Protected area overview
Foch-Gilttoyees Park and Protected Area protect 61,183 hectares of rugged coastal and mountainous terrain, from sea level to alpine tundra.
The park is nestled in the Coast Mountain Range on the north side of the Douglas Channel and it envelops a diversity of landscapes and features including pristine freshwater drainages, bordered by steep rocky slopes covered with old-growth forests, numerous waterfalls, tidal estuaries, unique tidal narrows, and a windswept coastline. Snow-covered peaks, glacial tarns, cirque basins, and receding glaciers cap the park.
In conjunction with Gitnadoiks River Park and Protected Area to the north, Foch-Gilttoyees completes a contiguous protected area corridor between the Douglas Channel and the Skeena River.
Advisories
Dates of operation
Safety info
- There are no developed trails at this park. Please obey posted signs.
- Backcountry areas are not suitable for dogs or other pets due to wildlife issues and the potential for problems with bears.
- Exercise caution and good judgement when considering boating through the tidal narrows at entrance to Foch Lagoon. The best time to make this passage is during slack tide.
- Jet boat access up Foch River is very limited due to rocks. Access up Gilttoyees Creek is possible to about 2.5 km west of Peechugh Creek.
Camping
Wilderness camping is permitted, but no facilities are provided.
Winter camping is permitted in the protected area. The protected area is accessible year-round.
Facilities
Please conserve firewood. There is no firewood available.
While campfires are allowed in this backcountry area, we encourage visitors to use campstoves for cooking purposes.
To preserve vegetation and ground cover, please don’t gather wood for fires from the area unless required for emergency situations. Dead wood is an important habitat element for many plants and animals and it adds organic matter to the soil.
Campfire bans may be in place. Before lighting a fire, check for bans or restrictions on BC Wildfire Service and on local or Indigenous government websites.
Activities
Swimming is possible in the lakes, lagoon and ocean, but the water is cold all season long.
There are no lifeguards on duty in BC Parks.
Both Foch Lagoon and Gilttoyees Inlet are scenic, sheltered bodies of water. Boaters should be aware that entry into Foch Lagoon involves passing through tidal rapids and should only be attempted at slack tide. Also, access to the area is via Douglas Channel which is frequently rough and unsuited to small boats.
Both Foch Lagoon and Gilttoyees Inlet are scenic, sheltered bodies of water. Boaters should be aware that entry into Foch Lagoon involves passing through tidal rapids and should only be attempted at slack tide. Also, access to the area is via Douglas Channel which is frequently rough and unsuited to small boats.
There are opportunities for salmon and trout fishing in Foch River and Gilttoyees Creek.
Anyone fishing in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence. To learn more, see the fishing and hunting guide.
There are scuba diving opportunities in the park.
There are opportunities for climbing amongst the rocky walls, peaks and glaciers of Foch-Gilttoyees Park. Access is challenging as there are no trails in the park. There are spectacular granite walls along the sides of Gilttoyees Creek and valley.
Hunting is permitted in the park during lawful hunting season. Check Hunting and Trapping Regulations Synopsis.
Foch-Gilttoyees Park and Protected Area is located roughly 33 km southwest of Kitimat on the west side of Douglas Channel. Access is by boat only. Use Marine Chart #3743 (Douglas Channel) and NTS Map Sheets #103 H/14,15 & 103 I/2,3. The closest communities to this park are Kitimat, and Kitamaat Village.
Visitor Information Centre:
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
Protected area and activity maps
Learn more about this protected area
Protected area details
- Date established: March 22, 2005
- Size: 94 hectares (89 ha upland and 5 ha foreshore)
Nature and culture
History
Foch-Gilttoyees was designated as a class A provincial park on May 20, 2004 following recommendations from the Kalum Land and Resource Management Plan. The protected area portion was designated a year later on March 22, 2005. Drum Lummon Mines and Paisley Point Mines established mineral claims north of Drumlummon Bay in the early 1920’s for extraction of copper, gold and silver. Some mineral claims still exist in this area (adjacent to the north side of the protected area) but are excluded from the park.
Cultural Heritage
Foch-Gilttoyees contains part of a historical First Nations travel route between the Douglas Channel and the Skeena River (the remainder of the route is in Gitnadoiks River Park).
Conservation
Foch Lagoon is one of the largest and most remote lagoons on the B.C. coast. It includes a highly productive and unique tidal narrows at its entranceway. Because of the heavy tide influence in the narrows the oceanic productivity in this area is very high compared to the rest of the Douglas Channel. The kelp beds that are found in this area support nurseries for a wide array of sea life.
Wildlife
Foch-Gilttoyees protects a regionally significant estuary complex at the north end of the Gilttoyees Inlet. The Gilttoyees Creek and Peechugh Creek estuary is notable for its well-developed inter-tidal flats and relatively under-developed mud flats. Salt-water marsh and meadow communities dominate the inter-tidal flats.
The estuary has very high wildlife values, particularly over-wintering habitat for the Blue-listed Trumpeter Swan, Barrow’s Goldeneye, Harlequin Duck, Surf Scoter, Long-tailed duck and Western Grebe.
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.