Premier Listings for Fiordland Conservancy
The Fiordland Conservancy, formerly known as the Fiordland Provincial Recreation Area, is a massive wilderness paradise for sea kayakers located approximately 60 miles (100 km) north of Bella Coola by air. The park is a magical world of inlets, bays, islands, and fjords. Waterfalls and glaciers are set amid the passages of a complex coastline. Some of the mountains are thickly cloaked with old-growth Sitka spruce and coastal western hemlock forests; others are monolithic domes, exhibiting their bare granite faces.
Located in the Kitimat Ranges of the Coast Mountains, Fiordland Conservancy is an exceptionally scenic area, with rich estuaries at the base of sharply plunging glacier-topped mountains. Salmon spawn in the many coastal rivers and creeks. The three primary inlets represented here – Mussel, Kynock, and Roscoe – are outstanding locations of provincial and international significance.
This wilderness area displays a unique ecosystem and is considered one of the best examples of glacially-gouged fiords on the coast of British Columbia. The inlets are deep fiords with sheer granite cliffs that soar over 1,000 metres.
Fiordland Conservancy covers 76,825 hectares (189,758 acres) of upland and 7,592 hectares (18,752 acres) of foreshore for a total park size of 84,417 hectares (208,510 acres).
There are a number of excellent beaches and interesting upland features, including glaciers, waterfalls, lakes, and rivers, along with wonderful hiking and wildlife-viewing opportunities. Sitka deer, salmon, and grizzlies have shared this magnificent area with the Heiltsuk people for centuries. Fiordland is the traditional territory of the Xai Xais and Kitisoo First Nations. Trapping, hunting, fishing, and other traditional food-gathering activities have richly sustained these people over the years. There are a number of archaeological sites located here, particularly along the shorelines.
The recreation area is an important habitat area for both black and grizzly bears, and lush vegetation in estuarine areas can obscure visibility, so travel ashore should be considered hazardous, and is not recommended.
Unfortunately for paddlers, campsites are scarce due to the steep topography of the area, however wilderness camping is permitted. As in other parts of the Central Coast, winds can pick up quickly, resulting in hazardous conditions for small vessels. Park water is not drinkable, so visitors need to bring their own supply. Because Fiordland Conservancy is an undeveloped wilderness area with no facilities, visitors should be totally self-sufficient and properly equipped.
Fiordland Conservancy is only accessible by air or water, with Klemtu serving as a convenient staging area for trips into this wonderful wilderness. The marine navigation chart for the region is #3962.
Nearby Regions & Towns
Park Notices
Premier Listings
Ocean Light Adventures with the vessel Afterglow
Biographical Info
Ocean Light Adventures introduces their new vessel for summer 2021. The powerboat Afterglow is a 60ft Monk designed Gulf Commander with 5 staterooms and 3 heads, offering amazing wildlife viewing from all windows and from the spacious top deck. Her crew has 34 years of experience offering natural history and photography tours on the BC Coast, including Haida Gwaii, and specializing in grizzly viewing tours in the Khutzeymateen Grizzly Bear Sanctuary, and spirit bear and grizzly tours in the Great Bear Rainforest. We also offer whale watching and eco tours, from totems to intertidal treasures, rocky shores to sandy beaches, and spawning salmon to towering trees. We offer five spectacular adventure trips between May and October, each to a different region and each highlighting the awe-inspiring beauty of the beautiful BC coast.
