Activities
Haida Gwaii offers abundant terrestrial and marine ecosystems to explore on foot or by bicycle, kayak or surfboard. Some students enjoy expending extra energy at the Queen Charlotte skate park. Students will find great food, wonderful people and free wireless internet at the three local cafes: Queen B’s, Purple Onion, and Jags Beanstalk.
Links to local businesses including surf shops and kayak rental outfits can be found on the links page.
Hiking
Hiking trails are distributed across the islands. The Gore Brook Trail, Spirit Lake Trail and Sleeping Beauty Trail are easily accessible from southern Graham Island. Yakoun Lake, the Anvil Trail and the Pesuta Trail are in the central Graham Island area. Further north, students can access Tow Hill, the Blow Hole, and the Cape Fife Trail. And a short ferry ride provides access to Dover Trail near Sandspit.
Cycling
Haida Gwaii is a great place for cycling. For road riders, the highway follows the east coast of Graham Island north from Queen Charlotte to Tlell, and eventually to Masset. This ride offers spectacular scenery and very smooth pavement. Mountain bikers can access a huge network of logging roads from the west end of Queen Charlotte.
Surfing
Surf is up in Haida Gwaii during the winter. North Beach, located on the northeast coast of Graham Island, offers the most consistent breaks. The drive takes an hour and a half from Queen Charlotte.
Kayaking
Haida Gwaii offers some of the best kayaking in the world. Students can access the water right from Queen Charlotte and kayak rentals are available daily, weekly or by the month.
“I learned more about forestry, management, and the coming together of various groups with different backgrounds and values to protect and restore Haida Gwaii than I ever would have sitting in a classroom in Vancouver. I grew as a student and will remember these invaluable lessons and apply what I’ve learnt in the future.”
- SFU Field School student
