Wildlife Viewing Whale is commonly seen from from seen isWhale commonly white Beluga The tinyof plankton. abundance the on gorging fall, the in island the past migrate Whale Bowhead whalers, commercial early by extinction near Despite House. Mission Anglican old the near their whistles to gentle Listen . Western in the Guillemots Black of colonies largest the of including one animals, land and air, of amyriad sea attract turn, in that, fishes of adiversity feed River. Billions tiny of organisms Mackenzie the of outflow rich nutrient- the by delivered were They Basin. Liard away the as far as from originate land less in this tree- beaches the litter that trunks driftwood huge The currents. in lies ocean answer The life. webof a surprising Hudson’s Bay Co., other fur fur other Co., Bay Hudson’s then, the Anglican Church, Since ice. sea and storms from protected were ships where Cove at Pauline astation established whalers American 1800s, late Indwellings the still visible. are old of remnants and years of thousands for site the used have place. gathering a been always has Qikiqtaruk Haven in the ice pack Island: Our seal or Arctic Char, you are Char, are you Arctic or seal caribou, harvesting families or ourfriends see you When park. within the users subsistence Inuvialuit encounter may Visitors fishing in the park , trapping and polar climate supports climate supports polar dry island’s the sea, and land Between lenses to get a better look. abetter get to lenses telephoto and scopes binoculars, distance your keep wildlife, photographing and viewing When slopes. northern Qikiqtaruk’s on den In winter, Bears Polar flowers. and sedges grasses, nibble lemmings and Vole, who Brown and hunt Collared foxes Arctic and Red seen. commonly all are Caribou Barren-ground and Bear, , summer. Grizzly in swim across also They island. walk the to mammals can land in winter, freezes ocean the When and small mammals. songbirds of huntOwl avariety Snowy and Hawk, Rough-Legged Falcon, Peregrine edges. ice sea summer along Flounder Arctic and Herring Char, Pacific Arctic Cod, Arctic fish who Seal, Ringed the mammal is marine common most the But shallow the of bays. out head its pop may Seal Bearded a lucky, are you If island. the settlement areas. settlement and historical in the zones no-hunting are There areas. visitor away from carcasses of dispose and meat Store users. park other respect please an Inuvialuit hunter are you If life. arctic of way enduring and ancient an witnessing and share stories of the past. the of stories share and visitors welcome park, the manage rangers Park environment. arctic changing unique rapidly the and study world the around from while researchers activities traditional for area the use to Today, continue Inuvialuit families years. 100+ past the in point at some Island Herschel on all were present RCMP the and Signals of Corps Canadian Royal the herders, reindeer traders, . Use . Use — virtualmuseum.ca Explore HerschelIsland!&TheBishopWhoAteHisBoots — RobIngram&HelenDobrowolsky Waves UpontheShore:AnhistoricalProfileofHerschelIsland Herschel Island:AGuidetoHistoricResources—YG Qikiqtaruk –InuvialuitArchaeologyonHerschelIsland—YG ’s Arcticisland—ChristopherR.Burn Herschel IslandQikiqtaryuk:anaturalandculturalhistoryof Publications Herschel Island 1:250,000 -Herschel Island 1:50,000 -Herschel Maps How youcanstaysafeinbearcountry Yukon WildlifeViewingGuide Into theYukon Wilderness Flora ofHerschelIslandTerritorial Park Checklist oftheBirdsHerschelIsland Centres orfrom:www.env.gov.yk.ca: Available atEnvironmentYukon offices, VisitorInformation www.yukonparks.ca 867-777-1111 Emergency (RCMPInuvik) 867-667-5386, ortoll-freeinYukon 1-800-661-0408, ext.5386 Historic SitesUnit [email protected] Toll-free inYukon 1-800-661-0408, ext.5648 867-777-4058 (Inuvik) 867-667-5648 (Whitehorse) Yukon Parks Contacts PHO 91, #105, Aoc#78/67 Cover photos: YG-Park RangersandAnglicanChurch ofCanada All photosYG-Cameron Eckertexceptwhere noted. ©Government ofYukon, 2013 ISBN978-1-55362-609-1

(sheet 117D12E) (sheet (sheet 117D) (sheet Reuse first –passiton YG

A GUIDE TO Territorial Park Qikiqtaruk Herschel Island Herschel Qikiqtaryuk

“it is island” is “it h it m . S -S FN VG Getting There Facilities From mid-June to mid-September, you can charter Camping aircraft out of Inuvik, NT (250 km southeast). The island is often shrouded in fog, particularly in Bring all the equipment necessary for independent late summer, and flights can be delayed for hours or even days. Be camping in an arctic environment. Facilities are prepared with sufficient gear and food. For self-supported trips to limited to driftwood windbreak shelters for tenting, Welcome to our island Herschel Island, leave a trip plan with a friend or the RCMP. fire rings, outhouses, and a limited supply of water and driftwood. Camping permits ($12 per night) and fishing licences are available A Park Permit is required to land an aircraft or commercial boat on from the park rangers. in the polar sea the island. Herschel Island – Qikiqtaruk became Boating Yukon’s first territorial park in 1987. A Boat charters may operate out of various Mackenzie Delta communities. If you are self-supported, bring result of the Inuvialuit Final Agreement, the adequate fuel for the return trip, as gas is not 116 km 2 park protects a rare combination of available at Herschel Island. Smaller boats and yachts may anchor in Pauline Cove, where ships took shelter from the crushing ice natural and human heritage. long ago. Cruise ships anchor offshore and boat in by zodiak. If you are rafting or kayaking the Firth River on the Yukon mainland, This is a living park. You are entering the you can end your trip at Herschel and return by pre-arranged flight. home of the Inuvialuit, the original people Boating around the island for a day trip is only recommended under extremely calm conditions as the exposed northern cliffs offer no of the western arctic coast. safe or sheltered places to disembark. Be aware that weather can change very quickly. Community House Keep it Wild Visit the interpretive displays in the Community House. Built in 1893 by the Pacific Steam Whaling Company, it was used Plan ahead. Prepare to leave as a gathering place, RCMP headquarters and the residence no trace of the Stringer family. From here you can wander the buildings Travel and camp on durable and layers of history of Simpson Point, imagining the bustle of the surfaces. Avoid crushing fragile whaling period and the thousands of years of Inuvialuit settlement. artefacts, delicate tundra plants When time permits, park rangers offer tours. and hidden bird nests. Use #50-762, Courtesy Mystic Seaport Museum Inc. existing trails and recommended YG-Sara Nielsen Hiking routes. Avoid the sensitive Wildlife and You Inuvialuit grave areas. In the Minimize campfire impacts. Wander the beaches at Simpson Point and Avadlek Spit or uplands, spread out on durable Use stoves or existing fire rings. Bears aren’t the only wildlife attracted to human smells. On Herschel, trek upland tundra in the footsteps of Arctic explorers and ground. Camp in the driftwood Keep campfires small. No fires are Red and Arctic foxes and gulls are notorious thieves. Help them stay Inuvialuit hunters. Follow designated trails and routes and shelters. permitted in the backcountry. wild and healthy by keeping your food and garbage secure. stay clear of the Inuvialuit burial sites. Simpson Point in particular is covered in delicate and unseen natural, historic, paleontological and Grizzly or Polar bears may be encountered anywhere on the island, Dispose of waste properly. Respect wildlife. Observe from archaeological remains. Stay away from unstable cliff edges. They at any time of year. Learn about bears and how to prevent negative Pack it in, pack it out. Use the a distance. Never feed them. Keep continually and suddenly collapse into the sea. Tundra cracks also encounters. Food and garbage are the number one attractants. Never outhouse. In the backcountry, pets under control. give way to dangerous caverns of melting muck. leave food, dishes, garbage, cosmetics or any smelly item where a cover human waste in a small hole Be considerate of others 60 m from water, camp and trails. bear could get it, especially in your tent. Cook and store attractants If you plan to hike in the park, let the rangers know where you are Respect the interests and waste in bear-proof containers 100 m away from your camp. going and when you expect to return. Leave what you find. of other island users, Leave natural, historical and namely tourists, Ask the park rangers about recent bear activity and rules. Pick up a cultural artefacts undisturbed. researchers, hunters copy of How you can stay safe in bear country. Ask to view the Staying Please report finds to park staff. and residents. Safe in Bear Country video. 139°20'W 139°10'W 139°W 138°50'W ±

200 300 300 100 100

500 ( TARIUQ) 500 300 500 300 500 300 100 400 Bell Bluff 500 400

(Manikraq)ˆ 200

200 300 200 300

200 500 200 300 200 300

400

200 300 HERSCHEL ISLAND – QIKIQTARUK 200 200 200 300 TERRITORIAL PARK 597 100 500 100 300 300

200 100 100 200

100 69°35'N 69°35'N 200 300 100 500 300 300 262 ) 300

100 300

400 Collinson Head ˆ 300 Pauline Cove 300 (Nuvuruaq) 300 (Ilutaq)

200 300

300 Simpson Point Orca Cove 100 400 Area Enlarged 300 400 (Kuvluraq)ˆ (Ilukraqnaqˆ ) 200

Avadlek Spit (Nuvugruak Nunaluk Spit 200 200 100

100

200 200

Welles Point Lopez Point 200 (Nuvaraak) (Kuvlualuk) Thrasher Bay 100 To Firth River (2 km) 100 (Ilukraqˆ ) THETIS BAY W 100 O 100 (ILUTAQ) R K B 100 O A T 100 100 P A 100 S S A 100 G 100 E D Osborn Point iff icu (Nuvuruaq) lt 100 Catton Point

100 100 100

C 69°30'N 69°30'N 100 r e e IVVAVIK k Ptarmigan NATIONAL PARK Bay

100 100100

Simpson Point100 (Kuvluraq) 6 15 17 18 16 Historic Structures Park Facilities 1. Northern Whaling and Trading Company Store (1926) 4. Welcome Building 100 2. N.W. & T. Co.100 Shed (1926) 19. Private residence 3. N.W. & T. Co. Warehouse / Customs Bonded 20. Hunters and Travellers Cabin Warehouse (1926) 21. Sauna 4. Pacific Steam Whaling Company Community House (1893) / 22. Storage shed 14 17 Police Detachment Headquarters and Barracks 23. Park monument 5. P.S.W.Co. Bonehouse (c. 1894) 24. Interpretive sign 21 6. Triton Sank (1895) 25. Ranger quarters 23 7. Police Dog Kennels (c. 1950) 100 100 100 19 8. Royal Canadian Corps of Signals200 Transmitter Station (1930) 100 24 9. P.S.W.Co. Blubberhouse (c. 1890s) 1 20 25 10. Captain McKenna’s Cabin (c. 1893) 100 5 8 4 11. Dwelling (c. 1890’s) 3 9 10 12. Dwelling (c. 1890’s) 2 13. Anglican Mission House (1916) 100 11 200 100 12 13 14. Abandoned boat 100 100 200 15. Ice houses* 100 16. Whalers graveyard* 7 17. Inuvialuit graveyards* 100 100 18. RCMP graves* 100 100 22 * Restricted access 200 200 200 100 69°25'N 69°25'N 200 100

200 100 Existing structures / buildings Previous structures / buildings 0 50 100 150 200 m 100 100 200 200 100

Historic / Park Facilities Euro-American200 Inuvialuit semi-subterranean house 200 200 300 200 100 100 139°20'W 139°10'W 139°W 138°50'W 200 100 100 100

100 Herschel Island – Qikiqtaruk100 Territorial100 Park

300 100 200 100 200 YUKON 200 200 100 300 100 200 200 100 300

100

300 Scale 1:80,000 300 Area Enlarged 200 ± 200 Inuvik 101234km 100 Old Crow 200200 SA) 100 (U 100 A 200 Eagle 200 100 Plains 200 Territorial Park boundary200 Park Rangers and information ALASK 100 NORTHWEST 200 200 TERRITORIES 200 200 200 200 100 100 Dawson 200 200 Landing strip Washroom 100 300 300

400YU300 KON 200 100 300 200 Floating dock Driftwood shelter 500 300 100 100 Whitehorse !\ 300 182 Anchorage200 200 Elevation200 (feet) 100 800 200 200 700 BRITISH COLUMBIA 100 600 700Map ID: ENV.012.012.02 100 500 200 100

800 800 100 300 600