Haida Gwaii Islands

Haida Gwaii is an archipelago off the north coast of British Columbia, Canada, comprising dozens of islands dominated by Graham and Moresby islands. It is the traditional territory of the Haida Nation and contains internationally important cultural sites and temperate rainforest ecosystems.

The archipelago supports rich marine and terrestrial biodiversity and features old-growth forests, coastal fjords and important seabird colonies. Southern islands form the protected area of Gwaii Haanas, which combines national park reserve status with Haida guardianship and includes archaeological village sites and totem poles.

SGang Gwaay (Ninstints), on the southern islands, preserves the remains of an important Haida village and sea-town with standing totem poles and is inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its cultural significance. The islands are accessed by ferry and air from the British Columbia mainland and are served by small local communities such as Masset and Sandspit.

Geographically Haida Gwaii lies off the northwest coast of British Columbia, separated from the mainland by the Hecate Strait and administered within regional district structures of the province.

• Cultural heritage: Formerly known as the Queen Charlotte Islands, the archipelago is the traditional territory of the Haida people and contains significant Haida cultural sites, including SGang Gwaay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Natural environment: The islands are a temperate rainforest archipelago with diverse wildlife, fisheries and opportunities for sea-kayaking, wildlife-watching and cultural visits; marine and terrestrial access is seasonal and weather-dependent.

What to See#

• Graham Island: Graham Island - the archipelago’s largest island, containing the main population centres, commercial facilities and ferry terminals that link the islands to the British Columbia mainland.
• Moresby Island and Gwaii Haanas: Moresby Island and Gwaii Haanas - the second-largest island and the southern island group that includes the Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and the UNESCO-listed Haida village site of SGang Gwaay (Ninstints).

Haida Gwaii is reached either by air or sea. BC Ferries operates a scheduled ferry from Prince Rupert to Skidegate on Graham Island (the crossing takes roughly 1.5-2 hours); alternatively there are flights to Sandspit (YZP) and Masset from Vancouver or Prince Rupert. On Haida Gwaii, the main paved route linking communities is BC Highway 16 (the Queen Charlotte Highway), with local roads to parks and communities.

• Use Skidegate (ferry from Prince Rupert) or the local air services as your travel hub and plan itineraries in advance-inter-island travel and accommodations are limited, especially in summer.
• Visit the Haida Heritage Centre (Kaay Llnagaay) in Skidegate to gain cultural context and then book Indigenous-led tours or guides for cultural sites and to visit Gwaii Haanas; Indigenous-guided experiences reveal sites that many independent visitors miss.
• If you plan to go ashore in Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve, check landing permits and park regulations ahead of time-much of the south archipelago requires permits or guided access, so last-minute planning will limit options.