Aulavik National Park in Northwest Territories, Canada - map, photos and visitor information

Aulavik National Park occupies northern Banks Island in Canada's Northwest Territories. The Thomsen River crosses a remote tundra landscape reached mainly by charter aircraft. A visit requires permits, registration, and the skills and supplies to remain self-sufficient when weather delays a flight or rescue.

The Thomsen River and Arctic tundra

• Thomsen River: a 160-kilometer waterway through the park supports extended canoe and kayak expeditions.
• Wildlife observation: the river valley and tundra provide habitat for muskoxen, Arctic wolves, foxes, and birds.
• Unmarked country: hiking means planning your own route through a landscape without developed trails.
• Cultural sites: archaeological places add human history to the journey and must remain undisturbed.

Prepare for an Arctic expedition

Fees, hours, and seasonal access

Communications, cold water, and wildlife

There is no mobile phone or landline service in the park. Carry satellite communications and learn the device before departure. Rescue can take days. Strong winds, cold rain, frost, and snow can occur in summer, and cold river crossings can cause hypothermia.

Treat, filter, or boil drinking water. Follow the bear guidance given at orientation; polar bears can travel inland. Do not approach muskoxen. Read the park safety guidance as part of preparation.

Leave camps and cultural sites undisturbed

There are no designated campsites. Do not camp at archaeological sites, move artifacts, or damage vegetation. Pack out garbage and agree on sanitation practices during orientation. Open fires are prohibited; use a suitable stove and arrange fuel before departure.

Register, obtain permits, and report your return

Both day trips and overnight trips require park permits and registration. Supply your itinerary, equipment information, group details, and emergency contacts. Attend the pre-trip orientation and agree on when and how you will report your return. Failing to de-register can trigger a search response.

Apply for the free aircraft landing permit during trip registration. The charter operator also needs the relevant park business authorization. Follow the registration instructions rather than treating a flight booking as park registration.

Banks Island access begins far from the park

Aulavik lies northeast of Sachs Harbour on Banks Island. Inuvik on the mainland is the usual charter hub, approximately 750 kilometers southwest of the southern park boundary. Reaching Inuvik by road does not provide a road onward to Aulavik.

Use the official planning maps and prepare a detailed route with Parks Canada. Confirm the landing and pickup locations with the operator, and carry supplies for delays beyond the planned pickup.

Regional parks require separate journeys

There are no road-connected park side trips from Aulavik. Ivvavik National Park and Tuktut Nogait National Park are other parks in the wider Inuvialuit Settlement Region. Treat either as a separate expedition, not a nearby drive from Banks Island.

Let the route determine the length of the trip

Thomsen River journeys commonly take two to three weeks, depending on start and finish points. That period allows time for weather and walking stops. A gentle-flowing river still demands remote-travel skills and a workable evacuation plan.

Experienced walkers can plan routes along the valley and surrounding ridges. Wildlife photography and birdwatching can form part of that journey. Ask Parks Canada for current licensed operators if you need a guided expedition.

Bring the systems a developed campground would provide

The park has no developed visitor facilities, campgrounds, trails, or road access. Plan backcountry shelter, sanitation, drinking-water treatment, and food storage rather than expecting toilets, water taps, parking, or a lodge at the landing site.

Discuss mobility needs and the actual terrain with Parks Canada and the operator; there is no developed accessible visitor route to assume. Offices in Inuvik and Sachs Harbour support planning from outside the park.

About Aulavik

Protection through an Inuvialuit agreement

A 1992 agreement between the Inuvialuit, Canada, and the Northwest Territories set out the park's establishment framework. Land was withdrawn in 1994. The park's history and management are linked to the Inuvialuit Final Agreement and continuing Indigenous use of the region.

Share the tundra at a distance

Muskoxen, Arctic wolves, foxes, and birds use the park's tundra and river valley. Polar bears are also a safety consideration, including away from the coast. Choose observation positions that leave animals space and follow the orientation's food-storage guidance.

Western Arctic Field Unit

Email [email protected]. The contact page lists the Inuvik and Sachs Harbour offices. Inuvik street address: 81 Kingmingya Road. Mail: Parks Canada, Western Arctic Field Unit, PO Box 1840, Inuvik, NT X0E 0T0.

Parks Canada dispatch from a satellite phone: 780-852-3100. Obtain the current local duty contact and reporting plan during orientation.