Facilities and services

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

Mooring buoys

© C. Cheadle

The mooring buoys in Gwaii Haanas are no longer safe and must be replaced prior to next operating season. In the interim, all buoys will be removed for safety purposes. Current safe moorage are the Shuttle dock and Ellen Island dock in the event of an emergency and need for safe harbour.

Freshwater

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)

Boiling water for a minute is the best method of purification. Remember you are in a backcountry, wilderness setting. Please do not take any chances with your health.

The Haida Gwaii Watchmen receive containers of potable water for their use, but please bring your own drinking water to the watchmen village sites when you visit

Washrooms

© Parks Canada / S. Munn

Composting toilets are available at the Haida Gwaii Watchmen village sites.

Tidal flush

Gwaii Haanas encourages you to use the intertidal flush, rather than going in the woods. Here’s how to do it on the beach:

• 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.
• 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.
• Burn used toilet paper.
• Pack out all other products

Operations stations

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

These facilities are on Ellen Island (Kilgii Gwaaay.yaay) or Huxley Island (Gaaduu Gwaay.yaay).

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.