Ethelda Bay – Tennant Island Conservancy

Highlights in this conservancy

Ethelda Bay-Tennant Island Conservancy protects a small group of islands and marine environment in the Estevan Group, between Barnard Island and Trutch Island in the Hecate Lowlands and North Coast Fjords Ecosections.

Access to this area is usually made by boat and the conservancy contains safe boat anchorages and small beaches.

Know before you go

Advisories

Special notes

There are no roads or trails in this wilderness area.
There are no facilities in the conservancy.

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

Conservancy Map [PDF]

Getting there

Ethelda Bay-Tennant Island Conservancy is only accessible by boat or float plane. It is located approximately 50 km SW of Hartley Bay and 130 km SW of Kitimat. It is located in Langley Passage, between Estevan Sound and Hecate Strait.

Reference: Marine Chart #3795 (Langley Passage-Estevan Group).
Reference: 1:50,000 scale Topographic Map #103 H/4 (Trutch Island).

Kitimat Visitor Information Centre

PO Box 214
2109 Forest Avenue
Kitimat, BC, Canada V8C 2G7
tourismkitimat.ca
info@tourismkitimat.ca
phone: 250-632-6294 or 1-800-664-6554

Camping

Wilderness camping

Wilderness camping is allowed, but no facilities are provided. All sites are on a first come, first served basis.

Note: The private property, buildings and dock on the southwest side of Ethelda Bay are not part of the conservancy.

Things to do

Swimming

Swimming is possible in the ocean, but the water is cold year-round.

There are no lifeguards on duty in BC Parks.

Canoeing

Canoeists or kayakers may enjoy exploring the small islands, inlets, bays and shorelines in this conservancy.

Kayaking

Canoeists or kayakers may enjoy exploring the small islands, inlets, bays and shorelines in this conservancy.

Fishing

There are opportunities for salmon fishing in this 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.

Wildlife viewing

Black bears, wolves, waterfowl, eagles, and salmon can be seen in the conservancy. 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.

Hunting

This conservancy is open to hunting during lawful hunting seasons. Please check the BC Hunting and Trapping Regulations Synopsis for more information.

Anyone hunting in British Columbia must comply with BC hunting regulations. To learn more, see the fishing and hunting guide.

Facilities

Campfires

Firewood and campfire rings are not provided. We encourage visitors to conserve wood and protect the environment by minimizing the use of campfires and using camp stoves instead.

If you must have a fire, please burn only dead and down wood, and be sure to fully extinguish the fire when done and spread out the ashes and rocks. 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.

About this conservancy

Cultural Heritage

The conservancy is in the asserted traditional territory of the Gitxaala First Nation. There are no known archaeological sites in the conservancy.

History

Ethelda Bay-Tennant Island Conservancy was designated as a conservancy on May 31, 2007 following recommendations from the North Coast Land and Resource Management Plan. Ethelda Bay was the site of a former manned radio beacon station (operated by the DOT, Ottawa) where a maintenance crew was once housed. A private couple purchased the houses, dock, generator station, and helicopter pad from the federal government in 1996 to develop a tourist and fishing lodge.

Conservation

The conservancy protects small representative islands and marine environment along the northern mainland coast, including undisturbed old growth forests, fish and wildlife habitat.

Wildlife

General Wildlife, Marine & Outdoor Ethics Information

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