Mealy Mountains National Park Reserve in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada - map, photos and visitor information

Akami-Uapishkᵁ-KakKasuak-Mealy Mountains National Park Reserve lies on mainland Labrador in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Its boreal forest, mountain terrain, rivers, and Labrador Sea coast require expedition planning. There is no road into the reserve, and visitors must discuss their trip with Parks Canada in advance.

Mountains, river country, and the Labrador coast

• Mealy Mountains: mountain terrain above forested country offers scope for experienced backcountry travelers, without an established hiking-route network.
• Wunderstrands: a 50-kilometer stretch of sandy coast can be approached by boat or kayak from Cartwright or Rigolet, with suitable arrangements.
• Boreal habitats: the reserve protects rivers, wetlands, forest, and important caribou range.
• A cultural landscape: Innu and Labrador Inuit relationships with this land remain central to its management.

Arrange a trip before arranging an arrival

Fees, hours, and seasonal access

Prepare for a delayed return

Limited infrastructure and rescue capacity make self-reliance essential. Carry equipment for extended weather delays, know how to navigate, and bring a satellite phone you can operate. Prepare a bear-safety plan for black bears and occasional polar bears with Parks Canada and your guide.

Do not treat a typical winter travel period as proof that ice is safe. Get current advice for the proposed route. The official trip-planning page describes the reserve's remote conditions.

Respect cultural and natural access limits

Follow the restrictions discussed during trip planning. Some places may have limited access to protect cultural or natural values. Arrange any cultural experience with the relevant community or operator rather than assuming that a visit includes access to community activities.

Commercial filming and drone use have separate authorization requirements. Ask before including them in your plans.

Arrange transport and discuss park access

Contact Parks Canada well ahead of travel to discuss your route and the authorizations it needs. Aircraft access is restricted. Coordinate the required permission with the charter operator; paying for a flight alone does not settle access arrangements.

Discuss overnight locations and backcountry requirements directly with park staff.

Reach a gateway community, then the reserve

Happy Valley-Goose Bay is the main regional service hub. Sheshatshiu, Rigolet, and Cartwright are gateway communities. Roads reach Sheshatshiu and Cartwright, but not Rigolet. The getting-here guidance separates those journeys from access to the park by air, sea, or suitable winter transport.

Obtain the correct NTS topographic maps for your route. Parks Canada recommends the 1:50,000 series. Check the map datum against the GPS setting; mismatched reference systems can cause substantial position errors.

A regional road-trip option

No nearby park can be reached by driving out of this roadless reserve. Pinware River Provincial Park, on Route 510 southwest of Red Bay, is an option on a much longer southern Labrador approach. Treat it as a separate itinerary stop, not a short excursion from the Mealy Mountains.

Plan an expedition around one landscape

Experienced visitors can discuss hiking, backcountry camping, or paddling with Parks Canada. There are currently no established hiking routes. Select a feasible route with local advice instead of importing an itinerary from a generic trail app.

The activities page describes coastal access to the Wunderstrands and the reserve's developing visitor experiences. Descriptions of future programs do not establish that a guided activity is available to book now.

Minimal infrastructure requires detailed preparation

Programs and services remain limited. Confirm your water, sanitation, equipment, and overnight plan with Parks Canada before committing to transport.

The Happy Valley-Goose Bay administrative office is a planning contact, not a drive-in park entrance. Arrange supplies and accommodation in your chosen gateway community separately.

About the park reserve

Indigenous relationships and cooperative management

The establishment agreement was signed on July 31, 2015, followed by the provincial land transfer on July 10, 2017. Those dates mark federal protection, not the beginning of the landscape's human history. Innu and Labrador Inuit relationships with the area extend much further back, and management involves Indigenous partners and Parks Canada.

Caribou range and boreal animals

The reserve protects important habitat for the threatened Mealy Mountains caribou herd. Wolves, black bears, martens, and foxes also use its boreal landscapes. Rivers support salmon and trout. Do not approach wildlife or assume that a documented species will be visible along your route.

Discuss your route with Parks Canada

Call 709-896-2394 or email [email protected]. The Labrador office contact page lists community offices. Main office: North Star Building, 114 Hamilton River Road, Happy Valley-Goose Bay, NL. Mail: PO Box 1510, Station B, Happy Valley-Goose Bay, NL A0P 1E0.

Parks Canada emergency dispatch: 780-852-3100, which can be called from a satellite phone.