Tuktut Nogait National Park in Northwest Territories, Canada - map and visitor information

Tuktut Nogait National Park lies east of Paulatuk in the mainland Northwest Territories, north of the Arctic Circle. Open tundra, river valleys, and caribou habitat define the landscape. Access is remote and permit-based. Visitors must plan for self-rescue and weather delays, and current restrictions exclude the lower Hornaday River canyons.

Highlights of Tuktut Nogait's tundra country

• Plan an approved backcountry hiking route through rolling tundra.
• Explore permitted river sections with an experienced paddling group.
• Watch caribou and other Arctic wildlife without approaching them.
• Learn about the region's cultural history through protected archaeological features.

Know before traveling to Tuktut Nogait

Fees, hours, and seasonal access

Check the current park access guidance before choosing a route. Older photographs or descriptions of the falls do not mean visitors can enter the closed area. Confirm current charges on the fee page.

Prepare for medical, weather, and river emergencies

Your group needs wilderness experience, advanced first-aid skills, and equipment for cold rain and snow. Rescue depends on weather, aircraft, and staff availability. Do not plan around immediate outside assistance.

For noncommercial paddling groups, Parks Canada strongly recommends at least two watercraft to improve self-rescue options. Parties must carry a communication device and provide contact numbers before registration. Rivers can become dangerous after rain or during spring melt.

Treat drinking water and carry sufficient stove fuel. Grizzly bears occur in the park, and muskox can charge if approached. Review bear deterrents and food-storage methods with staff. The safety guidance describes the wider hazards.

Protect wildlife and cultural resources

Leave bones, antlers, plants, and archaeological objects in place. Tent rings, caches, and hunting features can be difficult to recognize. Record discoveries without rearranging them and report damage to Parks Canada.

Keep food, toiletries, waste, and cooking equipment inaccessible to animals. Wash away from freshwater sources. Keep pets leashed and pack out garbage.

Open fires, recreational drones, motorboats, and recreational off-road vehicles are prohibited. Fishing requires a national park fishing license; an NWT license does not replace it. Indigenous harvesting rights have specific protections and are different from visitor permissions.

Arrange orientation, permits, and de-registration

Reserve a time with Parks Canada in Inuvik for orientation and registration. Allow about an hour for the session and more time in your itinerary for travel delays. Supply group contacts, emergency contacts, equipment descriptions, your route, and the planned departure date.

Hikers and paddlers need permits before entering. Aircraft landings also require permission. De-register after the trip, either with staff or by leaving a clear message identifying your party. Follow the registration instructions and agree on the return-contact process before departure.

Location, maps, and remote access

The closest community is Paulatuk, west of the park. Inuvik is the regional travel and planning base. No road or developed trail leads directly from Paulatuk into Tuktut Nogait.

Most visitors use charter aircraft. Floatplane access from Inuvik or Norman Wells can reach suitable lakes with the required permit. Confirm the landing location, pickup conditions, and weather-delay arrangements with staff and the operator.

Obtain appropriate navigation maps before traveling. The official map directory supports initial planning. A general park map does not replace route-specific navigation or the current closure information supplied during orientation.

Other Western Arctic parks for separate expeditions

No road connects these parks with Tuktut Nogait. Each requires a separate flight and permit plan.

• Aulavik National Park: On Banks Island, usually reached by charter aircraft from Inuvik. It is another remote expedition choice rather than an onward road stop.
• Ivvavik National Park: In northern Yukon, also commonly reached by charter from Inuvik. Ask the Western Arctic office about its independent access arrangements.

Hike and paddle within approved areas

Backcountry hiking crosses open tundra and natural landforms rather than a developed trail system. Work with staff to choose a route that fits your navigation skills, weather margin, and emergency plan.

Paddlers must plan around the prohibited Hornaday canyon section below Uyarsivik Lake. Do not build an itinerary around reaching La Roncière Falls. Arrange the route and pickup point before committing to aircraft or guide bookings.

Wildlife observation and photography can be part of a hike or camp, provided the group does not disturb animals. Give nesting, denning, and feeding areas space. A changing wildlife situation can require a different route.

Limited shelter and no serviced campground network

Tuktut Nogait has no developed hiking trails or serviced visitor campground network. The 2024 management plan identifies basic infrastructure at Camp Jonah Nakimayak on Uyarsivik Lake: a modular cabin, toilet and shower shelters, a platform tent, and operational storage.

That inventory does not establish a public lodge or guaranteed visitor accommodation. Ask staff whether any camp support applies to your approved trip. Carry a complete backcountry setup unless specific support is confirmed.

Discuss wheelchair access and assistance for landings, camp buildings and backcountry travel before booking remote transport.

About Tuktut Nogait National Park

Community leadership and cooperative management

Paulatuk proposed the park in 1988. Parliament established it in 1998, and a 2005 expansion extended protection into the Sahtú Settlement Area. The Tuktut Nogait Management Board advises on planning and operation through cooperative management.

Archaeological sites preserve evidence of much earlier land use. Cultural protection and the continuing rights and relationships of Inuvialuit and Sahtú communities remain part of park stewardship.

Caribou habitat and Arctic predators

Caribou are central to the park's purpose and its connections with local communities. The landscape also supports grizzly bears, muskox, and other Arctic animals. Open views do not make close approaches safe.

Watch from a distance and keep animals from reaching camp supplies. Discuss recent sightings and sensitive areas during orientation.

Contact Tuktut Nogait National Park

Call the Paulatuk office at 867-580-3233 or email [email protected]. Coordinate registration through the Western Arctic office. Confirm the current emergency contact before departure; the duty-officer schedule shown on the registration page applies to June–August.