Naats'ihch'oh National Park Reserve

Nááts'ihch'oh National Park Reserve is a national park reserve in the Northwest Territories of Canada.

Understand

Park land near Howard's Pass.

The park is the traditional homeland of the Shúhtaot’ine, Sahtu Dene and Métis Aboriginal peoples.

Nááts'įhch'oh National Park Reserve is named after the Nááts'įhch'oh (pronounced NATS-ee-cho) mountain – a powerful place for the people of the Sahtu. Near the Yukon-Northwest Territories border, the park is in the traditional lands of the Shúhtaot'ine (Mountain Dene), and home to grizzly bear, Dall’s sheep, mountain goats, and woodland caribou.

It encompasses parts of the South Nahanni River watershed in the Northwest Territories. The name means "stands like a porcupine" in the Dene language. The national park reserve covers an area of 4,850 km² (1,873 sq mi), almost as large as Trinidad. It protects the Sahtú Settlement Area of the upper South Nahanni River watershed, adjoining Nahanni National Park Reserve.

Contact the park reserve office ☏ +1-867-588-4884 or email naats'ihch'oh.info@pc.gc.ca

History

The Shúhtaot’ine (Mountain Dene) travelled these lands and river corridors as part of their hunting and gathering cycle that took them from Tulita to Nááts’įhch’oh and beyond.

Landscape

Meandering rivers, lush wetlands dotted with stunted evergreens, the Mackenzie Mountains

Flora and fauna

Alpine wildlife ranges from the mountain woodland caribou to trumpeter swans, grizzlies and mountain goats.

The South Nahanni watershed is home to several endangered species, including grizzly bears and woodland caribou. The area is also known for its moose, Dall sheep and the northernmost population of mountain goats in Canada.

Visitor information

• Park website

Get in

Charter a float plane from a nearby community in the Northwest Territories or Yukon, and set down at a backcountry lake.

From there, you must chart your own route into the largely unexplored reserve.

Fees and permits

There are no fees to enter the park reserve.

Using recreational drones is prohibited. Operating a drone within park boundaries may result in a fine of up to $25,000.

Do

Hiking

Nááts'įhch'oh has no blazed trails. Experienced hikers can explore remote terrain and map routes that may one day become part of the park’s established trail network.

Canoeing

Nááts’įhch’oh is home to the wild headwater rivers of Tehjeh Deé (the South Nahanni River).

The reserve's rivers are for experienced paddlers only. Guided tours are available from outfitters in late June to August.

Buy, eat, and drink

There are no facilities in the reserve.

Sleep

Nááts’įhch’oh is a fly-in backcountry park. There are no visitor services or facilities in the park. At Ǫtaa Tué Fehto (Divide Lake) you will find what remains of a hunting outfitter’s camp, including an emergency shelter and outhouse.