Gwaii Haanas Guest House Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and Haida Heritage Site
Haida Gwaii / Queen Charlotte Islands, British Columbia, CANADA

Gwaii Haanas

Formerly named South Moresby, Gwaii Haanas is a land of dynamic beauty encompassing 1600 km of coastline, 138 islands, far from civilization and now protected for future generations.
Haida aboriginals paddled Gwaii Haanas waters in their red cedar dugout canoes for thousands of years. You can also explore by sea kayak or by boat these isles with their hidden coves, beaches and countless kelp beds. Maybe while you beach comb for hidden treasures, you'll come across a Japanese glass ball. Step from the beach into the temperate rain forest and discover another world of its own. Giant trees, ferns and mosses in every shade of green will mesmerize you. See for yourself why this ecosystem needed protection from human exploitation.
Marine life is abundant in these nutrient rich waters. Pods of Orcas, Stellar sea lions, seals, porpoises, whales, river otters  are often sighted. Countless seabirds and several nesting colonies make Gwaii Haanas a birdwatchers' haven. Photographers, naturalists, hikers, paddlers and nature lovers will be overwhelmed by the variety of life forms sharing the ecosystem around Rose Harbour.

Home Sweet Home

Gwaii Haanas is indeed a very special place. We are very privileged to have our home in Rose Harbour.  Our lifestyle gives an added opportunity for visitors to feel truly connected to the surrounding ecosystem and greatly enhance the enjoyment of  its nurturing energy.

Gwaii Haanas has changed our relationship with the earth, our home, the intergalactic ship. Gwaii Haanas has become one of the few oasis' left on our planet.  It is now a priceless treasure from the past for future generations.

SEA LIFE:

Gwaii Haanas has numerous kinds of seabirds nesting in the area.  Some birds are full time residents like the Raven, Bald Eagles and Puffins while others like Loons and Humming birds are mostly transients for the summer.  Mammals like sea lions, harbour seals, river otter, porpoises are common sights. Several types of whales also feed in the area, especially in the spring and fall when a lot of them are migrating through. Then you have all the not so obvious critters sharing the ecosystem in the intertidal zone: sea urchins, crabs, mussels, abalone, rock scallops, moon snails, red turbans and starfish of all colours just to name a few. Numerous kelp "forest" harbouring a multitude of fish and crabs are common sight along the seashore. Paddling at low tide in Rose Harbour 's vicinity is absolutely awesome.

THE LAND:

Gwaii Haanas is very rugged terrain in most places. It offers a wide variety of ecosystems like rain forest with giant ferns and trees, open alpine muskegs, tidal flats, a few alpine lakes and a lot more... The shores offers a wide variety of formation from jagged rock outcrops to beautiful sandy beaches.  Some areas are not suitable for hiking while others are good.  There are no maintained trails in the area!

Several types of mammals coexist including the largest black bears in the world, black tail deer, raccoons, river otters and more. The black bear of Gwaii Haanas are quite shy and gentle compared to the mainland bear so they are hard to see. We are fortunate to be able to live in a place where bears and humans can still coexist.  Parks Canada is very keen on protecting the bears from humans and this is why we support their mandatory public education program called "orientation".

THE WEATHER:

Much cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter compared to the rest of Canada, Gwaii Haanas is an ideal place for people who dislike extreme temperatures. Winds can be quite strong at times although we get most of the rain, gales and storms between October and April.  Prevailing winds are usually North West to North East in dry, sunny weather and South East to South West when the clouds and rain herd in. We usually get a fair amount of precipitation, most of it between October and April. Weather is very unpredictable in this area. Clothing suitable for sunshine, rain and cool weather is recommended in the summer. On summer solstice (June 21-22), you can expect about 18 hours of daylight. Canadian Coast Guards broadcast continuous marine forecast on several marine radio frequencies.

Many people ask us when the best time to visit is.  In our opinion, we prefer the month of May and August.  There is no patterns, no certainty about the weather on Haida Gwaii.  Expect more rain starting in September.
When to visit:  We recommend mid May until mid September.
July and August are the peak months for tourism and usually is the warmest time of the year.

SEA CONDITIONS:

Winds and currents can change sea conditions in a matter of minutes. Open waters, especially the Hecate Straight and the West Coast can be very dangerous if unprepared or inexperienced.  Sea temperature is fairly cold even in the summer, and can easily cause hypothermia! Rose Harbour area is quite sheltered so it is suitable for kayaking for beginners during fair weather.  The ocean is a very dangerous place for ignorant and cocky people!  If you plan on kayaking, we recommend everyone learn assisted rescue and get some experience kayaking before visiting. Regardless if you will be on a guided tour or not.  

GWAII HAANAS NATIONAL PARK RESERVE AND
HAIDA HERITAGE SITE

User fees apply to visitors entering the park except for natives, residents of Rose Harbour, their relatives and friends. National Parks regulations must be followed by visitors thus find out what they are by asking Parks Canada.  A system of limited entry is also in place to avoid human impact and overcrowding.  This means that early reservation is a must if you wish to visit during the peak season (July & August).

Some requirements must be done before you enter Gwaii Haanas:

• Reservation and Parks Canada fees are mandatory.

• A mandatory orientation workshop must also be attended to by all visitors.

If you are staying full time at our guesthouse in Rose Harbour:

• We take care of your reservation and collecting fees for Parks Canada.

• We can give you the mandatory orientation in Rose Harbour if necessary although we recommend you do the orientation in Queen Charlotte City if you have the time.  They have fancy videos and great staff to inform you about Gwaii Haanas.