parkscanada.gc.ca Multi-Day Hiking Route Nakvak Brook Trek TORNGAT MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK A. Boudreau, Parks Canada Parks Boudreau, A. 64°10'0"W 440000m.E. 64°0'0"W 5 63°50'0"W 6 63°40'0"W 7 63°30'0"W 8 63°20'0"W 9 63°10'0"W 63°0'0"W 62°50'0"W 1 62°40'0"W 520000m.E. Ungava Nakvak Brook Trek Bay Labrador Sea Start and Finish Route Notable Campsite Torngat Mountains National Park Boundary 0000m.N. 0000m.N. 3 3 Parc national Mount Caubvick Torngat Airstrip 65 65 Kuururjuaq Boundary (d'lberville) Mountains 1,652m Mountain Provincial Boundary National Park of ay N h B Canada Rama 0 5 10 km N U N A V I K (Q U E B E C) 58°50'0"N 58°50'0"N 2 2 Parc national Parc national Saglek Kuururjuaq Kuururjuaq airstrip Base camp Torngat Mountains N U N A T S I A V U T Koroc River National Park of Canada (L A B R A D O R) 1 1 t s Gu Korok Bear Mountain 1,204m Labrado r Sea 58°40'0"N Nakvak 58°40'0"N Br NUNATSIAVUT 0 o ok (LABRADOR) 0 335m y a B k le Mount g 9 N a 9 Qarqaaluk o S 1,042m r t h A r m NUNAVIK 58°30'0"N hw out est A S r 58°30'0"N (QUEBEC) m S agle k Fiord Saglek 8 airstrip 8 d r o i t Torngat Mountains F e k l Base camp and o n t I k Research Station u k j o g t er U g n a P 0000m.N. 7 0000m.N. 7 64 64 440000m.E. 64°0'0"W 5 63°50'0"W 6 63°40'0"W 7 63°30'0"W 8 63°20'0"W 9 63°10'0"W 63°0'0"W 62°50'0"W 1 62°40'0"W 520000m.E. Route Summary Nakvak Brook Trek Type of hike Moderate multi-day hike WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW TO HIKE Distance Approximately 68 km / 42 miles THE NAKVAK BROOK TREK? Time required Allow 5 to 6 days A. Boudreau, Parks Canada Parks Boudreau, A. Elevation gain 335 metres (1000 feet) View of Nakvak Brook near its mouth in Saglek Fiord VISITOR CONTACT TORNGAT MOUNTAINS Point of departure* The mouth of Nakvak Brook in REGISTRATION INFORMATION BASE CAMP AND Saglek Fiord (Pitukkik) Hiking parties who are interested Torngat Mountains National Park RESEARCH STATION (20 V 482855 E 6484218 N) in tackling this hiking route will Phone: 1-888-922-1290 This camp is situated in St. John’s Route access 1. By boat from Nain (NL) need to register (before their visit) Email: [email protected] Harbour in Saglek Bay. It presently (approximately 3 days) with Torngat Mountains National operates from mid-July until early 2. By boat from base camp (3 hours) Park (Parks Canada) as well as Parc Parc national Kuururjuaq September. The base camp can 3. By helicopter from national Kuururjuaq (Nunavik Parks) Phone: 1-819-337-5454 provide support for visitor parties base camp (15 minutes) since the route passes through both Email: [email protected] wanting to travel into Torngat 4. By helicopter from Nain (NL) parks. Visitors are also required to Mountains National Park. Bear or Kuujjuaq (QC) de-register after they have departed Guards, Inuit Guides, a helicopter, (approximately 1.5 hours) from either of these parks to ensure speed boats and longliners (fishing * Note that hiking parties could also be dropped off by that staff know they have left the boats) are generally available for helicopter in the Mount Haywood area (located in Parc parks and have been accounted for. local charter. Arrangements can national Kuururjuaq in Quebec) and hike the entire route also be made for fixed wing access in the opposite direction to the mouth of Nakvak Brook in Saglek Fiord. to the Saglek Airstrip (20V 519721 E 6482002 N) from Goose Bay, NL. Please contact the Nunatsiavut Group of Companies by phone (1-855-TORNGAT ext. 26) or email ([email protected]) for inquiries about base camp. A. Boudreau, Parks Canada Parks Boudreau, A. A. Boudreau, Parks Canada Parks Boudreau, A. First major waterfall along Nakvak Brook North side of Nakvak Brook at start of section 2 (Day 3) This spectacular but challenging Nakvak Brook is a traditional route If you choose the first option (head up This hiking route description is based ROUTE multi-day hike begins at the mouth that has linked Inuit from Nunavik Nakvak Brook, which is a large river), on information collected by Parks of Nakvak Brook (Pitukkik) and (northern Quebec) and Nunatsiavut remember that you will likely not be Canada and Nunavik Parks in July OVERVIEW ascends the river to its headwaters (northern Labrador) for generations – able to cross the river until you are 2010. The entire description follows adjacent to the Quebec/Nunavik first by foot or by dog team and now, two or three days into your hike due to the east/north side of Nakvak Brook border. Numerous variations of the in modern times, by snowmobile. the size (depth and width) of the river. and is divided into three sections. hike are possible, including side So once you choose your route you All visitors are strongly encouraged trips that provide access to scenic You can start this hike either by will be committed to it for a while. You to consult the “General Hiking side valleys or alpine traverses. This being dropped off by speed boat or will quickly discover that caribou trails Information for Torngat Mountains route description will focus on longliner, or flown in by helicopter thread their way upstream through National Park” document (available the main route up Nakvak Brook to the mouth of Nakvak Brook and thickets of alder, shrub birch and here) before planning a hike in the from its mouth in Saglek Fiord. then ascend up either side of the river willow, and easily define walking trails Torngat Mountains. All distances are “straight line” valley. Alternatively you can fly into over more open ground. The caribou distances; actual travel distances the headwaters of Nakvak Brook by trails are tricky to follow as they often will vary depending on your helicopter and hike down to Saglek appear to end abruptly, leaving you to exact travel route. Fiord. Note that you will need to force your way through thick shrubs. register with Nunavik Parks if you However, if you look carefully, often plan on landing an aircraft in Parc you will find that the trail has just national Kuururjuaq. turned right or left and can still be followed. M. Arnold M. A. Boudreau, Parks Canada Parks Boudreau, A. Nakvak Brook inukshuk One of several short climbs near the mouth of Nakvak Brook ROUTE DESCRIPTION The route begins with a series of gravel the bond between generations. It is Turning north, you can see the valley SECTION 1 This section takes about two days to terraces cut by small intermittent a place that has gained significance laid out before you. It is wide and MOUTH OF NAKVAK BROOK complete. It is important to begin your mountain streams. Vegetation is quite for youth and Elders, who recognize relatively flat. Despite the fact that (PITUKKIK) TO RIVER CROSSING hike as early in the day as possible sparse on the gravel flats, but can the importance of passing on Inuit you are travelling upstream, the slope be thick in the deep stream gullies Knowledge and connecting Inuit youth is barely detectable. For the next day 20V 482855 E 6484218 N to to give you time to get as far inland from the coast for your first camp site, that cut the gravel terrace. You will to their culture and their land. The and a half you will travel over a mix 20V 468594 E 6500706 N which will reduce the likelihood of climb in and out of these gullies for inukshuk was commemorated in 2009 of gravel terraces, grassy meadows Approximately 26 kilometres polar bear encounters. Black bears, the first couple of hours of your hike by the Torngat Mountains National and a mix of birch, willow and alder however, are found throughout the and slowly gain the crest of a large Park Cooperative Management Board. thickets. The valley will begin to curve valley and will require you to remain old landslide about 2.8 km from the Take time to reflect on the significance to the west and a series of high lateral vigilant at all times and manage your start of the hike. Once you have gained of this place. Imagine Elders moraines and old river terraces begin campsites and waste appropriately the crest of the ridge you will have a surrounded by youth, recounting to dominate the sides of the valley. A (refer to Managing Waste section of beautiful view up the valley as well stories of the past, while children spectacular water fall can be seen at the General Hiking Information for as back to Saglek Fiord. If you are laugh and play. Caribou amble by, 20V 476481 E 6498853 N, which is Torngat Mountains National Park on the west side of the river you will black bears forage on the slopes and approximately 17 km into the hike. document – available here). see a large inukshuk on a prominent hawks, owls and falcons soar over Take time to wander down and have a mound.