I recently had the chance to explore the old-growth forests at Yakoun Lake on Haida Gwaii. This area is home to some of the island’s largest Sitka spruce, nourished by rich alluvial soils along the lake’s edge. Walking here feels like stepping into an old black-and-white photograph of the grand forests that once blanketed the Pacific Northwest.
Thanks to the leadership of the Haida Nation, these ancient giants are now protected within the 7,970-hectare Yaaguun Suu Conservancy on Graham Island. The conservancy safeguards old-growth spruce and cedar forests, salmon habitat, and culturally important areas connected to the Yakoun River watershed.
A short 1.5-kilometre trail leads through towering trees reaching over 230 feet (70 metres) tall and 11 feet (3.5 metres) wide before opening onto a quiet sandy beach at the lake. If you find yourself on Haida Gwaii, this forest is about a 40-minute drive along logging roads from Daajing Giids and is truly worth the journey.
