The best camping near Ivvavik National Park

Set above the Arctic Circle in northwest Yukon, Ivvavik National Park spans thousands of kilometres of unglaciated tundra, topped by the crags of Canada’s British Mountains. It can be reached only by charter plane; from there, you can join guided expeditions or set out to explore the backcountry on your own. Although there are no designated trails, the open terrain offers a relatively accessible Arctic hiking experience with opportunities to spot caribou, grizzly bears, and golden eagles. You can even visit ancient Inuvialuit cultural sites or raft the Firth River from Margaret Lake, ending at the Arctic Ocean’s icy Beaufort Sea.

• Best for guided treks: Imniarvik Base Camp (also known as Ivvavik Fly-in Base Camp) is home to the park’s only flush toilet and hot shower, plus a cookhouse and furnished prospector tents.
• Best for rafting trips: Margaret Lake is a prime homebase for getting out on the water.
• Best for Beaufort Sea access: Komakuk Beach is a waterfront spot with plenty of history.

• Book in advance if you’re planning to stay at base camp or join a rafting trip from Margaret Lake—reservations can be made with Parks Canada. Otherwise, there are no accommodations or formal campgrounds in the park, so you can set up a tent anywhere so long as you’re not on an archaeological site.
• Visitors need to register, purchase a permit, and complete an orientation session at the Parks Canada office in Inuvik before a trip, then deregister there upon return.
• While few people travel to this remote park (roughly 100 visitors per year), it’s a good idea to call the Canadian parks office to ensure availability before you make the trek out.

Ivvavik National Park is open year-round, but the hiking season typically spans from mid-June to mid-August. Any later, you should be prepared for winter conditions and heavy fog. Early July is one of the best times to arrive, when wildflowers carpet the tundra and the park becomes a calving ground for porcupine caribou herds on their way to the coastal plains. Plus, during summer, the sun never sets on Ivvavik.

• Ivvavik National Park is more accessible than it seems. Visitors can board a jet in Edmonton in the morning and arrive at the Parks Canada office in Inuvik by late afternoon. 
• Air-access points for hiking trips include Sheep Creek, Margaret Lake, Komakuk Beach, and Stokes Point.
• Due to the lack of trails, hikers should rely on landmarks such as creeks, valleys, and hills. Before you arrive at the Parks Canada office, do your research with topographic maps and air photos, as you’ll need to provide a detailed description of your route.