7 Remote Canadian Spots You Can Fly to Privately

Canada is massive. It’s almost impossible to exaggerate the country’s sheer size with its vast Arctic tundras, forests the size of countries, and even desert-like conditions of Okanagan in British Columbia. While traversing the nation by car or rail is possible, some of its remotest regions are only accessible by plane. Even if some of these places have roads or rail connections, using a private plane is often much quicker and more comfortable. The benefit of flying privately is the freedom to travel on your schedule. You can also fly into remote airstrips and private airports that you cannot do on commercial flights. Whether you’re looking for a luxurious fly-in fishing lodge, a car-free wilderness retreat, or a deeply remote Indigenous community, these destinations are best, if not only, accessed by private aircraft. Here are seven of the best remote Canadian destinations you can reach by private plane.

1. Bathurst Inlet, Nunavut

Best for: Arctic adventure, wildlife, and cultural tourism.
Private Airport: Bathurst Inlet Aerodrome (YBK), gravel runway.

Located on the southern shore of the Coronation Gulf, Bathurst Inlet is a former Hudson’s Bay Company outpost that has become a base for Arctic wildlife tours and cultural expeditions into Inuit land. There are no roads into this area, so once the summer ice melts, you can only get here by plane or boat.

In summer, the tundra bursts into full bloom, and birds, Arctic foxes, and caribou descend on the region. If you’re catching a charter flight, you’ll typically depart from Yellowknife or Cambridge Bay and land on a gravel airstrip near the inlet.

2. Nimmo Bay Wilderness Resort, British Columbia

Best for: Luxury eco-retreats and heli-fishing.
Private Access: Nimmo Bay seaplane dock or heliport.

Few places on Earth are better for grizzly bear watching than Nimmo Bay Wilderness Resort. You’ll find the resort in B.C.’s Great Bear Rainforest, and it’s not connected to any public road or transport system. All guests must arrive by floatplane or helicopter, typically from Port Hardy, Vancouver, or Campbell River.

Activities include heli-hiking, glacier adventures, and kayaking among whales. The resort’s private dock accommodates amphibious aircraft, making it ideal for private seaplane access. It’s rare to experience such a diverse selection of activities in one place.

3. Ivvavik National Park, Yukon

Best for: True wilderness trekking and fly-in camping.
Private Access: Chartered bush plane from Inuvik.

Ivvavik is one of the least-visited national parks in Canada, not because it lacks appeal, but because getting there is part of the adventure. There are no roads or rail; just an invitation to one of North America’s most pristine, protected landscapes.

The only way in is via chartered aircraft from Inuvik, with landings typically on gravel or tundra strips depending on weather. Parks Canada sometimes arranges guided experiences, but independent travellers can charter private flights to access specific regions of the park. It’s raw, untouched Canada at its finest.

4. Lac Brochet, Manitoba

Best for: Access to remote Indigenous communities and off-the-grid northern experiences.
Private Airport: Lac Brochet Airport (XLB)

If you’re lucky, you can get here by road for just a couple of months of the year. Otherwise, your only option is flying into Lac Brochet Airport to visit the remote Dene community in Northwestern Manitoba. The region is a fascinating exercise in subsistence traditions and the spiritual and cultural landscapes that define the area.

While not a typical holiday destination, flying privately here allows guests, researchers, or family members to visit with dignity and flexibility.

5. Lake Kipawa, Quebec (Lodge-Based Travel)

Best for: Fly-in fishing and rustic retreats.
Private Access: Floatplane from Rouyn-Noranda or North Bay.

The most incredible lakes for fishing are not necessarily defined by their accessibility. For the keenest anglers, it often requires going well beyond the ordinary to find the best lakes with the best fish. Some of Quebec’s most prized fishing lodges are located on Lake Kipawa and surrounding waterways, far beyond the reach of the average road trip. The lake straddles the edge of the Abitibi-Témiscamingue region and is a mecca for anglers looking to reel in walleye, pike, and trout in quiet, unspoiled surroundings.

6. Kashechewan First Nation, Ontario

Best for: Visiting family or delivering essential services.
Private Airport: Kashechewan Airport (ZKE), gravel runway.

You’ll find Kashechewan First Nation on the western coast of James Bay. Outside of winter road season, you won’t be able to reach this remote region without a plane. It’s certainly not a tourist destination, but it is somewhere that Canadians fly into to visit family, support community initiatives, or deliver medical supplies.

7. Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge, Vancouver Island, BC

Best for: Luxury seclusion and dramatic landscapes.
Private Access: Floatplane or helicopter from Vancouver.

Situated in a remote corner of Clayoquot Sound and backed by untouched temperate rainforest, this award-winning wilderness lodge has become a go-to for ultra-luxury eco-travel. There are no roads into the resort, so you’ll need to land by seaplane or helicopter on their private dock or pad.

Whale watching, zip-lining through old-growth forests, and spa treatments in the wild are all on offer. A charter plane allows you to fly directly from Vancouver or Victoria without dealing with commercial connections or unpredictable ferry schedules.

Wilderness on Your Doorstep

Canada is a vast and wild country, with many of its most beautiful and culturally rich destinations lying well beyond the reach of roads or rail. Private aviation opens the door to experiences that few others ever encounter. So, the next time you want to explore somewhere different, think beyond the usual cities and highways. With a private plane, even the most remote corners of Canada become remarkably accessible.