Many visitors who arrive on Haida Gwaii by ferry bring their own vehicles, RVs or campers but vehicles are available for rent in Masset in the north, and Sandspit and Queen Charlotte in the south.
Only two of the islands have roads – Graham Island, the largest and most northern island, and Moresby Island, directly south of Graham. The main route on both islands is Highway 16. The paved road runs from Masset along Masset Inlet, to Port Clements, then crosses to the east coast of Graham Island, and continues south to the Village of Queen Charlotte. Masset is actually Mile 0 of Highway 16, also referred to as the Yellowhead Highway. The highway is a total of 113km/70.2mi on Graham Island, and takes about an hour and a half to drive with no stops.
The route covers a short distance on Moresby Island, from Alliford Bay Ferry Terminal to Sandspit, the main community on Moresby. The total distance of this stretch is 22km/13.7mi, which takes about 15 minutes to drive.
Both of the main islands also have gravel and dirt backroads that lead to beaches, campsites and ocean viewpoints. The conditions of the road vary. Four-wheel drive works best on these roads, but is not absolutely necessary.
Ferry Service
BC Ferries links Haida Gwaii to Prince Rupert, on the northwest coast of BC's mainland. The ferry holds vehicles, foot passengers and bikes. The journey takes 6 hours and rough seas are possible, depending on the time of year.
Another important ferry on Haida Gwaii travels between Graham and Moresby islands, the two permanently inhabited islands of the entire archipelago. This ferry runs between Skidegate Landing on Graham Island and Alliford Bay on Moresby Island, a few minutes drive from Sandspit. The ferry runs several times daily and takes half an hour.
Air Travel
Options for flying to Haida Gwaii include a daily floatplane from Prince Rupert to Masset, which takes 45 minutes, or an hour floatplane ride from Prince Rupert to Sandspit. Planes also arrive daily in Skidegate from Vancouver. That journey takes about an hour and a half. All of the flights offer spectacular views.
In the summer, visitors can also charter planes to Vancouver and Grande Prairie, Alberta, as well as hire helicopters for travel or tours.
Exploring Haida Gwaii
The best way to explore Haida Gwaii is by personal vehicle. Without a vehicle, visitors are only able to see small sections of the islands. That being said, tours, which cover most of the islands' highlights, are readily available in summer months.
Every summer a few travellers bike around Haida Gwaii. The highway has no major elevation changes and is in good condition, offering bikers an enjoyable route in the summer.
Exploring Gwaii Haanas
Travellers hoping to explore Gwaii Haanas, a national reserve of islands comprising the southern islands of Haida Gwaii must fly or boat in. Note that whether visitors join a tour, charter a guide, or boat, kayak or fly in themselves, they must have a permit and attend an orientation session before entering the reserve. Contact the Gwaii Haanas Head Office in Skidegate for more info.
Area Maps
The most comprehensive maps of Haida Gwaii are in the visitor guide available at the Sandspit Visitor Centre and the Queen Charlotte Visitor Centre. The maps show all the stops of interest along the highway, and within the communities too. No map of the backroads is available.
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