Territory capital · Canada
Masset
Go for 2 nights as a base for North Beach and Naikoon, not as a town: the village itself is 30 minutes of walking.
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- CAD
- Best months
- Jun–Sep
- avoid Nov–Mar (rain, wind, many closures)
- Airports
- ZMT · YZP
- Nights
- 2
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.
Masset is a village of about 1,000 on the north coast of Graham Island, at Mile 0 of the Yellowhead Highway. It is the practical base for North Beach, Tow Hill and Naikoon Provincial Park, and the closest place to Old Massett (2 km east), where Haida art studios and the original village sites are. There is no nightlife and few restaurants: you come for the beach, the birds and the forest, and you need a car or a booked taxi to reach any of it.
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Masset, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the Canadian dollar (CAD, $).Canada-wide
- SIM or eSIMRogers, Bell and Telus plus cheaper brands (Fido, Koodo, Public Mobile); prepaid SIMs in malls and stores.Canada-wide
- Tap waterTap water is drinkable; treat water from lakes and streams (giardia).Canada-wide
- TippingRestaurant: 15–20% of the pre-tax bill.Canada-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/B. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 120 V: UK and AU 230 V-only devices need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Canada-wide
- SafetyLow crime; the real risks are tsunami and weather.
- RestroomsFree in malls, Tim Hortons, stations and park visitor centres.Canada-wide
- Emergency numbers911 police, fire, ambulance · +1 250-626-4700 (≈ US$3,500) Northern Haida Gwaii Hospital (24 h emergency) · +1 250-626-3982 (≈ US$3,000) Masset Information Centre
- Sundays & holidaysStatutory holidays close shops and offices, varying by province; many park facilities are seasonal (about mid-May to mid-October).Canada-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportcheckZMT Masset Municipal Airport (Pacific Coastal flights from Vancouver, about 2 h 15 min; check the current schedule and baggage limits.).
- Getting aroundThe village is walkable and a sidewalk links Masset with Old Massett.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeC$3–6 (≈ US$3–5)
- Taxi, about 5 kmTaxi, about 3 miTaxi, short village hopcheckC$10–15 (≈ US$8–11)
- Budget bedCabin or family unit (up to 4), a night, per roomC$180 (≈ US$140)
- Mid-range bedLodge or motel double room, a night, per roomC$175 (≈ US$130)
- High-end bedLodge or motel double room, a night, per roomC$260 (≈ US$190)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget C$90 (≈ US$70) · Mid C$150 (≈ US$110) · High C$260 (≈ US$190)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- ZMT Masset Municipal Airport (Pacific Coastal flights from Vancouver, about 2 h 15 min; check the current schedule and baggage limits.) · YZP Prince Rupert (via ferry from Skidegate) (Ferry terminal is about an hour away in Skidegate; book the sailing ahead in summer.)
Weather and climate
Masset: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
5°C41°F
0°C32°F
22 rd
Feb
6°C43°F
0°C32°F
19 rd
Mar
7°C45°F
1°C34°F
21 rd
Apr
9°C48°F
2°C36°F
19 rd
May
12°C54°F
5°C41°F
17 rd
Jun
15°C59°F
8°C46°F
15 rd
Jul
17°C63°F
10°C50°F
14 rd
Aug
18°C64°F
11°C52°F
15 rd
Sep
16°C61°F
9°C48°F
17 rd
Oct
12°C54°F
6°C43°F
22 rd
Nov
8°C46°F
3°C37°F
23 rd
Dec
5°C41°F
0°C32°F
23 rd
High / low °C°F · rd = rain days
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
The village is walkable and a sidewalk links Masset with Old Massett. Everything else — North Beach, Tow Hill, Naikoon trailheads — is 5–25 km out on Tow Hill Road with no bus service. Rent a car if you can book one, or use Mile Zero Taxi and agree the fare first. Fuel up in Masset; there is no gas east of the village.
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
North Beach and Tow Hill
goDoor to door: Half a day
Drive Tow Hill Road east about 25 km, then walk the boardwalk to the blowholeDrive Tow Hill Road east about 16 mi, then walk the boardwalk to the blowhole
The reason most people come. Go at low tide for the widest sand; the last stretch is gravel.
Naikoon Provincial Park
goDoor to door: Full day or overnight
Drive Tow Hill Road to the trailheads; the Cape Fife and East Beach routes start from the north end
Multi-day hiking is possible; tell someone your plan, there is no phone signal.
Old Massett
goDoor to door: 2–3 h
Walk or drive 2 km eastWalk or drive 1.2 mi east
Haida art studios and the historic village sites; check studio opening days first.
Daajing Giids-Skidegate
cautionDoor to door: 1.5–2 h each way
Drive Highway 16 east, about 100 kmDrive Highway 16 east, about 62 mi
Doable as a day, but better as a stop on the way to or from the ferry.
Sandspit
skipDoor to door: 2–2.5 h
Drive Highway 16 east to Skidegate, then the short ferry to Alliford Bay
Too far for a return day from Masset; sleep over if you are flying out.
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Masset village centre
Walkable to cafés, the museum and the water; most lodges and the taxi base are here.
Tow Hill Road (east toward North Beach)
Cabins and the campground, 5–15 min drive from the village; you need a car.
Old Massett
2 km east; a few guesthouses, quieter, closest to the art studios.1.2 mi east; a few guesthouses, quieter, closest to the art studios.
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- C$90–140 (≈ US$70–110) excl. bed
- Mid
- C$140–220 (≈ US$110–160) excl. bed
- High
- C$220 (≈ US$160)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Lodge or motel double room1 × 2 nights × C$175 | C$350 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × C$150 | C$600 |
| Car rental, one day1 × C$90 · check | C$90 |
| Taxi, village to Tow Hill Road1 × C$45 · check | C$45 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × C$25 | C$50 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | C$114 |
| Trip total≈ C$312 per person per day, bed included | C$1,249≈ US$950 |
Chinook Lodge lists C$120–195 per night
2026 estimate in Canadian dollars; flights and ferry excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee | C$3–6 (≈ US$3–5) |
| Café lunch or soup | C$14–22 (≈ US$11–16) |
| Pub main | C$20–32 (≈ US$15–25) |
| Grocery basics for a picnicLimited choice in the village; buy in Skidegate if you can. | C$15–25 (≈ US$11–19) |
| Taxi, short village hopcheck | C$10–15 (≈ US$8–11) |
| Golf, 9 holesVolunteer-run; clubhouse open Apr 1–Oct 15. | check |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Tsunami zone: the whole Greater Masset area is low-lying and seismically active. Read the local evacuation map before you sleep, and if a strong quake lasts more than a minute, leave on the marked route without waiting for an order.
- Cell coverage is patchy on Tow Hill Road and in Naikoon; download offline maps.
- Restaurant and café hours are short and change with the season — call before you drive out.
- Rain is the default: bring a shell and waterproof footwear even in July.
- Book ferries, flights and beds weeks ahead for Jun–Sep; capacity is small.
Emergency numbers
- Police, fire, ambulance
- 911
- Northern Haida Gwaii Hospital (24 h emergency)
- +1 250-626-4700
- Masset Information Centre
- +1 250-626-3982
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
MassetMasset
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
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Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance911
- Hospital emergency+1 250-626-4700
- Information Centre+1 250-626-3982
Embassy
No embassies in Masset; the US consulate-general is in Vancouver, and most other countries' missions are in Ottawa or Vancouver.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Pacific Coastal Vancouver → Masset: about 2 h 15 min; fares vary by date (check)
- Ferry Skidegate → Prince Rupert: book ahead in summer (check)
- Taxi in the village: C$10–15 (≈ US$8–11) (check)
Say or show
- Haawa — Thank you (haa-wa)
- Sán uu — Hello (san-oo)
Tipping in Canada: 15–20% at restaurants and bars, 10–15% for taxis.
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Masset. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Jun–Sep · avoid Nov–Mar (rain, wind, many closures) · month by month →
- 2 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 5 day-trips, door to door
- 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for ZMT: Pacific Coastal arrival times, taxi fallback, late-arrival bed rung.
- Three walking clusters with rescue anchors: village centre, Old Massett, Tow Hill Road.
- Place pages with verified cutoffs (Delkatla, Dixon Entrance Museum, Tow Hill boardwalk) and eat pages with last orders.
- Tsunami and storm fixtures so gates A–D can go green.