Walk through the remarkably preserved 19th-century whaling settlement at Pauline Cove with a Territorial Park ranger, uncovering the collision of Yankee whaling empires and Inuvialuit culture that shaped the Arctic's most dramatic historic landscape.
What to expect
The ranger leads your small group through a cluster of original late-1800s structures: the Hudson's Bay Company warehouse, a missionary church, and bone-strewn remnants of the bowhead whale trade that once drew 200 ships a season to this cove. Hear vivid accounts of Inuvialuit resistance, adaptation, and survival during the whaling era, and the epidemics that devastated communities. The permafrost has preserved artefacts and building fabric to a remarkable degree, giving the settlement an eerie, time-capsule quality. A visit to the small on-site museum rounds out the narrative with photographs and journals from whalers and Inuvialuit elders.
Good to know
Ranger-led walks typically depart from the tender landing at Pauline Cove. Sessions can be booked by contacting the Yukon Parks office in advance via Travel Yukon. The walk is mostly flat gravel with some soft tundra; supportive footwear recommended. Allow 2–2.5 hours for a full interpretation circuit.
More to do in Herschel Island
- Herschel Island Guided Wilderness & Wildlife Day Expedition
- Beluga & Bowhead Whale Watching by Zodiac: Beaufort Sea
- Arctic Tundra Hike to Collinson Head: Dramatic Coastal Panoramas
- Inuvialuit Cultural Immersion: Traditional Crafts & Oral History
- Arctic Photography Expedition: Tundra, Wildlife & Midnight Light