Naikoon Provincial Park

About This Park

Naikoon is the traditional territory of the Haida Nation and figures prominently in their present lifestyles and history. There are many places of cultural and spiritual importance as well as historic village sites and important food gathering sites throughout the park. Colonial settlement began in the early 1900s; although it failed to prosper, evidence of settlements can still be found within the park.

Naikoon was designated a Class A park in 1973. The area is comprised of a mixture of coastal temperate rainforest ecosystems, wetlands and bogs, sand dunes and approximately 100 km of beaches. Tow Hill and Rose Spit are iconic natural features that are also prominent in Haida traditional stories. Naikoon lies entirely within the Queen Charlotte Lowland eco-region. Primary attractions for visitors include Haida cultural history, 100 km of beaches, hiking, fishing, and wilderness camping.

Park Size: 69,071 hectares (upland: 66,961 ha; foreshore: 2,110 ha)

Know Before You Go

Stay Safe

Be aware of undertows along beaches and at river mouths.
Please be extremely careful with fire, matches, and cigarettes. Cookstoves should be utilized for cooking when possible.
On beaches and headlands, always be aware of tides and weather, as it is possible to become isolated on disappearing sand bars as tides rise or heavy weather increases wave height. Never turn your back on the sea.
Warning: Persons contemplating a visit to Naikoon Provincial Park are reminded that it is a wilderness area with no supplies of any kind. Accommodation in nearby communities is limited. Suitable clothing should be worn and proper equipment carried for outdoor living. Visitors should be in possession of suitable maps. Hikers planning to travel the beaches should inform a responsible person or agency of their intentions. This information should include estimated departure and return times. More information about trails or hiking in this park »

Special Notes

The climate here is mild, moderated by moist Pacific air throughout the year. Cool, rainy, or foggy weather and high winds can occur at any time; campers and hikers should always be equipped with warm clothing and wet-weather gear.
There is no internet access at Misty Meadows Campground or Agate Beach Campground.
Only cash payments are accepted at the campgrounds.
Off Road Vehicle Use:
- Naikoon Park is bordered by a hundred kilometres of expansive beach, attracting thousands of park visitors each summer – hikers, beach walkers, fishers, cyclists and motorized vehicle users. In recent years, motorized traffic has been on the rise, increasing the potential for damage to Naikoon Park’s sensitive ecosystems and cultural sites. To respect the environment and other visitors, keep the following guidelines in mind as you travel the park.
- Motorized vehicles on Rose Spit Ecological Reserve are prohibited off designated routes. Rose Spit supports an endangered plant community and is critical habitat for many local and migratory bird species.
- Vehicles are PROHIBITED from driving on sand dunes, from leaving designated roads, or traveling above or below the tide zone. Damage to these delicate ecosystems can lead to loss of plant life, increased erosion, exposure and damage to cultural sites. Tire tracks and repeated foot traffic through the sand dunes cause extensive environmental damage. The root systems of plants are broken and wind causes erosion. Once the stabilizing grasses are damaged, the wind continues to shift the dunes, burying the forest, trails, and camping spots.
- Be prepared for emergency situations. Carry what you will need to rescue yourself and your vehicle should it become stuck on the beach.
- ATV use within Naikoon is limited to North and East Beaches. Trail use, travel to the interior of Naikoon and ATV use on the Dune areas is prohibited. ATVs are prohitbited from being used in the campsites and must be moved by trailer to the beach access points. It is illegal to run ATVs on Tow Hill road or any other highway unless they are registered and displaying licence plates. The fine for running non licenced ATVs on roadways is $600.00.
- Responsible All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) Use in Naikoon Park
If you see any environmental or cultural damage, please record and report to the Naikoon Park office in Tlell at 250 557-4390 to the Report All Poachers and Polluters line 24/7 at 1-877-952-7277 or #7277 on you cell.
Wet weather gear is necessary year-round.
Firearms are prohibited except during a valid hunting season. Please consult BC Hunting Regulations for dates.
The park’s lakes and streams are the source of drinking water. Help protect the delicate balance of the water system by washing yourself, your clothes, and dishes at least 30 metres from lakes or streams and please don’t clean fish in them. Use responsible backcountry toilet practices. Potable water is available at Agate Beach and Misty Meadows (seasonally) and year-round at BC Parks Headquarters in Tlell.

Location and Maps

Please note: Any maps listed are for information only; they may not represent legal boundaries and should not be used for navigation.

Location Map

Haida Gwaii is served by scheduled air transportation from Vancouver and Prince Rupert and by BC Ferries between Prince Rupert and Skidegate. Highway 16 that connects the island communities passes close to the south and west boundaries of the park providing access at Tlell, Mayer Lake, and north east of Masset. There is no developed access to the interior of the park. Park headquarters are on the highway just south of the Tlell River bridge, 45 km north of the Village of Queen Charlotte.

Maps and Brochures

Any maps listed are for information only; they may not represent legal boundaries and should not be used for navigation.

Park Map [PDF] (June 2008)
East Beach Trail Map [PDF] (June 2018)

Nature and Culture

Management Planning

Management Planning Information
Naikoon Provincial Park management plan provides direction for the long-term management of Naikoon Provincial Park on the northeast corner of Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlotte Islands).

The approved Naikoon Management Plan is available in PDF format. Because of the large size of the file, the plan is divided into 11 separate files for ease of access:

Activities Available at this Park

Canoeing

Multiday canoeing is available in Mayer Lake with backcountry camping. Day trip kayaking or canoeing is an option at Mayer Lake or at nearby Pure Lake Park (day-use only).

Cycling

Fat-tire beach bikes are permitted on the beaches. Use the same precautions as ATVs. Otherwise, bicycles must keep to roadways. Bicycle helmets are mandatory in British Columbia.

Fishing

Angling can be productive in the Tlell River, other park waterways, and Mayer Lake. The Tlell River is famous for its coho salmon and steelhead runs. Anyone fishing or angling in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence.

Hiking

There are many hiking trails to explore in Naikoon. It is recommended that you hike from south to north to avoid prevailing winds, driving rain or sun in your eyes. Naikoon Provincial Park is a remote wilderness area. Safety is your personal responsibility. There are very remote areas of Naikoon Park where injuries, getting lost, exposure, and safe drinking water should always be considered. It is recommended that hikers inform a responsible person or agency of their hiking plan, including departure and return times and dates. For your own safety and the preservation of the park, obey posted signs and keep to designated trails. Shortcutting trails, switchbacking, and trampling meadows destroy plant life and soil structure which keep rain and snow melt from eroding the trails.

Hunting

This park is open to hunting. Please check the Hunting & Trapping Regulations Synopsis for more information.

Interpretive Programs

There are no current or planned interpretive programs, however visitors may drop in at Parks HQ in Tlell and speak with a Park Ranger.

Pets on Leash

Tow Hill: While walking up the Tow Hill trail, ensure your pet is leashed at all times. There are steep cliffs obscured by thick brush. Numerous dogs have lost their lives while running loose on Tow Hill.

It is an offence under the Parks Act to permit a dog to be off leash in a Provincial Park or Ecological Reserve, or to permit it to cause annoyance, injury, damage, or to molest wildlife. You are responsible for your pet's behaviour and must dispose of their excrement. Backcountry areas are not suitable for dogs or other pets due to wildlife issues and the potential for problems with bears.

Swimming

Pure Lake day use area is a popular family swimming spot. There are no lifeguards on duty at provincial parks.

Windsurfing

North Beach offers surfers an expansive coastline to explore.

Facilities Available at this Park

Accessibility

All water taps are accessible. Tow Hill day-use site has two wheelchair-accessible tables at the trailhead. Misty Meadows campground has two accessible outhouses and Agate Beach campground has one accessible outhouse. The Tow Hill Trail to the blowhole lookout is universally accessible, including the interpretive signs.

Boat Launch

There is a rustic boat launch at the Mayer Lake Day Use Area suitable for launching canoes, kayaks, and small boats.

Cabins / Huts

There is a Haida long house-style cabin along East Beach at Cape Fife with four rustic bunks and a woodstove. A rustic cabin with wood stove and sleeping bunks is at Cape Ball. These cabins are available on a first come basis and not reservable, so bring a tent as a backup. These cabins are user-maintained.

Campfires

While campfires are allowed and campfire rings are provided at each campsite, we encourage visitors to conserve wood and protect the environment by minimizing the use of fire and using campstoves instead. Firewood can be purchased in the park or you may bring your own wood. Fees for firewood are set locally and may vary from park to park. Limited burning hours or campfire bans may be implemented so watch out for notices of fire bans due to risk of wildfires, and always ensure that fires are completely extinguished when they will be untended. To preserve vegetation and ground cover, please don’t gather firewood from the area around your campsite or elsewhere in the park (this is a ticketable offence under the Park Act). Dead wood is an important habitat element for many plants and animals and it adds organic matter to the soil.

Drinking Water

Potable water is available in park campgrounds and at the Parks Headquarters in Tlell. Hikers are advised to carry plenty of drinking water and must treat surface water due to risk of water-borne illness.

Group Camping

There is group camping at Misty Meadows campground.

Youth group camping charges per night are $1/person (6+), with a $50 minimum and $150 maximum. Read the Youth Group policy about Criteria for Youth Groups.

Regular group camping charges per night are the base rate for the site, which is $20.00/group site/night, plus $5/adult (16+, minimum charge for 15 adults), plus $1/child (6-15). Children under 6 are free!

Picnic Areas

This park has day-use/picnic areas that are located at the Tlell River Bridge, Misty Meadows, Mayer Lake in the park, at Pure Lake Provincial Park, midway between Port Clements and Masset, and Tow Hill day-use site which has 2 wheelchair-accessible tables at the trailhead.

Pit or Flush Toilets

This park has pit toilets – no flush toilets.

Vehicle Accessible Camping

This park offers vehicle accessible campsites on a first-come, first-served basis. As in most BC Parks, the maximum stay permitted is 14 days per calendar year.

Vehicle Accessible Camping Fee: $18.00 per party/night

BC Senior’s Rate (day after Labour Day to June 14 only): $9.00 per senior party/night. Read the User Fees Policy for information on Senior Camping Discounts.

Walk-In/Wilderness Camping

Wilderness, backcountry or walk-in camping is allowed, but no facilities are provided.

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