Queen Charlotte Islands, BC

Veiled in peaceful mystery, the Queen Charlotte Islands are quite possibly the most remote area of British Columbia. Accessible only by boat or floatplane, the shores along these 138 small islands satisfy that distinct, yet subtle, longing for solitude. Take a tour to Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and Haida Heritage Site to get away from it all. Watch the 750,000 sea birds nesting in the park, including puffins and eagles, or escape into the old-growth temperate rainforest further inland, where more than 500 archaeological sites have been marked and protected, including hundred-year-old Haida mortuary poles. Meaning “Islands of Wonder” in the language of the Haida People, Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and Haida Heritage Site promises to live up to both its name and your expectations.

While you're in the area, be sure to drop in on the Queen Charlottes' major centres. Masset and Old Massett, on northerly Graham Island, and Port Clements, Queen Charlotte City, Sandspit, Skidegate, and Tlell, on the central Moresby Island feature gift shops and art galleries highlighting the work of local artists, while Haida art is displayed island-wide. Sightseeing and fishing tours are also available.

The Queen Charlotte Islands are located on the northwest coast of the Pacific Ocean, 154 km (96 mi.), west of Prince Rupert. BC Ferries sails daily from Prince Rupert to Moresby Island, crossing the Hecate Strait in a 6 1/2—hour ride. Commercial air service is available from Vancouver to Sandspit and from Prince Rupert to Sandspit, Queen Charlotte City, and Masset.Population: 5,400Elevation: 5 m (16 ft.)Average July Temperature: 14ºC (57ºF)Average January Temperature: 3ºC (37ºF)Annual Rainfall: 129 cm (51 in.)Annual Snowfall: 75 cm (30 in.)