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Sable Island National Park Reserve

Sable Island is accessible by air or by sea. Day-use visitors can visit the island through Parks Canada approved tour operators and air transporters, or with written permission from Parks Canada when travelling by private vessel or small-expedition ship.

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Permission to visit

All visitors must obtain the proper travel approval from Parks Canada or from a Parks Canada licensed operator in advance.

Air transporters and operators

All trips by air must be made through a Parks Canada approved air transporter or operator:

Private vessels

All trips by private vessel must be made through Parks Canada. Complete the private vessel visitor request form if you are planning to travel by private vessel.

Small expedition ship (less than 200 passengers)

Approval must be received from Parks Canada before marketing any stop at Sable Island National Park Reserve. Please contact the Visitor Experience Coordinator (sable@pc.gc.ca) for more information on the approval process.


Two seals

How to visit in winter

Visitors are welcome on a few select dates in January and February.

Book a tour with a Parks Canada licensed operator:

How to visit during peak season

Visitors are welcome three times a week from the end of May to the end of October. See all visitor dates.

Choose your adventure:

Guided experiences

Spend your day with a licensed tour operator who will take care of trip logistics and guide you around the island.

Book a tour with a Parks Canada licensed operator:

Partially guided experiences

Spend two hours with a Parks Canada tour guide and then explore on your own.

Book a flight with a Parks Canada licensed air transporter:

Sail by private vessel:

Travel by plane

Sable Aviation offers the only fixed-wing airplane service to Sable Island. The airplane lands on the beach as there are no permanent runways on the island. This fixed-wing airplane can transport up to seven passengers.

Fixed-wing visitor flights are scheduled on Saturdays only. Sundays are reserved as the alternate date if conditions on Saturday do not allow a flight.

Operators licensed by Parks Canada:

Travel by helicopter

Vision Air offers the only helicopter service to Sable Island. The helicopter lands on a permanent helipad and can take up to eight passengers.

Helicopter flights are scheduled on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Wednesdays and Fridays are reserved as the alternate dates if conditions on the scheduled dates do not allow a flight.

Operators licensed by Parks Canada:

Travel by private vessel

Landing on the beach.

Spend two hours with a Parks Canada tour guide and explore on your own for the rest of the day.

Request and register your trip

All visitors planning to arrive by sea in a private vessel must register in advance with Parks Canada by completing the private vessel visitor request form.

Visitor requests are approved by Parks Canada on a first-come, first-served basis.

Critical guidelines for safe landing

If you are in charge of a vessel, the following guidelines are critical for a safe landing.

The possibility of heavy fog, shifting sandbars, and rough seas in the waters around Sable Island can pose challenges to boat access. There are no wharf facilities or mooring buoys on Sable Island, and vessels must anchor offshore and have a zodiac or other small boat suitable for a beach landing.

Visitors arriving by sea are responsible for their safe arrival and departure from the island. Parks Canada has limited capabilities on the island to assist in a marine rescue or emergency.

Before departing the mainland

Vessels should contact the Parks Canada Operations Coordinator to ensure we are aware of your itinerary and you are informed of activities or conditions on the island or offshore that may affect your plans.

All boat passengers must have life jackets for beach landings and zodiacs or small boats must not be overloaded beyond manufacturer’s recommended carrying capacity.

When within 10 nautical miles of the island

Vessels should contact the island on Marine Radio Channel 8 or 16 to confirm their safe arrival and to obtain any special instructions.

Vessels must anchor off the north side of the island, opposite the Main Station – at longitude 60.01W. There are submerged sand bars off the beach, and vessels should maintain their distance – 500 meters is usually sufficient, although there are times small boats are able to approach within 200 meters. A zodiac or small boat is required to get ashore and make a beach landing.

When anchored

Vessels should contact Sable Island on Marine Radio Channel 8 or 16 to advise when they are anchored. The Operations Coordinator can file or close sailing plans as required.

Landing

Visitors must not attempt to land on the beach until Parks Canada personnel are in position to greet them upon arrival and to provide an orientation and safety briefing.

Changing conditions may make it hard for a small boat to land or depart from the island, so sailors should be extremely careful about coming through the surf zone, and should have experience in managing beach landings in rough surf.

Communications

When coming ashore, boat passengers must have a VHF radio and maintain communications with the beach party on Marine Channel 8.

Before your trip

All visitors must obtain the proper travel approval from Parks Canada or from a Parks Canada licensed operator.

Make transportation arrangements to and from Sable Island with a Parks Canada licensed operator and be prepared for delays and cancellations. Delays and cancellations are common due to weather.

Be prepared for a backcountry-like wilderness experience. Be self-reliant and responsible for your own safety.

Follow the biosecurity measures in place to protect Sable Island.

Delays and cancellations

All visitors must be prepared for delays and cancellations, both when attempting to travel to the island and when attempting to depart.

All visitors must ensure they have adequate supplies, including any prescribed medication, to accommodate unplanned delays. In the event of unplanned overnight stay on Sable Island, standard fees apply for accommodation and emergency food rations.

Delays and cancellations can be caused by poor weather or the lack of a safe landing area. Normal delays might last a day or two, although significantly longer delays are possible. Poor weather and beach conditions could prohibit departure or landing of an aircraft or small boat for several days.

Questions?

Contact our Visitor Experience Coordinator for more information about planning your trip:

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