Arctic and alpine tundra are the most common. Taiga is the transition between boreal forest and tundra. It consists of open stands of stunted white spruce and balsam poplar. These trees grow to within 30 kilometres of the Beaufort Sea and represent the northernmost extension of their range in Canada. The northern Yukon, with its diverse vegetation types, is able to support a wide range of animal life.
Many mammal species move freely between types while others are restricted to specific habitats.
The Porcupine caribou herd migrates annually from the forested valleys of north-central Yukon to calving grounds on the Beaufort coast. Muskoxen prefer the open tundra of the coastal plain, but will wander south into the mountain valleys. Polar bears spend most of their time north of the park hunting for seals amongst the open leads of the offshore pack ice, however they do come ashore throughout the year especially during winter. Grizzly bears range over the entire park. Red and Arctic fox are both found in Ivvavik.