Bay du Nord Wilderness Reserve
Canada › Newfoundland and Labrador

Bay du Nord Wilderness Reserve

ByWilderness Experts

Fast facts

  • Established: provisional reserve in 1986, fully designated in 1990
  • Size: about 1,118 square miles (2,895 km²)
  • River: the Bay du Nord, a Canadian Heritage River and the largest protected river system in the province
  • Wildlife: much of the range of the Middle Ridge caribou herd, about 15,000 animals
  • Managed by: Newfoundland and Labrador Parks and Natural Areas (a wilderness reserve, not a park)

The landscape

Bay du Nord is one of the last large unspoiled areas on the island of Newfoundland: a mosaic of ponds, rivers, barrens, bogs and fens, forest and thickets. The Bay du Nord River winds through it toward the south coast. Caribou migrate across the barrens, and the reserve also holds moose, black bears, lynx and the largest goose habitat on the island.

Best time to go

Canoeing and hiking run from June to September. The south of the reserve is strongly maritime, with cool summers, frequent fog and high rainfall; the interior is warmer in summer and colder in winter. Fall is hunting season in parts of the reserve.

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Getting there and around

There are no roads into the reserve. Most visitors fly in by floatplane or paddle in from road access points near the surrounding highways. Inside, travel is by canoe, on foot across the barrens or by snowmobile in winter, outside the protected caribou range. There are no trails or markers.

Things to do

The Bay du Nord River is a classic wilderness canoe trip for experienced paddlers. Others hike across the barrens, fish for brook trout and Atlantic salmon, and watch caribou. Photography, birding and simple solitude are the rewards.

Staying safe

The province advises visitors to let someone know their route and return time, to carry a compass and 1:50,000 topographic maps, and to expect spotty cell coverage. Fog can roll in quickly and hide landmarks on open barrens, so navigation skills matter. Scout rapids and portage when in doubt. Weather is cold and wet even in summer. Carry a satellite messenger.

Know before you go

An entry permit is required, and seasonal snowmobile restrictions protect the caribou. This page is a general overview, not a live conditions report, so confirm permits and conditions with Newfoundland and Labrador Parks and Natural Areas before you go.

Navigation
Coordinates
48.0911, -54.8089
Magnetic declination
16.8° W (2026)

Set this declination on your compass, then align it to the map's north lines; it is the angle between true north and magnetic north, refreshed each year.

How declination works, and how to navigate with a map and compass

29 places in Bay du Nord Wilderness Reserve

A spread of the park’s main places shows straight away, and the rest appear as you zoom in. You can also search above, or pick any place from the lists below, and the map will go to it. Places in bold, marked , have a short description.

Sights 29

Lakes

Map data comes from third-party sources and may be incomplete or out of date, so carry a current official map (terms).

Trip types
Multi-day/expeditionCanoeing & kayakingBackcountryWildlife viewing

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Terrain
RiversLakesForestBarrens
Key hazards
No facilitiestrails or markersFograin and coldRapids and portagesNavigation across open barrensBlack bears
Best seasons
Summer, Early fall
Difficulty
Strenuous (remote wilderness)
Access / trailheads
No entrance roads. The reserve is flanked by the Trans-Canada Highway to the north and Routes 360 and 210, and is best reached by floatplane or by canoe from road access points.
Water
Ponds and rivers everywhere; filter or treat all water.
Cell / satellite coverage
Spotty; calls are possible from some hilltops. Carry a satellite messenger.
Nearest ranger / SAR / emergency
Emergencies: 911 by satellite device (RCMP coordinate search and rescue).
Permits & regulations
An entry permit is required. Snowmobiling is not allowed in the caribou winter range from December 15 to March 15.
Leave No Trace
Travel light, camp without leaving traces, pack out everything, and give caribou their space.
Conditions by month

October This month

Average high54°F(12°C)12°C(54°F)
Average low38°F(3°C)3°C(38°F)
Rainfall6 in(152 mm)152 mm(6 in)
Daylight, mid-month10 h 55 minSunrise 7:27 a.m., sunset 6:22 p.m.

What to bring depends on your trip: how long you’re out, where you sleep, and how far you go from the road. The planner builds the list for yours.

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Averages for 1981–2010 from Environment Canada climate normals, measured at the Swift Current station, 31 miles (50 km)50 km (31 miles) away at 60 feet (18 m)18 m (60 feet). Higher trails run colder, by about 3.5°F for every 1,000 ft (2°C per 300 m)2°C for every 300 m (3.5°F per 1,000 ft) of climb. Daylight runs from sunrise to sunset on the 15th, on the park’s own clock, for a level horizon. Valleys and slopes facing away from the sun are in shade earlier.

Before you go Conditions, permits, fire bans and closures change constantly — we summarise and link out, but always confirm with the managing agency first.
Official park website → Last verified 2026-09-21

Nearby parks

Straight-line distance between park centres. Road distance is usually longer.

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