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Bishop Bay – Monkey Beach Conservancy

Advisories

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Cabins and huts

Prior approval is needed for the use of the Haisla Nation cabins. Please contact the Haisla Nation at 250-639-9361, ext. 362 for Haisla Lands Manager, Tracey Ross.

Two trapper’s cabins built by the Haisla Nation are available for public use. The cabins are 15’ x 12’ with 2 double bunk beds, and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Be prepared to sleep outside if the cabins are full. There are sheltered boat anchorages near both cabin locations.

  • One cabin is located by the creek mouth in Bishop Cove.
  • The other is located at Monkey Beach, behind a small tombolo island about halfway between Riordan Point and Bishop Cove. There is no fresh water source by this cabin.

A third Haisla cabin is located outside of the conservancy, but nearby in Boxer Reach, on the east side of Gribbell Island, on a gravel spit about 1.25 nautical miles NW of Riordan Point. There is no fresh water source by this cabin.

Marine-accessible camping

Wilderness or marine-accessible camping is allowed. Two mooring buoys have also been installed at the end of Bishop Bay. A short boardwalk trail from the boat dock at Bishop Bay heads south approximately 100 metres to a small camping area that has four elevated tent platforms (three are 12 ft. x 12 ft. and one at 10 ft. x 10 ft.) and a campfire pit. Another short boardwalk trail from the boat dock heads north approximately 100 metres to the picnic shelter, hot springs bath house and pit toilet. Reservations are not accepted at this conservancy and all sites and facilities are on a first-come, first-served basis.

Wilderness camping
Winter camping

There are winter camping opportunities in this conservancy, as it can be accessed year-round.

Picnic areas

Bishop Bay hot springs has a day-use/picnic area. Facilities include a covered 8 ft. x 16 ft. cement bathhouse for soaking in hot springs water, one composting pit toilet, four tent platforms and three mooring buoys.

The UTM coordinates for the hot springs and bath house are: Zone 09U; 5924660 m North; 0510822 m East. The three mooring buoys at the end of Bishop Bay are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Pit or flush toilets
There is a composting pit toilet which is located just past and to the north of the hot springs bath house.
Campfires
A campfire ring and grate was installed in July 2012 beside the Haisla Nation trapper’s cabin at Monkey Beach. Firewood is not provided. If you must have a fire, please burn only dead and down wood, and be sure to fully extinguish the fire when done. Dead wood is an important habitat element for many plants and animals and it adds organic matter to the soil so please use it conservatively, if at all. We encourage visitors to conserve wood and protect the environment by minimizing the use of campfires and using camp stoves instead. Limited burning hours or campfire bans may be implemented during extremely hot weather conditions.
Hot spring
Location: Ursula Channel, east end of Bishop Bay on the north side, about 65 km south of Kitimat.
GPS: Lat. 53° 28’ 14” North; Long. 128° 50’ 12” West
Pool Water Temperature: 40°C
Facilities: Wood frame and concrete block bathhouse (8’ x 16’) just above high tide line with two soaking pools.
Overflow water from the larger covered inside pool feeds a smaller pool outside. Bathhouse has a change room with bench and coat hooks. Facilities also include a deck, dock, mooring buoys, composting pit toilet, boardwalk trail, four tent platforms and information shelter.
Comments: The waters are odorless. Boats over 36 ft. are requested to anchor offshore and not tie up to the small dock. Use soap and shampoo only in the outer pool.
Swimming
Swimming is possible in the ocean, but the water is cold all year-round. There are no lifeguards on duty in the conservancy.
Canoeing
Adventurous and experienced kayakers may enjoy exploring the bays and shorelines in this conservancy.
Kayaking
Fishing

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 or angling in British Columbia must have an appropriate license.

Wildlife viewing
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.
Scuba diving
It is possible to scuba dive or snorkel in the conservancy. The water clarity is best during winter and spring.