Frequently Asked Questions

From Sandspit Airport to downtown Daajing Giids daily. Pickups and drop-offs by reservation at Eagle Transit   250-876-1866.

Masset Airport has no shuttle, but if you are renting a vehicle, Masset Car and Truck rentals will get you to your rental car from the airport.

Take the Northern Health Connector bus Monday to Fridays at 8:45 am from Northern Haida Gwaii Hospital in Masset to the Haida Gwaii Hospital at Daajing Giids. Returns 2:45 pm. Reserve 48 hours in advance. 250-559-4461

BC Ferries travels hourly between Alliford Bay on Moresby and Skidegate Landing on Graham. 

We are thrilled to announce a new taxi service as of March 1, 2025!

Gwaii Taxi And Tours

tel:1-250-637-1162

The largest stands of old growth are found in Gwaii Haanas National Park, which requires visitor registration to visit.

You can visit smaller stands of old growth on Graham Island without registering:

Hike Haida Gwaii

Notice that words like old growth “alley” and “trees” rather than “forests” are used in the trail descriptions above.

View old growth maps in BC here:

Ancient Forests

Registering in an orientation session to visit the southern half of the archipelago is mandatory, and is done through Parks Canada or your tour guide.

The northern portion of Moresby and all of Graham Island welcome you without a formal orientation. But visitors are encouraged to take the Visitors’ Pledge.

From May thru September, book about a month ahead.

From October thru April, a week ahead should be fine.

The Daajing Giids Visitor Centre holds two overnight parking spots. 

Very close to that, there are a dozen or so parking spots at the head of the dock where two of the tour operators gather their trips.

All parking is on a first come first serve basis.

The closest English equivalent would be “dodging geese”. It means “common hat” in the southern Haida dialect.

See our food guide for advice about what is open and when it is fresh. We can offer you a printed list if you drop by during open hours.

BC Ferries operates an inter-island ferry, the Kwuna. It travels between Alliford Bay and Skidegate Landing on a near hourly schedule between 7:00 AM and 10:30 PM. Some additional sailings are available in the evenings. Click here for the seasonal schedule.

Only in Masset at Coastal Propane: 250-626-5068. See their Facebook Page .

Hike Haida Gwaii 

Ann and Rob at Hike Haida Gwaii kindly share any updates they have, mostly about the less well-known and often user-maintained trails. Please note that contrary to the information at Hike Kaida Gwaii, the Golden Spruce Trail is open again as of March 2025.

• Daajing Giids to Sandspit – 14 km + 25 minute ferry ride
• Daajing Giids to Skidegate – 7 km
• Daajing Giids to Tlell – 47 km
• Daajing Gids to Port Clements – 68 km
• Daajing Giids to Masset – 108 km
• Daajing Giids to Old Massett – 112 km
• Daajing Giids to Taw Tldaaw/Tow Hill – 138 km

We are working on a list of those, but meanwhile we can share this review, with thanks to Emma Kivisild.

Please do!

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Or call: 250-559-8316

Or email: info@dginfo.ca 

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For guided challenging hikes and climbs, contact the Gould Beach House in Sandspit.

Most businesses on Haida Gwaii are closed on Sundays, including many restaurants and shops. The BC Ferries inter-island service runs on Sundays, and most accommodation is available across the islands. We recommend calling ahead for anything specific. When we are open, we can tell you exactly what is running that day, and hours vary by season, so check our current hours before you visit.

Five days is enough to get a real sense of the islands if you are organized. A rough shape that works well:

• Day 1 — Arrive, settle in Daajing Giids. Walk the Seawalk, visit the Haida Heritage Centre in Skidegate. Get oriented.
• Day 2 — Drive north. Stop in Tlell, Port Clements, continue to Masset and Old Massett. Tow Hill and the North Beach at Naikoon Provincial Park are not optional.
• Day 3 — A boat tour into Gwaii Haanas if you have booked one. This requires advance planning — tours fill weeks ahead in summer.
• Day 4 — Slower day. Drive the Rennell Sound road to the west coast if conditions allow. Kayak, fish, or simply sit somewhere quiet.
• Day 5 — Yakoun Lake. Walk through old-growth forest to a large, pristine lake that has never known a motor on its surface. Then catch your ferry or flight.

Come in and talk to us — the best five days depends on who you are and what matters to you.

Yes — there are two dog boarding services on the islands, one in the mid-island area and one in the north. Supply is limited and they book up in peak season. Stop in or call us for current contact information: 250-559-8316.

The Daajing Giids Seawalk starts at the Visitor Centre and follows the waterfront — a pleasant short walk with good views across Skidegate Inlet.

For something more substantial, the Tarundl Loop at Kagan Bay Recreation Site is about four kilometres south of town. The trail follows a beautiful estuary and is one of the quieter, less-visited spots near Daajing Giids. Well worth the short drive.

Gore Brook Trail and Crabapple Creek Trail are two further community trails within the village itself. We can point you to trails suited to your time and fitness level — just ask.

Three things we would not leave Haida Gwaii without:

• The Haida Heritage Centre at Kay Llnagaay in Skidegate — one of the finest cultural centres in Canada. Allow at least half a day.
• SGang Gwaay (Anthony Island) — a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the southern reaches of Gwaii Haanas. The standing mortuary poles at the abandoned village of Ninstints are among the most significant and moving sites in the country. Accessible only by boat or floatplane, by permit, accompanied by a Haida Watchman.
• Naikoon Provincial Park — specifically Tow Hill and the North Beach. The scale of the landscape — old growth, open ocean, and the feeling of genuine remoteness — is difficult to describe to someone who has not been there.

Yakoun Lake.

You reach it on foot through old-growth forest — the trees are large and old in the way that makes you recalibrate what those words mean. The lake itself is large, pristine, and completely still. No motors have ever run on it. On a clear day the reflections are perfect.

It is not the most famous place on the islands, and it does not need to be.