Park overview
Codville Lagoon is a small marine provincial park located on King Island in Fitz Hugh Sound, 80 km west of Bella Coola. Codville Lagoon offers excellent and scenic all weather anchorage, as well as featuring an unmaintained hiking trail to a freshwater lake with an interesting red sand beach and good swimming.
The special feature in the park is the red sand beach along Sagar Lake and can be accessed via boat and then a 15 to 20 minute walk along a trail.
Advisories
Safety info
- Due to the presence of Red Tide, this park and all others on the central coast are closed to the harvest of shellfish. Ingestion of shellfish that have been exposed to this alga can cause paralytic shellfish poisoning, which can be fatal.
- Bring your own drinking water, as potable water is not available in the park.
Camping
Wilderness camping is allowed, but no facilities are provided. There is a long sandy beach on Sagar Lake that is ideal for camping on.
Facilities
Activities
A difficult, unmaintained trail leads to Sagar Lake, which is noted for its red sand beach and warm water swimming. The trail (elevation gain 100 metres; 15 to 20 minutes) leading from the north end of the lagoon was constructed by the Ocean Falls Yacht Club years ago. The trail is wet, and rubber boots are highly recommended.
For your own safety and the preservation of the park, obey posted signs and keep to designated trails. Shortcutting trails destroys plant life and soil structure.
Codville Lagoon is a very interesting destination for experienced sea kayakers to explore.
The area surrounding the park is very popular for fishing, though the park itself is not a fishing destination. However, fishing for rainbow trout at Sagar Lake is an option.The park and entire coastal area are closed to shellfish harvesting. Anyone fishing or angling in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence.
This park is open to hunting. Please refer to the BC Hunting and Trapping Regulations Synopsis for more information.
The park is located on the east side of Fisher Channel, 9 km north of Namu. Access is by boat only. Refer to Canadian Hydrographic Charts 3785 and 3729. The closest location for supplies is Bella Bella. The closest communities, towns and cities are Bella Coola, Bella Bella, Ocean Falls and Namu.
Learn more about this park
Park details
- Date established: September 16, 1992
- Size: 867 hectares (520 ha upland and 347 ha foreshore)
Nature and culture
History
This park was established in 1965.
Cultural Heritage
This is a significant place for the Heiltsuk People and should be respected as a heritage site. It is illegal to disturb such sites or remove artifacts. This is one reason why it is preferable to sleep on board your boat rather than camping on land, which has far greater impact on cultural and natural values.
Conservation
Marine resources have been under a lot of pressure over the last few years. Please observe fishing regulations closely, and consider taking less than your limit to ease your impact.
Wildlife
As you cruise through the area near the park, watch for orcas, humpback whales, Pacific white-sided dolphins, sea lions and other marine mammals. It is important you keep your distance from these creatures. Never approach closer than 100 metres. Steer a steady, slow course and avoid cutting in front of them. On shore, watch for Columbia black-tailed deer, mink, black bear and wolves.
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.