Midnight Sun Adventure Travel

2010 Queen Charlotte Island Kayak Tours: Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and Haida Heritage Site

Overview: The three inclusive kayak tours of Canada's west coast, as described below, kayak into remote Haida Gwaa National Park . We take care of all air, land, and marine arrangements to get you to your kayak put-in point from Vancouver – and get you back!

Off British Columbia's north coast lies an archipelago often referred to as "Canada's Galapagos": the Queen Charlotte Islands, or Haida Gwaii (Islands of the People). The archipelago comprises some 154 islands, which lie 80 kilometers off the BC coast and about 50 kilometers from the southern tip of Alaska. The Islands have been inhabited continually for 10,000 years and are the traditional home of the Haida nation, recognized as the prime culture at the time of the arrival of the Europeans. The arts of the Haida people - notably their totem poles and carvings in argillate (a black glass-like aggregate) are world famous. The Haida were fearsome warriors who dominated the west coast.

For those that choose to take any of the our three trips in the Queen Charlotte Islands, remoteness, coupled with the lure of this pristine land and aboriginal culture, combine to make this a kayaker's wilderness paradise. Our sea kayaking tours of Gwaii Haanas National Park and Haida Heritage Site paddle by some of the most spectacular terrain on the island: from the waters of Hecate Strait, to the open Pacific and then through areas of extraordinary biodiversity and cultural significance.

The areas we kayak range from the long house remains of T'aanuu Linagaay in the north to the gloriously colourful inter-tidal display at Burnaby Narrows in the center of the park. Combined with Kunghit Island and Anthony Island in the south, you will see witness some of the most extraordinary scenery and archaeological sites in the world. As well, each trip visits different Haida Heritage sites including T’aanuu Linagaay, Hotspring Island and the UNESCO World Heritage Site of SGang Gwaay Linagaay village on Anthony Island (Ninstints)

The three tours described below all operate in the Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and Haida Heritage Site:

Trip 1: July 25 to August 3: Gwaii Haanas - Tanu (T’aanuu Linagaay) – Burnaby Island. 8 days of kayaking. The red outline on the map markers this route.
Trip 2: August 1 to 10: Gwaii Haanas - Burnaby Island – Ninstints (SGang Gwaay Linagaay). 8 days of kayaking. The black outline on the map markers this route.
Trip 3: August 8 to 19: Gwaii Haanas - Ninstints (SGang Gwaay Linagaay)– Hotspring Island (Gandll K’in Gwaayaay). 10 days of kayaking. The yellow outline on the map markers this route.

Midnight Sun Travel supports local environmental initiatives. To this end, $50 of every tour sold will be directed to Save Our Salmon Marine Conservation Foundation.

Queen Charlotte Island Kayak Travel Itinerary

Trip 1: Gwaii Haanas - Tanu (T’aanuu Linagaay) – Burnaby Island. 10 days.

This trip travels the more sheltered waters in the northern section of Gwaii Haanas National Park and Haida Heritage Site. The northern portion of the park is known for its solitude and offers more sheltered waters than the southern portion. On day 2 of the trip you’ll be picked up at your accommodation in Sandspit. Your transport to the field will either be by open zodiac or float plane. Upon arrival at the remote campsite, you’ll meet your guides who will provide you with a safety briefing and an orientation to the National Park. You’ll then have a chance to try out your kayaks for the first time, exploring the area close to camp.

The trip starts at the northern end of the park and slowly traverses south along the eastern coast of Moresby Island, slowly exploring the islands as we travel. We travel south through Darwin Sound, crossing Juan Perez Sound to Hotspring Island, where we stop for a visit and soak in the hot thermal pools. Continuing on, we aim for Burnaby Island, with a possible visit to Burnaby Narrows, known for its rich concentration of intertidal life. Highlights also include a stop at the abandoned Haida village of Tanu. If the tides so permit we visit Burnaby Narrows, known for its density of intertidal life. Throughout this area, wildlife is abundant, and it is not unusual to see Bald eagles, black tailed deer, and black bears. On the afternoon of day 9 you’ll return to your accommodation in Sandspit and the next day it’s time to head off to the Sandspit Airport for your flight back to Vancouver.

Day 1 (July 25) and Day 10 (August 3) are travel days from and to Vancouver. On Day 1 we include your air to Sandspit from Vancouver and hotel accommodation in Sandspit. On Day 9 we include your hotel accommodation in Sandspit and, on Day 10, your air back to Vancouver.

Trip 2: Burnaby Island to Ninstints (SGang Gwaay Linagaay). 10 days.

This trip traverses the southern section of Gwaii Haanas, starting near Burnaby Island and traveling south. It’s an area known for it’s rugged beauty, excellent wildlife viewing opportunities, and spectacular campsites. On Day 2 you'll be picked up at your accommodation. Your transport to the field will either be by open zodiac or floatplane. Upon arrival at the remote campsite, you’ll meet your guides who will provide you with a safety briefing and an orientation to the National Park. You’ll then have a chance to try out your kayaks for the first time, exploring the area close to camp.

Heading south from Burnaby Island, we cross Skincuttle Inlet, and pass the abandoned Haida village of Haigi. We also pass by the former townsite of Jedway, a community that developed to extract the mineral deposits in the area. It also has long since been absorbed back into the environment by the magnificent forests of Haida Gwaii. Towards the southern end of the trip, we turn into Houston Stewart Channel, separating Moresby Island from Kungit Island, also the location of Rose Harbour – an abandoned whaling station. We travel southward from the Burnaby Island area, with the ultimate destination being a visit to the UNESCO World Heritage site at SGang Gwaay Linagaay (Ninstints).

The route takes through many beautiful areas, including the spectacular gravel beaches along the shores of Burnaby Island, the islands of Skincuttle Inlet, and the rugged headlands of Benjamin and Iron Points. Every trip is different, but we may be able to see the ruins of a settlement in Ikeda Cove, the site of the abandoned Haida village of Kaidju, and the former whaling station of Rose Harbour. Weather permitting, we'll visit the poles at Ninstints (SGang Gwaay Linagaay).

Our final campsite is usually on the west side of Haida Gwaii, looking out into the open Pacific Ocean. On the last day of the trip, you’ll have time to reminisce about the previous days over a leisurely breakfast. Your transportation generally arrives about midday and whisks you back to Sandspit where you’ll have the opportunity to get together with the rest of your group for a farewell dinner.

Day 1 (August 1) and Day 10 (August 10) are travel days from and to Vancouver . On Day 1 we include your air to Sandspit from Vancouver and hotel accommodation in Sandspit. On Day 9 we include your hotel accommodation in Sandspit and, on Day 10, your air back to Vancouver.

Trip 3: Gwaii Haanas: Ninstints (SGang Gwaay Linagaay) to Hotspring Island. 12 days.

One of our guide’s favorites, this trip encompasses almost the entire bottom end of Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve. This trip has more challenging and exposed routes than the northern portion of the park and covers the most distance of any of our Queen Charlotte Island trips. Consequently it is best suited to hearty travellers in good physical condition. On day 2 you’ll be picked up at your accommodation in Sandspit for transport to your departure point, which will be by open zodiac or floatplane. Upon arrival at the remote campsite, you’ll meet your guides who will provide you with a safety briefing and an orientation to the National Park. You’ll have a chance to try out your kayaks for the first time, padding close to camp.

Starting at the southern end of Gwaii Haanas near the UNESCO world heritage site of Ninstints, we travel north, following the eastern coast of Moresby Island. As we travel each day, we’ll keep a close eye out for the prolific wildlife in the area, including Bald eagles, black bears, and prolific intertidal life. We traverse around many rugged headlands such as Scuttle, Benjamin, and Iron Points, favorite feeding grounds for Humpback Whales and Stellar Sea Lions. The trip will also aim to visit the abandoned Haida village of SGang Gwaay, where we’ll walk through the remaining poles and village remains. Places of interest also include: - Rose Harbour, an abandoned whaling station - Benjamin Point, the site of abandoned Haida village of Kaidju, - Collison Bay, one of the first sites for European settlement in the Queen Charlottes, Ikeda - Cove, once the site of a busy copper mine - Burnaby Narrows, one of the best spots on the west coast to view intertidal life.

The guides will pick the route each day after considering the goals of the trip, abilities of the guests, and the weather and sea conditions. Over the course of the next nine days we camp each night in a different wilderness campsite, finishing the trip on day 10 near Hotspring Island. Here we soak our weary bodies as we look out over spectacular Juan Perez Sound. Later in that afternoon you’ll return to your accommodation in Sandspit. In the evening most paddlers get together for a farewell, no host dinner at one of the local restaurants. The next day it’s time to head off to the Sandspit Airport for your flight back to Vancouver.

Day 1 (August 8) and Day 10 (August 19) are travel days from and to Vancouver. On Day 1 we include your air to Sandspit from Vancouver and hotel accommodation in Sandspit. On Day 11 we include your hotel accommodation in Sandspit and, on Day 12, your air back to Vancouver.