Skeena West. 
Know before you go
Advisories
Special notes
- There are no roads or trails in this wilderness area.
- This conservancy is closed to Grizzly bear hunting.
- The water in the hot springs is not suitable for drinking.
- To prevent overcrowding and damage to the dock and shifting of dock anchors, boats over 11 metres (36 feet) are requested to anchor offshore.
- Please only use soap and shampoo in the outer tub and pool. This will help to keep the water cleaner in the inner soaking tub and pool.
Review the detailed guides under visit responsibly for more information on staying safe and preserving our natural spaces.
Visit responsibly
Follow these guides to ensure your activities are safe, respectful, and ecologically friendly:
Maps and location
- Bishop Bay – Monkey Beach Conservancy map [PDF]
- Reference: Marine Chart #3743 (Douglas Channel)
- Reference: 1:50,000 scale Topographic Map #103 H/7 (Ursula Channel) and #103 H/10 (Devastation Channel)
- Lakelse Douglas Channel Area map [PDF]
Getting there
Bishop Bay-Monkey Beach Conservancy is only accessible by boat or floatplane. It is located about 25 km east of Hartley Bay and 75 km south of Kitimat along the east side of Ursula Channel, east of Gribbell Island.
Things to do
Swimming is possible in the ocean, but the water is cold all year.
There are no lifeguards on duty in BC Parks.
There may be opportunities for fishing in the streams near the shores of the conservancy. Please consult the appropriate non-tidal fishing regulations for more information.
Anyone fishing in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence. To learn more, see the fishing and hunting guide.
About this conservancy
The conservancy is in the asserted traditional territories of the Haisla, Gitga’at and Gitxaala Nations. The conservancy contains five known archaeological sites (pre-contact shell middens, plank house depressions, faded pictographs) and has historically been used for the traditional harvest of shellfish and trapping by local First Nations. Monkey Beach got its name from legendary sightings of monkey-like creatures (Sasquatch) by local First Nations.
Use the below links for more information or to contact these First Nations.
- Haisla Nation
- Gitga’at Nation
- Gitxaala Nation
PO Box 149
Kitkatla, BC V0V 1C0
Phone: 250-848-2214
Fax: 250-848-2238
Bishop Bay-Monkey Beach Conservancy was designated as a conservancy on July 14, 2006, with the Monkey Beach area added on May 31, 2007 following recommendations from the North Coast Land and Resource Management Plan. Prior to being designated as a Conservancy in 2006, Bishop Bay hot springs was a BC Forest Service Recreation Site maintained by the North Coast Forest District out of Prince Rupert. The hot springs bath house was originally built in the 1960s by volunteers from the Kitimat Yacht Club.
In September 2010, BC Parks with the help of Canada Coast Guard, installed two mooring buoys at the end of Bishop Bay. In June 2015, a third mooring buoy was installed with the help of Canada Coast Guard.
The conservancy protects an area of cultural and historical value to the local First Nations as well as high recreational use and old-growth forests of red cedar and hemlock, portions of small coastal streams and coastal wildlife habitat that includes the marine foreshore and intertidal areas.
Bears, wolves, and sometimes deer can be seen along the shoreline. Humpback whales, killer whales, Dall’s porpoises, Pacific white-sided dolphins, sea lions and harbour seals can also be seen in the adjacent marine waters. Kermode bears are commonly seen on Gribbell Island, to the west of the conservancy.
Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples
BC Parks honours Indigenous Peoples’ connection to the land and respects the importance of their diverse teachings, traditions, and practices within these territories. This park webpage may not adequately represent the full history of this park and the connection of Indigenous Peoples to this land. We are working in partnership with Indigenous Peoples to update our websites so that they better reflect the history and cultures of these special places.
Contact
| Kitimat Visitor Information Centre | P.O. Box 214, 2109 Forest Avenue, Kitimat, BC V8C 2G7 |
|---|---|
| BC Parks regional office | |
| General questions and feedback for BC Parks | We answer emails weekdays from 9 am to 5 pm Pacific Time. |
