The best camping near Aulavik National Park

This park on the Arctic Archipelago welcomes nature lovers with opportunities to see muskox in their natural habitat and go canoeing or kayaking on the 160-kilometre-long Thomsen River before setting up camp. Aulavik National Park is a wild, open expanse of lowland arctic tundra that comes alive with wildflowers in the summer. You can camp anywhere in the park without restrictions—Park Canada simply asks visitors to stay away from archaeological sites.

• Best for history buffs: At hundreds of sites across the park, visitors can view Indigenous artifacts dating back nearly 4,000 years. 
• Best for kayakers: Set up camp anywhere along the Thomsen River for easy paddling adventures and the chance to catch fresh fish (with a license).
• Best for hikers: The entire park is easy to navigate by foot but due to the immense size and remote location, you need to provide a detailed plan of your route to park staff.

1. Aulavik National Park doesn’t have any campsite reservations or amenities. In fact, if you stay in this pristine arctic landscape, you’ll be one of only a dozen or so annual visitors. But you won’t be totally alone—the area is alive with Canadian wildlife such as muskox, Arctic wolves and foxes, and even grizzly bears.
2. Those seeking total solitude can find their reward among the rich river valleys and kilometres of unmarked trails. This remote territorial park in the Northwest Territories is for experienced backcountry campers and hikers who don't require additional services and amenities.

There aren’t any busy seasons in the Aulavik, as visitors are so few in number. However, the best times to visit are in the summer from around June until mid-August. At this time the weather is the warmest it will be all year, the wildflowers are in full bloom, and there’s daylight almost 24 hours a day, in a phenomenon known as the midnight sun.

• There is a small service cabin in Inuvik that’s open weekdays to assist campers.
• Winds can be strong in Aulavik, so be sure to check weather reports, correctly anchor your tent and belongings, and take advice from service cabin staff.
• There are no services here, so you must practice leave-no-trace camping and take everything you brought with you back home again.
• Campfires are not permitted in the park. As airlines will not allow you to carry fuel onboard, be sure to buy your camp stove fuel in Inuvik or Sachs Harbour.