Museums & culture
Vuntut National Park
2 min read
Old Crow Flats wetland complex in Vuntut National Park
Vuntut sits in the extreme northern Yukon, above the Arctic Circle and directly north of the Fly-in Gwich’in community of Old Crow. The name means 'among the lakes' in Gwich’in and refers to the 2,000+ shallow lakes of the Old Crow Flats, an internationally-recognized Ramsar wetland where half a million waterfowl stage each year. The park also protects Ice Age fossil beds where mammoth, giant beaver and scimitar cat bones erode out of the riverbanks — this land was never glaciated.
Fewer than 50 visitors a year make it into Vuntut, and almost all go with a Vuntut Gwitchin guide out of Old Crow. There are no facilities, no trails and no marked routes. The trip typically involves flying scheduled Air North to Old Crow, then chartering a floatplane to a lake within the park for two or three nights of guided hiking, fishing and cultural interpretation. Come for the caribou migration and the elders' stories, not for infrastructure.
Hours
Park open year-round
Parks Canada Old Crow office Mon-Fri 8:30-17:00 (summer)
Access by charter only, weather dependent
Frequently asked questions
Is there an entry fee?
No. Vuntut is free to enter. Costs are entirely in getting there: about $900 return airfare Whitehorse-Old Crow plus $2,500-4,000 for a floatplane charter.
Are there free-entry days?
The park has no fee any day of the year.
How long do I need?
A three-day, two-night charter is the practical minimum. Most guided trips run 5-7 days including weather buffer.
When is it closed?
Never officially closed, but realistic visitor season is late June through mid-September. Winter access is used by Vuntut Gwitchin harvesters only.
Do I need to book?
Yes — contact the Parks Canada office in Old Crow (867-966-3622) at least six months ahead. Guides and charters are scarce.
How do I get to Old Crow?
Air North operates scheduled 737 service Whitehorse-Old Crow twice weekly, about 1h 45min. There is no road access to Old Crow at any time of year.
Where to stay
Rooms worth pairing with this guide.
Ready to plan this trip?
Real prices for the places this piece names.
