Tow Hill Community - Go Haida Gwaii

Legend
Tow Hill (Taaw)
Suggested Walking
Hiellen Campground
Tour Route
Rose Spit Haida Reserve
Cape Fife Trail Naikoon Park
North Beach Beach Access
To: Masset,
Old Massett,
Port
Clements
Note: persons contemplating a visit to Naikoon
Provincial Park are reminded that it is a
wilderness area with limited resources.
Your safety is your responsibility.
Be prepared for emergency situations. Carry
what you will need to rescue yourself and your
vehicle should it become stuck on the beach.
Avoid travelling on the sand dunes as
disturbance can lead to loss of plant life,
erosion, exposure and damage to cultural sites.
Tire tracks and repeated foot traffic through
the sand dunes cause extensive environmental
damage.
Vehicle/ATV use within Naikoon is limited to
between the high and low tide lines of North
and East Beaches; ATV use on interior trails
and sand dune areas is not allowed.
Dixon Entrance Golf
Course & Clubhouse
Tow Hil Rd
CFS Masset or
"The Elephant
Cage"
Tsaawan Gandl
(Chown River)
Windsong
Cabin
Rentals
Wendy's Bus
Cafe
Tow Hill Community
Access Kiosk
Trout
House
Restaurant
Limberlost
Lodge
Kelp
Beds
B&B
Skonun River
Beach House B&B
Alaska View
Lodge
South Beach
SGang.an Gandl
(Sangan River)
Dixon Entrance
McIntye Bay
North Beach Cabins
Rapid Ritchie Rustic Rentals
All The Beach You Can Eat
Walking tour of the
Moon Over Naikoon
Bakery
Tow Hil Rd
SGidlii Gandl
(White Cr)
Tow Hill Community
Tow Hill (Taaw)
Agate Beach Campground
Juno
Lake
Yakan Point
Harelda
Lakes
Harlequin
Lake
Hermit
Lake
Hiellen Campground
Hl’yaalang Gandl
(Hiellen River)
Cygnet
Lake
Spence
Lake
Imber
Lake
Prospect
Lake
North Beach
North
Anser
Lake
Silver
Lake
Kumara
Lake
Mica
Lake
Lumme
Lake
Purdy
Lake
Clearwater
Lake
Xuuya Gandl
(Oeanda River)
Cape Fife
Cape Fife Trail
Rose Spit
Grus
Lake
East Beach
Hecate Strait
NaikooN Park Hikes
Some of these hikes are in
demanding wilderness, and
all multi-day hikes require
sufficient preparation &
supplies. All water in Naikoon
Park must be treated; water is
undrinkable on North Beach/
north of Cape Fife. Your safety
is your responsibility.
Sangan River Mouth to Tow
Hill - 15 km
Hiellen Campground to Rose
Spit - 22 km
Tow Hill to Cape Fife - 10 km
Tow Hill to Tlell via the
Cape Fife Trail - 78 km
Tow Hill to Tlell via the base of
Rose Spit - 89 km
Cape Fife to Oeanda
River - 17 km
Oeanda River to Cape Ball River
- 36.5 km
Cape Ball River to Tlell
- 10.5 km
Two primitive log shelters are located
near the Cape Ball and Oeanda Rivers,
approximately 2 km south of their
respective river mouths, above the
high tide line. The Fife Point cabin has
a wood stove and is located on the
east beach side of the Cape Fife trail
head. All three shelter locations are
marked with an orange sign posted on
a tree above the beach zone. Please
keep a watchful eye for the signs as you
approach the Cape Ball and Oeanda
Rivers and Fife Point, as they are not
directly obvious from the beach zone.

Welcome to the
Tow Hill Community www.towhillroad.ca
The Islands' newest emerging community, Tow Hill is an area
spread out along Tow Hill Road - 10km east of Masset. The
Tow Hill area - known locally as "Tow Town" - runs along
the northwestern boundary of Naikoon Provincial Park and
developments on private lands within the Parks boundaries
has increased the number of people moving to the area.
The main amenities along the roadway include several
rustic cabins for rent in forested, river or beach settings,
a restaurant, café and organic produce store. Surfing is
becoming popular on the Beaches to the north of Tow Hill
Road especially during the winter season. The eastern end
of Tow Hill Road provides access to Agate Beach Provincial
Campground and North Beach.
With Many Thanks:
towhillroad.ca, gohaidgwaii.ca,
Kathleen Dalzell, Chris Ashurst
Supernatural
Photo credit: Jennifer Bailey
Photo credit: Jennifer Bailey
Photo credit: Jennifer Bailey
Tow Hill (Taaw)
Tow Hill consists of faceted columnar-jointed basalt columns, a volcanic plug formation
that is one of the most distinctive features of North Beach. At an elevation of 125m,
Tow Hill has two interpretive boardwalks; one that leads out to the "Blow Hole" and
another that winds its way up the hill to two viewing platforms. The views of Agate
beach and Yakan Point/North beach are spectacular from these platforms. Taaw (Tow
Hill) is important to the Haida people and several legends of significance are attributed
to Taaw.
Tow Hill Loop Trail: This trail starts at the Tow Hill day use parking lot and follows the
west bank of the Hiellen River. A sign at the junction will guide you up the boardwalk
for the 15 minute hike to two viewing platforms. One platform provides a spectacular
view of South Beach, Yakan Point and the interior bogs. Please take care to stay on
the boardwalk - there are several hidden cliffs and dangers in this area. Halfway along
this trail you will come to a junction directing you to the Blow Hole, which is at the
base of Tow Hill - another 15 minutes and you're on the rocky shoreline. The Blow
Hole is best viewed at mid-tide - watch out for slippery footing. Total loop distance is
approximately 2 km.
Hiellen Campground / Reserve
Hiellen Reserve is a 70.5 acre area owned by the Massett band, and was the site of
several important Haida villages. This location continues to be a very important food
gathering place for the Haida; razor clams digging, crabbing and fishing are done here.
Permission was obtained to build a clam cannery here in 1923 and it ran seasonally
until 1930 - you can see the remains of the boiler close the river near the beach access.
There are camping sites, pit toilets and parking available.
Rose Spit
The sand bars of Rose Spit extend outward 14 km from this point and are a dicey
proposition for any ship to cross. Ever changing, Rose Spit is being formed by southeast
gales eroding the east beach coastline and driving the sand northwards, where the
turbulent waters of Dixon Entrance and the Hecate Strait meet. Rose Spit is an area of
high importance to the Haida people, and is known as NAIKUN "the long nose of Nai"
- one of the Haida creation stories involves Raven finding a cockle shell on the beach,
filled with humans struggling inside, and coaxing the humans out.
Cape Fife Trail
The Cape Fife trail starts just
past the Tow Hill day use parking
lot and the Hiellen River. Signs
will guide you to the trail head.
The trail crosses the Argonaut
Plain and spectacular bog
environments. Some portions
of the trail are boardwalk. 10km
one way (4 hours approximate).
The Cape Fife shelter is located at
the end of the trail on East Beach.
Accommodation
Alternatively, you can try the Cape Fife Loop - A two/three day wilderness hike through
costal forest, bogs and along sandy beaches to Rose Spit. Hike Cape Fife trail to East
Beach shelter - then turn northwards along the beach to Rose Spit. Follow North Beach
back to Tow Hill day use area. Approximately 35km return trip.
North Beach
Alaska View Lodge • 250-626-3333
All The Beach You Can Eat • 604-313-6192
The Beach House B&B • 250-626-6040
Hidden Island Guest house • 250-626-5286
Highwater House • 250-559-8133
Kelp Beds • 250-626-3895
Wide open sandy, pebbled beaches spilling over with driftwood along the northern
coastline of Graham Island. It is easy to access by foot or car which is a big reason why
this beach attracts people to the area for beach combing, hiking, surfing, fishing, clam
digging, ATVing and relaxing. The beaches offers up some of the best ocean views,
waterfront experiences and peaceful moments available while visiting on Haida Gwaii.
North Beach is mainly hard packed wet sand at low tide when the ocean waters retreat
exposing miles of beach for all to see and play in. During the winter, both beaches
become storm watching destinations - Nature's power on display with huge waves
and howling winds smashing the coastline. It is always wise to pack good rain gear on
an outdoor storm watching adventure or any adventure for that matter! Layer your
clothing, bring a hat and gloves if brave enough to venture outdoors in a west coast
storm. Some stay in a vehicle and watch the storms from the car, Agate Beach is good
for that. A good description of the North Beach area:
"Nellie Hammond knew nothing about cooking, but being very much in love and
realizing that her husband wanted to try pioneering at Tow Hill she agreed (to join
him.) 'Never will I forget that ride out along that beach. The majesty of those big trees
and the huge breakers rolling in along the shore – I felt as though God were very near,
and it seemed to be the loveliest place in all the world.'"
- from The Queen Charlotte Islands, Volume 1 1774-1966 by Kathleen Dalzell
Emergency Services
Photo credit: Kayla Bailey
Police • 250-626-3991
Ambulance • 1-888-461-9911
Masset Fire Department • 250-626-5511
Masset Health Clinic • 250-626-4702
Coast Guard • 1-800-567-5111
Limberlost Lodge • 250-626-3371
New Moon Over Naikoon Cabins •
250-626-7737
North Beach Cabins • 250-557-2415
Rapid Ritchie's Beach Cabins • 250-626-5472
Windsong Cottage Rentals • 250-626-3625