I’m asked this question most often at about 3:30 PM towards the end of the tour to Sable Island National Park Reserve.
Around that time it dawns on visitors that they will have to head back to Halifax soon – and they don’t want to go.
The Short Answer: No
Sable Island is not your typical beach destination. This is a wild and remote backcountry experience in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean. It’s a protected national park reserve, managed by Parks Canada since 2013 and its delicate ecosystem requires strict oversight and regulation of tourism to ensure its preservation.
More people visit Mount Everest annually than visit Sable Island NPR.
Overnight stays for tourists are currently not permitted. However, back in 2018 Parks Canada was exploring the idea of hosting overnight visitors, but that idea was shelved because of the COVID-19 outbreak.
The Long Answer: Kind Of?
Who gets to stay overnight then? While no one will be able to pitch a tent amongst Sable’s dunes, a few people do stay overnight. These individuals include:
- Parks Canada Staff: Parks always has at least 2-4 staff living on the island at all times for maintenance and operations work.
- Researchers: Various scientists conducting studies on Sable’s unique flora, wildlife, and weather stay over all year round.
- Volunteers: The Sable Island Institute and other groups occasionally host volunteers on the island to help with research projects.
- Contractors: People hired to work on the island’s infrastructure may stay for a few days or up to a few weeks.
- Filmmakers, Artists and Media: With special permits, they may stay overnight to work on a project or record the island’s essence.
Why No Overnight Tourism?
The prohibition on overnight stays for tourists stems from Sable Island’s fragility, lack of dedicated visitor accommodation and the difficulty of getting both on and off the island. The island’s ecosystem is incredibly sensitive to human activity. Trampling the vegetation, disturbing wildlife, or introducing invasive species could cause irreversible harm. Limiting visits to daylight hours reduces the ecological footprint.
Currently, the island has no dedicated accommodations for tourists. Main Station, where Parks Canada has their headquarters on the island, was first built in 1946 and most of the buildings, rooms and amenities date to that era. The current building with shared accommodation, kitchen, bathroom and living for approved visitors is lovingly called the “Sandbar Hotel”. As well, guests must come fully prepared with their supplies of food for their trip and use the shared kitchen facilities. The nearest corner store for a food item is 300 km away in Halifax.
Additionally, Sable Island’s remoteness and unpredictable weather make flight logistics challenging. Visitors may intend to stay overnight for a day or two, but weather issues such as fog, hurricanes or a flooded beach runway could ground flights for weeks at a time – leaving visitors stranded out there.
How to Experience Sable Island Overnight
Although overnight stays aren’t an option yet, you can still immerse yourself in Sable Island after hours from a few hundred metres offshore:
- Charter a Boat: A few cruise operators (Adventure Canada) offer chartered boat trips to Sable Island. If weather and surf allow, guests come ashore by tender and these excursions allow you to explore the island for a few hours accompanied by a Parks Canada guide. After the visit, guests would tender back to the boat or cruise ship where they would stay overnight.
A Glimpse of Sable’s Magic
Even if we can’t sleep under the stars on Sable Island itself, a visit during daylight hours offers an unforgettable experience. From the sight of wild horses galloping along the shore to the cacophony of seals basking on the beach, the island’s raw, untamed beauty leaves a lasting impression.
While an overnight adventure isn’t in the cards yet, a daytime trip with us to Sable Island is a jaw-dropping experience for nature lovers and adventurers alike. And will leave you dreaming about lingering past sunset for a view of the stars above, and waking up for a Sable Island sunrise.
