- OctCaution
- NovAvoid
- DecAvoid
- JanSub-Arctic winter; no access, no daylight for travel
- FebDeep cold; charters not run for visitors
- MarStill winter; ice and storm risk
- AprBreak-up; travel unreliable
- MayIce may linger; first outfitter trips possible (check)
- JunLong days; insects peak late in the month
- JulWarmest window; blackflies and mosquitoes at their worst
- AugBest mix of weather and access; book charters early
- SepFewer insects; storms and early snow possible
- OctCold, short days; most operators wind down (check)
- NovFreeze-up; no visitor access
- DecWinter; no services
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mealy Mountains woodland caribou (threatened herd)Jun–Sep · Sightings are not guaranteed; view from a distance. | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
| Black bear, wolf, marten and foxMay–Oct | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no |
| Atlantic salmon and trout in the riversJun–Sep · Fishing is reserved for land-claim beneficiaries. | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
| Blackflies and mosquitoesJun–Aug · Head nets and repellent are standard kit in July. | 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
How to get there
From Cartwright
Boat with the local outfitter along the coast toward the Wunderstrand and the park edge.
Hours to a full day, weather dependent
From Rigolet
Boat north along the Labrador coast; the most southerly Inuit community is a common start point.
Weather dependent
From Happy Valley-Goose Bay
Charter helicopter or float plane; the nearest city and the closest hospital.
About 1–2 h flying
From Labrador region plan
How to string Cartwright, Rigolet and Goose Bay into one trip.
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Wunderstrand coast | About 50 km of sandy beach along the Labrador Sea edge of the park.About 31 mi of sandy beach along the Labrador Sea edge of the park. | Reached by boat; walkable once landed. |
| Mealy Mountains core | Bare, rounded summits up to roughly 1,180 m above Lake Melville. | No trails or infrastructure; travel with a guide. |
| Boreal and tundra interior | Forest, open tundra, rivers and lakes holding caribou and other boreal species. | Guided or self-supported wilderness travel only. |
| Eagle River watershed | Adjacent proposed provincial waterway park area protecting the watershed. | Not part of the national park reserve; status and access check. |
Sketch map
- 1Happy Valley-Goose Bay · Town≈53.319, -60.426Nearest city, airport and hospital.Map ↗
- 2Cartwright · Town≈53.706, -57.020Boat access point with the local outfitter.Map ↗
- 3Rigolet · Village≈54.179, -58.428Inuit community used as a northern start point.Map ↗
- 4Wunderstrand beach · Beach≈53.650, -58.900Approximate; the sandy coastal stretch at the park edge.Map ↗
- 5Mealy Mountains high point · Summit≈53.620, -58.900Approximate; summits reach about 1,180 m.Map ↗
- 6Park reserve office · Headquarters≈53.400, -59.367Approximate; administrative contact, not a visitor gate.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 gate and no entry fee is collected in the reserve; Parks Canada lists no visitor fee for this park reserve (check). |
| Guided boat trip from Cartwright or Rigolet | Free | person | Operator-set; ask the outfitter for a 2026 quote (check). |
| Charter flight from Happy Valley-Goose Bay | Free | aircraft | Helicopter or float plane, priced per aircraft and hours; no published rate (check). |
| Lodge package on Park Lake (flight in, 3–7 nights) | CAD 3,000–5,000 (≈ US$2,500–4,000) | person | 2026 estimate from a long-standing outfitter package; confirm current pricing. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park entry no permit
Guided access permit or guide
Hunting, trapping, fishing and wood cutting permit or guide
Park rules
- No development or mining
- Land development and mining are not allowed in the reserve.
- Traditional activities
- Innu, Inuit and NunatuKavut beneficiaries may hunt, trap, fish and cut wood for personal use; visitors may not.
- No facilities
- There is no commercial power, no landline and no mobile base station in the park; plan for satellite communication.
- No drones
- Flying drones in a national park reserve requires permission from Parks Canada (check).check
- Leave no trace
- Pack out all rubbish; there is no collection anywhere in the reserve.
Where to stay
Near the park
Park Lake Lodge area
Outfitter lodging west of the park, reached by fixed-wing aircraft from Goose Bay; package trips of 3–7 days.
Near the park
Cartwright
Small coastal community with the main outfitter and seasonal tours; the usual base before a boat trip.
Near the park
Happy Valley-Goose Bay
Nearest city, airport and hospital; hotels for the night before a charter.
In the park
Backcountry camping
Possible with an outfitter's support; there are no designated campsites or services.
Safety
No help nearby high
Sub-Arctic weather high
Wildlife medium
Cold water and surf on the coast medium
Accessibility
- There are no roads, trails, boardwalks or visitor facilities, so the reserve is not accessible for limited mobility.
- Access is by boat or small aircraft; boarding requires stepping into and out of an open boat or float plane.
Visiting lightly
- Travel with a local outfitter so money stays in Cartwright, Rigolet and Goose Bay.
- Keep distance from the threatened caribou herd and give calving areas a wide berth.
- Carry out everything you carry in; there is no waste collection in the reserve.
- Respect land-claim rights: do not fish, hunt or cut wood, and ask before entering areas used by beneficiaries.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Mealy Mountains National Park?
Nothing at a gate: there is no entry station and no entry fee is collected in the reserve (check). Your real costs are transport and guiding — a boat trip from Cartwright or Rigolet, or a charter helicopter or float plane from Happy Valley-Goose Bay, plus outfitter lodging. A long-standing lodge package with flights and 3–7 nights has run about CAD 3,000–5,000 per person (2026 estimate).
What are the best hikes in Mealy Mountains National Park?
There are no maintained trails. The one established walk is the Wunderstrand, roughly 50 km of sandy beach along the coast, which you reach by boat and can walk in sections or over several days. Anything inland is unmarked wilderness travel and needs a guide and charter.
When is the best time to visit Mealy Mountains National Park?
July and August give the best odds of usable weather and open access, with long days and the full insect season. June and September are workable with fewer bugs but more storm risk. From October to May there is effectively no visitor access.
How do you get to Mealy Mountains National Park?
There are no roads. Arrive by boat from Cartwright or Rigolet, or by charter helicopter or float plane from Happy Valley-Goose Bay, usually through an outfitter who bundles transport with guiding or lodging.
Can you visit without a guide?
Technically the reserve has no permit requirement, but with no trails, no facilities, no mobile signal and the nearest hospital in Goose Bay, going without a local operator is a serious expedition decision rather than a casual visit.
Is Mealy Mountains the same as Torngat Mountains National Park?
No. Torngat Mountains is the park further north on the Labrador Peninsula, with its own access and base at Saglek. Mealy Mountains sits inland from the Labrador Sea coast near Lake Melville.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go