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20 March 2013

Where To Find Haida Gwaii Accommodations

By Kay William


Home to the Haida Nation for 7000 years, this archipelago on the northern coast of British Columbia is famous for pristine beaches, snow capped mountains, and verdant temperate forests. Diverse wildlife abounds. Salmon and halibut are plentiful. Book sport fishing charters. Explore the cultural heritage. Explore National and Provincial Parks. Tourists will be pleasantly surprised to find a wide range of Haida Gwaii accommodations available for every budget: campgrounds, cabins, B&B's, inns, lodges, and motels.

Most accommodations are on Graham Island. The commercial hub is Queen Charlotte City. The main street is busy with gift shops, art galleries, restaurants, and coffee shops. Accommodations run the gamut from campgrounds, a hostel, cottages, cabins, B&B's, inns, and motels.

The village of Masset on the north end of Graham Island provides easy access to Naikoon Provincial Park and Delkatla Wildlife Sanctuary. The town has a marina, a maritime museum, coffee shops, art galleries, and a wilderness supply store. Visitors will find lodges, B&B's, a guesthouse, and 2 RV Park/campgrounds.

Tow Hill is a rural community along the northwestern border of Naikoon Provincial Park. There's a campground and rustic cabins for rent. Choose a cabin in the forest or on the beach. Amenities are limited, a cafe, a restaurant, and an organic produce store.

The First Nation village of Old Masset is the administrative seat of the Council of the Haida Nation and home to several well-known carvers. If you want to stay in the heart of First Nation country, there's a couple Bed & Breakfast homes.

Port Clements is a small village 1/2 hour south of Masset. It has sandy beaches, a restaurant, coffee shop, a Pioneer Museum and a Forestry Museum. It's close to Naikoon Provincial Park and Millennium Memorial Park. Port Clements has a motel, lodge, B&B, guesthouse, and an RV Park and campground.

Tlell is a small rural community of ranches and home to many well known artisans. Visitors will find galleries, shops, and quaint accommodations including B&B's, an inn, cottages, and campgrounds. At the southeast corner of Naikoon Provincial Park, Tlell is the starting point for a variety of wilderness and backpacking adventures.

Skidegate Village is a First Nation community recognized as the cultural center of the Haida. Visitors can watch world class carvers at work on Totem Poles and canoes. There's a museum and Heritage Center. A few cottages are available for rent, but most visitors make day trips from neighboring Queen Charlotte City.

Sandspit is on Moresby Island, the 2nd largest island. Sandspit features beaches and forests, a few restaurants and art galleries. The rest of the island, the parks and ancient First Nation Villages are sacred territory. Visitors must be part of a tour group to visit the Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and the ancient villages of the area.

Haida Gwaii accommodations tend to be small, quaint, family run establishments with 2-30 rooms. Still most have modern amenities like Wi-Fi and cable TV. Upscale fishing lodges are scattered across the remote islands. A small 4 room guest house hosts overnight visitors to Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve on Kunghit Island. Campsites tend to be primitive with fire pits and dry toilets. There's 1 hostel for budget conscious travelers at Queen Charlotte City.




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