Ivvavik National Park in Yukon Territory, Canada - map, photos and visitor information

Ivvavik National Park protects mountains, river valleys, and coastal tundra in northern Yukon. The usual visitor gateway is Inuvik in the Northwest Territories, followed by a charter flight. Choose between a fully planned wilderness expedition and an announced Imnairvik base-camp program. Neither is a roadside visit or an ordinary campground booking.

The Firth River and northern Yukon mountains

• Firth River: A remote whitewater journey through mountain valleys and canyons, with specific group-travel rules.
• Imnairvik: Sheep Creek Base Camp provides a starting point for mountain routes and Inuvialuit cultural learning during scheduled trips.
• Open-country hiking: Routes cross tundra, ridges, and river valleys without a conventional marked trail network.
• Caribou habitat: The park protects part of the Porcupine caribou herd's calving grounds.

Know before you go

Fees, hours, and seasonal access

Plan to handle delays and emergencies

Parks Canada warns that rescue may take one or two days, or longer, depending on conditions and resources. Satellite communications are essential; there is no cell service. Cold water, rapidly changing weather, and remote terrain require skills beyond those needed for a maintained day trail.

River crossings can become dangerous or impossible. Do not try to cross the Firth River on foot. Read the park's safety and communication guidance, and agree on emergency contacts during orientation. September–April emergency calls go through Parks Canada dispatch at 1-877-852-3100.

Protect tundra and cultural places

Pack out garbage and leave plants, stones, artifacts, and historic structures undisturbed. Do not feed or disturb wildlife. Visitor campfires are prohibited. Dogs are prohibited at Ivvavik Base Camp; do not assume that a general pet policy permits bringing one there. Recreational drones are prohibited.

A national park fishing permit is required for fishing. Ask about current species and area restrictions before planning a catch. Indigenous rights and traditional activities have a distinct legal context.

Permits, orientation, and return reporting

All visits, including day trips, require the appropriate permit. Register with Parks Canada before entering, attend orientation, and de-register after the trip. Provide your route, equipment details, group information, emergency contacts, and expected return date. Registration includes the aircraft landing permit.

Use the registration instructions and agree on how to report your return. Book aircraft separately. For the independent base-camp program, contact staff about the next announced trip; its published format does not include meals or guided hikes.

Maps, location, and access

Inuvik can be reached by the Dempster Highway or scheduled flights, but that does not provide road access into Ivvavik. Charter aircraft are the usual onward transport. The park is in Yukon; its Western Arctic Field Unit office is in the Northwest Territories.

Download the official maps and discuss the landing point and route with staff. A map on a phone is inadequate without offline navigation skills and the equipment to use it.

Other northern parks require separate arrangements

• Herschel Island–Qikiqtaruk Territorial Park: Off Yukon's north coast, reached by seasonal boat or aircraft. A Firth River expedition can finish there only with onward travel arranged.
• Vuntut National Park: Another northern Yukon expedition area, reached north of Old Crow by air or river. It is not a road detour from Ivvavik.

Match the route to the expedition

Sheep Slot is listed as a 3.5 km return route from the base-camp area with relatively little elevation gain. Wolf Tors is a much longer 14.4 km return outing. Route descriptions use approximate lines through open terrain; an easier rating does not establish a marked or universally accessible path.

Visitor trips on the Firth River require at least two distinct watercraft actively in use. A single raft carrying several people does not meet that wording. Rights under applicable land-claim agreements can override this restriction. Confirm the complete order and your proposed river arrangements with staff before booking.

Base-camp services are program-specific

The published Imnairvik program describes prospector tents inside an electric bear fence, a shared kitchen, treated water, flush toilets, showers, and protected food storage. Those services belong to the arranged program. They do not establish a drop-in campsite or facilities elsewhere in the park. The independent format requires participants to supply their own meals and plan their hikes.

Inuvik provides shops, accommodation, and other town services before departure. Discuss aircraft boarding, camp surfaces, and personal needs directly with staff.

About Ivvavik

Protection through the Inuvialuit Final Agreement

Ivvavik was established in 1984 through the Inuvialuit Final Agreement. It was Canada's first national park created through an Indigenous land claim settlement. Parks Canada and the Inuvialuit manage it cooperatively, protecting wildlife, cultural resources, and continuing traditional use.

Calving grounds, tundra, and mountain habitat

Caribou, grizzly bears, wolves, foxes, and muskoxen use this northern landscape. Gyrfalcons and golden eagles are among its birds. Wildlife movement varies through the season; plan around protection and distance rather than trying to follow animals.

Contact

Official Ivvavik visit information
Permit inquiries: 867-777-8800
Email: [email protected]
Office: 81 Kingmingya Road, Inuvik, Northwest Territories X0E 0T0.
Mail: P.O. Box 1840, Inuvik, Northwest Territories X0E 0T0.