How do I visit Ivvavik National Park?

Either through Parks Canada's guided base camp program near Sheep Creek, booked directly with Parks Canada, or through a licensed operator running a multi-day Firth River rafting expedition. Both require charter flights from Inuvik, NWT.

The guided base camp season runs roughly June through July. The park itself operates from early May to mid-September, but weather and access narrow the practical window considerably.

What wildlife might I see?

Porcupine caribou, Dall sheep, grizzly bears, muskoxen, wolves, wolverines, and golden eagles, among the reasons this is considered one of the richest wildlife experiences in the Canadian Arctic.

Do I need to book far in advance?

Yes. Both the Parks Canada base camp program and private Firth River rafting trips have limited capacity and are typically booked at least a year ahead.

Is there any infrastructure at all?

Very little. The Parks Canada base camp offers heated tents, a cookhouse, and basic washroom facilities, but beyond that there are no roads, trails, or services anywhere in the park.

Home/Things to do/Ivvavik National Park

Things to do

Ivvavik National Park

A roadless Arctic park protecting the Porcupine caribou calving grounds and the wild Firth River, reachable only by bush plane.

Entry From $6,500 fly-in tourTime needed Multi-dayArea old-crow

Ivvavik means 'a place for giving birth' in Inuvialuktun, referring to the Porcupine caribou herd that calves on the coastal plain each June. It was Canada's first national park created through a modern land-claim agreement (the 1984 Inuvialuit Final Agreement), and it remains one of the least-visited units in the entire Parks Canada system — typically fewer than 150 visitors per year. There are no roads, no trails, no cell service and no rescue helicopter within a day.

The only realistic way in is a Parks Canada base-camp week at Sheep Creek on the Firth River, offered as a lottery each spring, or a private Firth River rafting expedition with Canadian River Expeditions or Nahanni River Adventures. Everything flies in from Inuvik, Northwest Territories. Once at camp you day-hike the British Mountains, watch for Dall sheep and grizzlies, and — if the caribou cooperate — witness one of the great remaining wildlife migrations.

Hours & entry

Free entry once you’re inside — the cost is the flight

Park open year-round, guided access Jun-Aug only · Parks Canada Inuvik office Mon-Fri 8:30-17:00 · Base camps operate mid-Jun to late Jul

What to see

Sheep Slot canyon day hike from base camp — Sheep Creek base camp on the Firth River

Rafting the Firth River through the British Mountains — Put-in at Margaret Lake, take-out at Nunaluk Spit on the Beaufort Sea

Wildlife viewing on the Arctic coastal plain — Firth River delta and Nunaluk Spit

Tips from the ground

Apply for the Parks Canada Sheep Creek base-camp lottery in February — it fills 12 spots for the whole summer.

Bring 30% more food than you think; weather can trap you an extra 3-4 days waiting for a charter window.

The Inuvialuit cultural host at base camp is the real highlight — book the week that includes an elder in residence.

Good to know

Questions, answered

How much does it cost to visit Ivvavik?

The Parks Canada Sheep Creek base-camp week is about $3,500 CAD including the charter. A 12-day Firth River raft trip runs $8,000-10,500 USD. There is no separate park entry fee.

Are there free days?

The park has no entry fee ever — but you cannot reach it without a $6,000+ charter, so 'free' is theoretical.

How long is a visit?

Minimum 6 days (base-camp week including travel days from Inuvik). Firth River expeditions run 10-14 days.

When is the park closed to visitors?

Effectively closed October through May due to weather and darkness. Guided access runs mid-June to late July only.

Do I need to book in advance?

Yes, at least a year ahead. The Parks Canada base-camp lottery runs each February for the following summer; commercial rafting outfitters book out 12-18 months in advance.

How do I get there?

Fly commercial to Inuvik, NT (Canadian North from Whitehorse via Yellowknife), then charter Aklak Air into Sheep Creek airstrip. No road, no shuttle, no walking in.

Why it matters

Every stay booked through The Yukon funds one verified tonne of carbon removal — same room, same price, the climate action already built into checkout.

You're not charged more and the hotel isn't paid less. It's just what happens when you tap Reserve.