Aulavik National Park: planning guide
Polar desert on Banks Island in the Northwest Territories. Treeless tundra with muskox herds and Peary caribou.
Aulavik National Park is in NT, Canada. The nearest town is Inuvik — roughly 772 km (480 mi) out, about 11 hr 48 min of driving.
When to go
Best window: mid-June through early September. Shoulder season: late May and mid-September.
Most roads, campgrounds, and visitor centres close from October to May, and daylight is very short in midwinter.
The usable season is short and weather closes in fast. Build spare days into any trip that depends on a flight or boat.
Closest towns and cities
| Town | Distance | Estimated drive |
|---|---|---|
| Inuvik | 772 km (480 mi) | 11 hr 48 min |
| Norman Wells | 972 km (604 mi) | 14 hr 45 min |
| Gamèti | 1071 km (665 mi) | 16 hr 12 min |
| Behchokǫ̀ | 1222 km (759 mi) | 18 hr 25 min |
| Yellowknife | 1270 km (789 mi) | 19 hr 8 min |
| Fort Simpson | 1318 km (819 mi) | 19 hr 50 min |
| Nahanni Butte | 1416 km (880 mi) | 21 hr 16 min |
| Hay River | 1443 km (896 mi) | 21 hr 40 min |
Where Aulavik National Park sits
Official Aulavik National Park site — hours, closures, and fees.
Parks you could combine with it
- Tuktut Nogait National Park
Tundra hills park protecting Bluenose-West caribou range in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region.
- Qausuittuq National Park
High Arctic park on Bathurst Island protecting Peary caribou and muskox habitat.
- Ivvavik National Park
Northern Yukon tundra unglaciated in the last ice age. Firth River country, adjacent to Alaska’s Arctic Refuge.
- Vuntut National Park
Remote northern Yukon park operated with the Vuntut Gwitchin. Pleistocene fossil country without road access.
Common questions
Where is Aulavik National Park?
Aulavik National Park sits in NT, Canada, and the closest town of any size is Inuvik — about 11 hr 48 min away.
When is the best time to visit Aulavik National Park?
Generally mid-June through early September, with late May and mid-September quieter on either side.