National park · Canada
Torngat Mountains National Park
Go only with a plan and a budget: entry is free, but access runs through the Saglek base camp (mid-July to end-August) by charter flight or boat, so book months ahead and travel with an Inuit bear guard.
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
9,700 km²3,745 sq mi
approximate
Established
2008
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
- 9,700 km²3,745 sq mi
- About 9,700 km² of the northern Labrador Peninsula, from Cape Chidley south to Saglek Fjord; the park has no road access.
- Established
- 2008
- Best months
- Jul–Aug
- Permits
- For some areas
Torngat Mountains National Park protects about 9,700 km² of the Arctic Cordillera on Labrador's northern tip, from Saglek Fjord to Cape Chidley, and is the highest ground in Canada east of the Rockies. It was created in 2008 under the Nunavik Inuit Land Claims Agreement, so Inuit keep hunting, fishing and trapping rights inside the boundary. There are no roads, no trails, no signs and no entry fee; the only visitor infrastructure is the Torngat Mountains Base Camp and Research Station on Saglek Fjord, open mid-July to end-August, reached by charter flight to the Saglek airstrip and then boat or helicopter. Visitors cannot carry firearms, so an Inuit bear guard travels with you away from the fenced camp. Budget CAD 6,000–12,000 per person for a multi-day stay with access, and treat weather delays of days as normal.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 2008.
Size and age
9,700 km²3,745 sq mi · national park since 2008
About 9,700 km² of the northern Labrador Peninsula, from Cape Chidley south to Saglek Fjord; the park has no road access.
Why go
- The highest mountains in Canada east of the Rockies, with fjords, cirques and open tundra.
- A working Inuit homeland: caribou, polar bears and peregrine falcons share the land with hunters and fishers.
- Archaeological sites up to about 7,000 years old, plus Moravian mission and Hudson's Bay Company remains in Saglek and Nachvak fjords.
- One of the least visited parks in North America, so the crowds question does not apply.
When to go
- JanAvoid
- FebAvoid
- MarAvoid
- AprAvoid
- MayAvoid
- JunCaution
- JulBest
- AugBest
- SepCaution
- OctAvoid
- NovAvoid
- DecAvoid
- JanPolar night; no visitor access
- FebDark and extreme cold
- MarStill deep winter
- AprNo base camp or charters
- MayIce and snow; no services
- JunLong daylight but camp not yet open
- JulBase camp opens mid-month; wildflowers and 24-hour light
- AugWarmest window; camp closes end of month
- SepCamp closed; only private expeditions
- OctStorms and freeze-up
- NovWinter access only
- DecPolar night
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CaribouJul–Sep · The Torngat herd moves through the valleys in summer. | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
| Polar bearsJul–Sep · Present along the coast; travel with a guard and store food in bear-resistant containers. | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
| Peregrine falcon and golden eagleJun–Aug · Cliff nesters; keep away from nest ledges. | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no |
| Black bears, foxes and wolvesJul–Sep | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
How to get there
From Nain
Charter flight to the Saglek airstrip, then boat or helicopter to the base camp on Saglek Fjord.
1.5–2.5 h
From Goose Bay
Fly to Nain first, then join a charter; some operators run direct charters in season.
1–2 days
From Kangiqsualujjuaq
Charter across to the northern park boundary; limited services in the village.
2–4 h
From Labrador region guide
Roads, ferries and flights that get you as far as Nain.
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Saglek Fjord and base camp | The southern gateway, with the airstrip, base camp and the most-used day routes. | Open in season with a booking; bear fence around camp. |
| Nachvak Fjord | A long fjord with old Hudson's Bay Company and Moravian sites. | Boat or multi-day trek with a guard. |
| Cape Chidley | The northern tip, where Labrador meets Nunavut and Quebec. | Expedition only; weather-dependent. |
| Interior valleys and cirques | Caribou country, glacial lakes and unmarked routes. | Guided or self-supported parties with a guard. |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entry | Free | person | No entry fee is charged for Torngat Mountains National Park (check). |
| Torngat Mountains Base Camp package | CAD 6,000–12,000 (≈ US$4,500–9,000) | person | 2026 estimate for a multi-day stay with meals, guiding and bear guards; confirm with the operator. |
| Charter flight to Saglek airstrip | CAD 4,000–8,000 (≈ US$3,000–6,000) | person | 2026 estimate, return from Nain or Goose Bay; group charters lower the per-person cost. |
| Inuit bear guard | CAD 400–800 | day | 2026 estimate; required for travel away from the base camp. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park entry no permit
Base camp booking permit or guide
Charter flight or boat permit or guide
Inuit bear guard permit or guide
Park rules
- Inuit rights
- The park was created under the Nunavik Inuit Land Claims Agreement; Inuit may continue to hunt, fish and trap inside the park.
- Bear guards
- Visitors may not carry firearms; hire an Inuit bear guard for travel away from the base camp.
- No trails or signs
- There are no marked trails; carry your own map, compass and GPS and do not rely on route descriptions alone.
- Leave no trace
- Pack out all rubbish; food must be stored in bear-resistant containers.
- Archaeological sites
- Do not remove or move artefacts; some sites are thousands of years old.
Where to stay
Near the park
Torngat Mountains Base Camp
Tent-style accommodation on Saglek Fjord outside the park, inside a bear fence; seasonal, mid-July to end-August.
Near the park
Nain
The usual jumping-off point; very limited guesthouse and hotel space, so book early.
Safety
Polar bears high
Weather delays high
No rescue nearby high
Cold water and stream water medium
Communication medium
Accessibility
- There are no roads, pavements or accessible facilities in the park; the base camp is reached by boat or helicopter and the ground is rough.
- Travellers with limited mobility should treat Torngat as an expedition destination and plan with the operator in advance.
Visiting lightly
- Book with operators that employ Inuit guides and bear guards, so the money stays in Nunatsiavut.
- Keep to small groups and avoid nesting cliffs and caribou calving areas.
- Carry out everything you bring in; there are no bins or services in the park.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Torngat Mountains National Park?
There is no entry fee for the park itself (check). The real cost is access: a charter flight to the Saglek airstrip and a base camp package, roughly CAD 6,000–12,000 per person for a multi-day stay, plus a bear guard if you travel away from camp.
What are the best hikes in Torngat Mountains National Park?
There are no marked trails. The usual choices are guided day walks from the Saglek base camp, multi-day routes along Saglek and Nachvak fjords, and the expert-level approach to Mount Caubvick at 1,652 m. All travel away from camp needs an Inuit bear guard.
When is the best time to visit Torngat Mountains National Park?
Mid-July to the end of August, when the base camp is open and daylight is almost continuous. Outside that window there is no visitor infrastructure and access becomes a private expedition.
Do I need a guide in Torngat?
For any hiking or camping away from the fenced base camp, yes in practice: visitors cannot carry firearms, so an Inuit bear guard travels with you. Guided and unguided day walks are possible from camp with the operator's support.
How do I get to Torngat Mountains National Park?
Fly or take the coastal ferry to Nain, then a charter flight to the Saglek airstrip and a boat or helicopter to the base camp. There is no road into the park and no scheduled service.
Is there phone signal in the park?
No. A satellite phone is often the only way to communicate, and none are rented or sold in Nain; the nearest vendor is in Goose Bay.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go