Spicy Amigos

We are exactly 1 month away from officially being in Haida Gwaii – which is so exciting because we’ve been waiting almost 2.5 years to go! As an update from my last post about our preparation, I have now booked my flight back from Haida Gwaii (to Victoria) on July 2nd. However, this post is about the things that are on our bucket-list when we’re in Haida Gwaii.

1. Do a surf trip to North Beach in Naikoon Provincial Park. According to Destination BC, North Beach has the most consistent waves in Haida Gwaii that are good for both beginners and experienced surfers. Destination BC also advises that if you’re not accustomed to cold water surfing, then you should gradually get into it – good thing we’ve been surfing in Tofino all year! We are planning to drive the van up to Naikoon Provincial Park to camp and surf for a couple of days when we first get there.
2. Blowhole Trail in Tow Hill Ecological Reserve. According to AllTrails this is a short walk in Tow Hill Ecological Reserve that takes you to a natural attraction – an underground catapult of water surge channels that is carved through the rocks on the coastline. This then spews out water 25 feet in the air.
3. Cape Fife Trail in Naikoon Provincial Park. This is something we are also keen are doing – it is a 21.1 out and back hike that takes you to a beach cabin. This trail can be extended into a 2 or 3 day adventure that explores the coastal forest, bogs, and beaches all the way up to Rose Spit – making it about a 35 kilometre return trip. This is something we are considering doing in our first week when we are there as well, before or after our surf trip (or in the middle!).
4. Pesuta Shipwreck. This shipwreck is also located in Naikoon Provincial Park and it is about a 10 kilometre walk. The ship has been there for around 100 years and has withstood the intense weather of the BC coast. We are curious to see this shipwreck and think it will make for some fantastic photos.
5. Gwaii Haanas. You can’t go all the way up to Haida Gwaii without visiting Gwaii Haanas – a National Park Reserve, National Marine Conservation Area, and Haida Heritage Site. The park is located in southernmost Haida Gwaii, and we are really looking forward to visiting.

We are really looking forward to all of these things on our Haida Gwaii bucket-list! Our program at the Haida Gwaii Institute also has numerous field trips planned for us so I am sure we are going to have a really intimate experience up there. However, if anyone has any suggestions of places we should visit, or things we should do, please comment below or message us!!