By Heather Ramsay-Gwaii Haanas has come out on top in a recent survey of 55 national parks prepared for the adventure magazine, National Geographic Traveller.
The goal of the survey was to determine which parks offer the most pristine wilderness and clean, quiet spaces. The results will be featured in the July/August issue of the magazine, destined to hit the stands on July 6.
Part of the scoring included an assessment of the parks' surrounding communities - the so-called gateways from which visitors launch their outdoor experiences.
"Because they looked at gateway communities, it really speaks a lot for the communities of Haida Gwaii. Some of the other [communities in the survey] seem more crass and commercial," says Kate Alexander, communication manager with Gwaii Haanas.
The park also received high scores for its relationship with the Haida Nation.
"The strong co-management of the park with the Haida people has significantly improved the management of this park," one panellist wrote in his findings, " and it largely retains its wilderness character and cultural significance."
With 2,100 visitors last year, Gwaii Haanas is one of the lesser known parks in the survey. Six of the survey's top 10 parks are in Canada.