Facilities and services

Facilities in and around Gwaii Haanas are minimal. There are no roads, stores, or fuelling facilities. Access is limited to boats and seaplanes. Gwaii Haanas does not maintain hiking trails or campsites, and there are limited navigational aids or mooring equipment.

Come prepared to be self-sufficient. If you have limited experience in north-coast marine travel, we recommend you visit with a licensed tour operator.

Mooring buoys

© C. Cheadle

Currently, mooring buoys are available for visitors at K’uuna, Taanuu, Hlk’yah GawGa, SGang Gwaay, Gandll K’in Gwaay.yaay. All buoys are intended for small craft and are considered use at your own risk. Boaters are welcome to anchor anywhere there is safe anchorage. Further information is included in the visitor package which you will receive at the mandatory visitor orientation.

Drinking water

Come prepared to collect and treat your own drinking water. To assist with filling water tanks, hoses supplying untreated freshwater are located at:

• Shuttle Island (52°40.00’N, 131°43.80’W)
• Louscoone Inlet (52°11.64’N, 131°15.37’W)

Rapidly boiling water for at least one minute is an effective way of purifying freshwater. Remember you are in a backcountry, remote setting. Please do not take any chances with your health by drinking untreated water.

The Haida Gwaii Watchmen do not have extra drinking water and cannot fill visitors’ water bottles.

Washrooms, Showers & Changerooms

© Parks Canada / S. Munn

Composting toilets are available at all the Haida Gwaii Watchmen sites. If you need to go to the bathroom elsewhere in Gwaii Haanas, use the intertidal flush method:

• Dig a 20cm hole on the beach, close to the ocean in the intertidal zone—well below the last high tide line.
• Cover with bits of beach (sand, pebbles) after use and let the tide do the rest.
• Mark the spot by partially burying a stick in the sand to inform other visitors to avoid the area.
• Burn used toilet paper & pack out all feminine hygiene products.

If you are unable to use the intertidal zone, make sure that you are at least 100 m from freshwater sources and campsites and follow the same steps.

Operations stations

Staff at Ellen Island Operation Station © Parks Canada / S. Munn

There are two Operation Stations in Gwaii Haanas, on Kilgii Gwaay.yaay Ellen Island, and at Kingts’ii Gwaay.yaay Bischof Islands.

Parks Canada staff and independent researchers use these stations as their base while conducting ecological and cultural research, monitoring, compliance and patrols.

Data is collected through activities that occur at various times during the day or night, depending on the objective. For example, songbird monitoring takes place when the sun is about to rise, and eelgrass monitoring occurs when the tides are lowest.

If you stop at an operations station, you might not find anyone there. Please do not count on receiving emergency assistance at these stations.