You might not be able to pronounce it or may never have heard of it, but Ivvavik National Park should be on your bucket list if you like nature and outdoor adventure. Tucked into the northwest corner of Canada’s Yukon territory the park is bordered by Alaska on the west and the Beaufort Sea on the north.

Why Should You Go?

For the hiking, the cultural programs and the wildlife. To learn more, listen to my interview with Randy Sharman on The Informed Traveler from July 28.

Will you see caribou?

Maybe. They aren’t usually near base camp in great numbers while visitors are around but as I discovered, caribou are unpredictable.

My video of  Caribou galore is what it looks like when tens of thousands wander by.

Will you be comfortable?

Yup. Parks Canada offers a glamping experience at its base camp. You bring your sleeping bag, they provide the tent, heater and warm showers. Food is tasty and prepared for you. Book in early June for best chance of seeing caribou, late June for green slopes and wildflowers.

Ivvavik base camp offers comfortable prospector tents

How do you get there?

To get there you need to get yourself to Inuvik (First Air and Air North offer departures from Vancouver and Edmonton) and then Parks Canada flies you into the Imniarvik base camp for a comfortable arctic clamping experience.