National park · Canada
Vuntut National Park
Go only if you can fly or paddle in self-sufficient: no trails, no facilities, no road within 175 km (109 mi). Fly Whitehorse–Old Crow, then charter 50 km (31 mi) north; June–August only.Go only if you can fly or paddle in self-sufficient: no trails, no facilities, no road within 109 mi (175 km). Fly Whitehorse–Old Crow, then charter 31 mi (50 km) north; June–August only.
- 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
4,345 km² (1,678 sq mi)1,678 sq mi (4,345 km²)
approximate
Established
1995
Best months
Jun–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
- 4,345 km² (1,678 sq mi)1,678 sq mi (4,345 km²)
- 4,345 km² (1,678 sq mi) per the park's stated area; boundary figures vary slightly by source.
- Established
- 1995
- Best months
- Jun–Aug
- Permits
- For some areas
Vuntut National Park protects the British Mountains and the Old Crow Flats in northern Yukon, on the traditional territory of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation. It is co-managed by the Vuntut Gwitchin and Parks Canada. Fewer than 25 people reach it in a typical year. There are no roads, no developed trails, no landing strips and no facilities; you must be fully self-sufficient and able to handle your own medical or weather emergency. Most travellers who want an Arctic Yukon park should look at Ivvavik, which has a supported river-trip model, or Kluane, which has road access.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- Ramsar wetland · 1982Old Crow Flats (Van Tat), the wetland complex covering the southern third of the park, is a wetland of international importance.
Size and age
4,345 km² (1,678 sq mi)1,678 sq mi (4,345 km²) · national park since 1995
4,345 km² (1,678 sq mi) per the park's stated area; boundary figures vary slightly by source.
Why go
- One of the least-visited national parks in Canada: fewer than 25 visitors in a typical year.
- Half a million birds use the Old Crow Flats each year to breed, moult or stage before autumn migration.
- The Porcupine caribou herd crosses the British Mountains on its annual migration; grizzly, wolf and wolverine follow.
- You travel through the living territory of the Vuntut Gwitchin, who still hunt, trap, fish and pick berries from seasonal camps.
When to go
- JanAvoid
- FebAvoid
- MarAvoid
- AprCaution
- MayCaution
- JunBest
- JulBest
- AugBest
- SepCaution
- OctAvoid
- NovAvoid
- DecAvoid
- JanExtreme cold; no daylight; no access
- FebExtreme cold; no access
- MarStill deep winter; ski expeditions only, expert level
- AprCaribou near Old Crow; snow travel, expert logistics
- MayBreak-up; river and lake ice unsafe
- Jun24-hour daylight; mildest weather; mosquitoes build late in the month
- JulWarmest; peak mosquitoes and black flies
- AugBird migration starts; nights return late in the month
- SepCaribou movement; snow can arrive any time
- OctFreeze-up; unpredictable
- NovWinter; no access
- DecPolar night conditions; no access
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Porcupine caribou herd migrationApr–May, Sep–Oct · Caribou are common in the British Mountains during migration; spring and autumn give the best chance near Old Crow. | no | no | no | yes | yes | no | no | no | yes | yes | no | no |
| Breeding and moulting waterbirds on the Old Crow FlatsJun–Aug · Around 500,000 birds use the flats each year. | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no |
| Grizzly bears, black bears, wolves and wolverineMay–Sep · Predators follow the caribou; store food properly and carry deterrents. | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
| MuskoxJun–Aug · Becoming more common in this tundra environment. | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no |
| Mosquitoes and black fliesJun–Jul · Great numbers in July; head nets and repellent are essential. | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no |
| MuskratsJun–Aug · Plentiful in the shallow lakes and ponds of the flats. | 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 Whitehorse
Air North to Old Crow (YOC), then a charter aircraft about 50 km (31 mi) north into the park.Air North to Old Crow (YOC), then a charter aircraft about 31 mi (50 km) north into the park.
2–3 h flying plus charter
From Dawson City
Air North to Old Crow, then charter; or a long river journey down the Porcupine.
60–90 min flight plus charter
From Inuvik
Air North to Old Crow, then charter aircraft north.
about 1 h flight plus charter
From Dempster Highway
The nearest road point is about 175 km (109 mi) from the park; there is no road link to Old Crow.The nearest road point is about 109 mi (175 km) from the park; there is no road link to Old Crow.
From Old Crow by river
Canoe or boat down the Porcupine and Old Crow rivers; boats may be available for hire in Old Crow.
multi-day
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| British Mountains (northern two-thirds) | Rolling hills and peaks with sparse spruce and shrub in valley bottoms, rocky tundra higher up and grassy tundra in broad wet valleys. | No trails; hike, ski or travel by boat and aircraft with a permit. |
| Old Crow Flats / Van Tat (southern third) | A vast wetland of shallow lakes and small streams, a Ramsar site, used by half a million birds a year and by muskrats, moose and bears. | No facilities; travel is on water or ice, and only with strong wilderness skills. |
| Old Crow village (outside the park) | The only settlement and the practical base: about 300 residents, a grocery store, a nursing station and the John Tizya Centre. | Open; reached only by air or by river. |
Sketch map
- 1Old Crow (YOC airport) · Town≈67.570, -139.840Approximate; the only practical base.Map ↗
- 2Vuntut National Park centre · Headquarters≈68.307, -140.048Approximate park centre from published coordinates.Map ↗
- 3British Mountains · Summit≈68.600, -140.200Approximate; northern two-thirds of the park.Map ↗
- 4Old Crow Flats (Van Tat) · Beach≈68.000, -140.000Approximate; southern third of the park, a Ramsar wetland.Map ↗
- 5Old Crow River corridor · Trail≈68.150, -139.900Approximate; the main canoe route north.Map ↗
Take the points offline
5 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 surveyed public access points.
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 | Free | person | No entry gate and no entry fee is collected in the park; Parks Canada does not staff a fee station here. |
| Aircraft landing permit | Free | permit | Required to land in the park; arranged in advance with Parks Canada, no published fee. |
| Charter flight, Old Crow to park area | CAD 1,500–4,000 (≈ US$1,100–3,000) | aircraft | 2026 estimate; depends on aircraft, load and landing point. |
| Scheduled air, Whitehorse–Old Crow return | CAD 700–1,100 (≈ US$550–800) | person | 2026 estimate; Air North operates the route several times a week. |
| Scheduled air, Dawson City–Old Crow return | CAD 270–540 (≈ US$200–400) | person | 2026 estimate; 60–90 min each way. |
| Scheduled air, Inuvik–Old Crow return | CAD 180–300 (≈ US$140–250) | person | 2026 estimate; about 1 h each way. |
| Old Crow grocery resupply | Free | trip | Village store prices run well above southern Canada; budget accordingly. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Aircraft landing permit permit or guide
Trip registration and safety plan permit or guide
Vuntut Gwitchin traditional-use areas no permit
What would our group pay?
People
Nights or days
- C$1,500–4,000≈ US$1,100–3,000
- C$700–1,100≈ US$550–800
- C$270–540≈ US$200–400
- C$180–300≈ US$140–250
Tick the fees that apply to your trip to see a total.
A guide, not a quote: the ranges are estimates (checked 2026-09) and each fee may have rules on who pays it. Confirm on Parks Canada — Vuntut National Park before you go.
Park rules
- Aircraft landings
- A landing permit is required to land in the park; contact Parks Canada in advance.
- Self-sufficiency
- No facilities, no trails and no rescue services; you must handle any medical or weather emergency yourself.
- Camping
- Backcountry camping only, with leave-no-trace practice; there is no lodging in the park.
- Wildlife
- Do not feed or approach wildlife; grizzly, black bear, wolf and wolverine all roam the park. Carry bear deterrents and store food securely.
- Cultural sites
- The park is Vuntut Gwitchin traditional territory; leave cabins, caches and harvesting sites untouched.
Where to stay
Near the park
Old Crow
The only village base: limited guest accommodation, a grocery store and a nursing station; book ahead.
In the park
Backcountry camping in the park
No lodging and no designated sites; camp on durable ground and carry out everything.
Safety
No rescue or medical services high
Bears and wolves high
Cold and sudden weather change high
River and lake travel high
Insects medium
Remoteness from the road network high
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 facilities, trails or boardwalks, so the park is not accessible for limited mobility.
- The John Tizya Centre in Old Crow is the only step-free interpretive option; ask about access when you arrive.
Visiting lightly
- Travel with a licensed local operator or charter from Old Crow so money stays in the community.
- Follow leave-no-trace camping: pack out all waste, including human waste, in this fragile tundra and wetland.
- Keep distance from caribou, muskox and denning predators; the Porcupine herd is central to Vuntut Gwitchin food security.
- Do not remove artefacts, antlers or plants from a cultural landscape that is still in use.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Vuntut National Park?
There is no entry gate and no entry fee collected in the park. Your real costs are transport: scheduled flights to Old Crow (roughly CAD 270–540 return from Dawson City, CAD 180–300 from Inuvik, 2026 estimate) plus a charter aircraft into the park, often CAD 1,500–4,000 per aircraft. An aircraft landing permit is required and is arranged with Parks Canada in advance.
What are the best hikes in Vuntut National Park?
There are no developed trails. The realistic options are multi-day route-finding hikes in the British Mountains, canoeing the Old Crow River, or winter ski expeditions. All are expert-level and need a charter, a landing permit and full self-sufficiency.
When is the best time to visit Vuntut National Park?
June to August, when temperatures are mildest and there is 24-hour daylight. July has the heaviest mosquitoes and black flies. Weather is unpredictable even then, so pack for all-season conditions. Winter is extremely cold and effectively closed to casual travel.
How do you get to Vuntut National Park?
Fly to Old Crow (YOC) with Air North from Whitehorse, Dawson City or Inuvik, then charter an aircraft about 50 km north into the park. The nearest road, the Dempster Highway, is about 175 km away, and there is no road to Old Crow. River access by canoe down the Porcupine is possible for experienced paddlers.
Can you visit Vuntut National Park without a guide?
Yes, but only if you are an experienced self-sufficient wilderness traveller. There are no facilities, no trails and no rescue services, and fewer than 25 people reach the park in a typical year. Most visitors arrange logistics and charters through Old Crow.
Is Vuntut the same as Ivvavik National Park?
No. They are separate parks that share a boundary in northern Yukon. Ivvavik has a more established guided river-trip model; Vuntut has no established access routes or landing areas.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go