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Naikoon
Naikoon Provincial Park is located in Haida Gwaii, approximately
12 km east of Masset
and approximately 40 km (.6 miles) north-west of Skidegate
on Hwy 16. The park encompasses a large area of around 69,071 hectares
(170,678 acres) of which 2,110 hectares (5,214 acres) is foreshore.
Traveling
Here by Vehicle
Take Hwy 16, driving north-west from the BC Ferries terminal at
Skidegate to Tlell. At Tlell,
you can find the south-east entrance to the park and the park headquarters.
Next door is Misty Meadows Campground and a short hike to sand dunes
along Hecate Strait. Just up Hwy 16 from the campground, across
a Tlell River bridge, there is a day-use site where you can find
picnic tables, an information kiosk, and the start of East Beach
Trail.
"The
Pesuta"
The East Beach Trail starts off by going through the forest, then
it follows the Tlell River to the beach and the shipwrecked barge
called the Pesuta. The Pesuta, beached during a winter storm in
1928, is a 1.5-hour brisk walk from the day-use parking lot. Besides
taking proper gear, you should also check the tide charts for this
area of Haida Gwaii, especially during storm season. East Beach
Trail continues past the Pesuta, traveling north-east eventually
to Rose Spit.
Mayer
Lake
If you continue travelling north-west, approximately 10 km (6 miles)
from Misty Meadows Campground on Hwy 16, which happens to border
the park from private land, you will come to a gravel road turnoff
to Mayer Lake. Here you can find a small parking lot, a cat top
launch, pit toilets, some tables, and a beach. Mayer Lake is well
known locally for fishing, canoeing, and wilderness camping.
Beach Areas
Generally speaking, you can access the rest of Naikoon Provincial
Park east of Masset. Here you can find South Beach, Agate Beach
Campground, the start of the Cape Fife Trail, the hike up and around
Tow Hill, and First Nations artifacts. You can also find access
to North Beach to Rose Spit and East Beach to the south, eventually
to the wreckage of the Pesuta and beyond to the park headquarters
and Visitor Centre at Tlell. The park has approximately 100 km (60
miles) of beach access in total.
Agate
Beach Campground
Probably one of the nicest provincial park campsites in the BC Parks
campground system can be found in Naikoon Provincial Park at Agate
Beach near Tow Hill. Here, if you are lucky, you can get beachfront
campsites that face Dixon Entrance with views to the west. Then,
towards the north, if it is a clear day, you can also see the landscape
of Prince of Wales and Dall Islands, both situated in Alaska.
Activities
If in season, and with the proper license, people have been known
to fish and have good luck at Agate Beach, going for crab, clams,
and various fish, including salmon. There is also a walking trail
up Tow Hill, which is adjacent to Agate Beach where there is a spectacular
view of North Beach and Agate Beach Campground.
Campground
Facilities
Naikoon Provincial Park is open year-round with full campground
service from June 1 to September 30. The campground facilities found
at Agate Beach include a campground with 39 vehicle-accessible campsites,
and, at Misty Meadows, there are 30 vehicle-accessible campsites.
None of the campsites at either facility accepts reservations or
has power available. The campgrounds have pit toilets, drinking
water, fire-pits, tables, bear-resistant garbage containers, and
firewood that can be purchased from the operator. You can also purchase
firewood locally or bring your own.
Fresh
Food Provisions
If you are camping in Naikoon Provincial Park and need food provisions,
the nearest place for people staying at Agate Beach is either at
the Co-op Marketplace or Atwell Family Foods. For people staying
at Misty Meadows, there is the Bayview Market situated in Port
Clements where they have a bakery and decent prices on fresh
meat.
RV
Parks Nearby
During the busy summer season, you might find some of the campgrounds
full. If this happens, try the Hidden Island RV Park in Masset or
the Sunset RV Park & Campground in Port Clements.
Weather
If you do visit Naikoon Provincial Park and Haida Gwaii, just remember
that the climate is controlled by warm moist Pacific air, producing
mild conditions throughout most of the year. You can also expect
rainy, cool, and sometimes foggy weather with very high winds at
any time. If you are hiking or camping, always be equipped with
wet-weather gear and warm clothing. One saying in Haida Gwaii is,
"if you don't like the weather, wait 5 minutes." Very
true.
Bear
Country
Just remember if you are enjoying the provincial parks and the countryside
around British Columbia, please remember this is bear country. Try
to avoid the rivers during heavy salmon spawning times unless you
feel comfortable with bears around and take the usual precautions.
There is also the possibilities of encounters with wolves or cougars
so please play it safe.
BC
Parks
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Naikoon Provincial
Park
Misty Meadows
Campground
"The Pesuta"
Agate Beach
Agate Beach Campground
North Beach
Tow Hill Trail
Agate Beach
Pesuta Trail
Agate Beach and
Tow Hill
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