Hakai Lúxvbálís Conservancy

Highlights in this conservancy

The Hakai Lúxvbálís Conservancy is managed under an agreement between the Heiltsuk Nation and the Province of British Columbia to co-operatively attain conservation and recreation objectives for the area. This agreement will also allow the Heiltsuk Nation to access land and resources for their use within the Hakai Lúxvbálís Conservancy in accordance with their aboriginal rights.

Encompassing more than 120,000 hectares of land and sea, Hakai Lúxvbálís Conservancy is the largest provincial marine protected area on the British Columbia coast. Located approximately 130 km north of Port Hardy on Vancouver Island and 115 km southwest of Bella Coola, Hakai has no developed facilities and can only be accessed by sea or air. Sited within the Hecate Lowland ecosection, which is represented by a large archipelago of outstanding natural beauty, Hakai boasts such special features as lagoons, reversing tidal rapids, tombolos, and white-sand beaches.

With exposed shorelines, forested hills, a beguiling array of large and small islands, white-sand beaches, and all-weather anchorages, Hakai has a varied and scenic coastline. It is the dramatic contrast between marine and terrestrial landscapes that makes Hakai unique within the BC provincial park and protected area system.

Know before you go

Advisories

Safety information

Bring your own drinking water as potable water is not available in the park.
Swimming is not recommended, because the water is cold and can be rough. There are no lifeguards on duty within parks or protected areas.
Backcountry areas are not suitable for dogs or other pets due to wildlife issues and the potential for problems with bears.

Special notes

All archaeological sites are protected under the Heritage Conservation Act. It is illegal to remove artifacts or to disturb such sites.
There are some sports fishing lodges in Hakai. Most are floating and are removed in the off-season but there is a small lodge on shore in Choked Passage that is run by a non-profit society. There is also privately owned Hakai Beach Resort operated on private property.

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

Getting there

Hakai Lúxvbálís Conservancy is located along the B.C. coast, approximately 130 km north of Port Hardy and 115 km southwest of Bella Coola.

Access is via sea or air: chartered boats and chartered or scheduled air services are available from Vancouver, Port Hardy, Bella Bella (Waglisla) and Bella Coola. It is also possible to take the “Discovery Coast Passage” service offered by BC Ferries, which travels between Port Hardy and Bella Coola; the ferries make a stop at Bella Bella (Waglisla), 45 km north of Hakai. The nearest settlement is Namu on the mainland coast, 10 km across Fitz Hugh Sound.

Camping

Wilderness camping

Wilderness camping is allowed, but no facilities are provided.

Things to do

Canoeing

Hakai Lúxvbálís Conservancy is ideal for exploration by experienced sea kayakers.

Kayaking

Hakai Lúxvbálís Conservancy is ideal for exploration by experienced sea kayakers.

Fishing

This area is prized by sports fishermen for salmon and rockfish. Rockfish Conservation Areas occur within this park. Fishing activities are limited in Rockfish Conservation Areas. Before you go fishing please refer to the Rockfish Conservation Area descriptions available from Fisheries and Oceans Canada DFO.

Anyone fishing in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence. To learn more, see the fishing and hunting guide.

Wildlife viewing

The diversity of habitats within Hakai Lúxvbálís Conservancy Area results in a great wealth of flora and fauna.

Scuba diving

There are scuba diving or snorkelling opportunities. Conservancy Area waters are some of the finest in the world for underwater exploration. Viewing opportunities are exceptional year-round.

Hunting

This protected area is open to hunting. Please refer to the Hunting & 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

Campfires are allowed but firewood is not provided. Be prepared to bring a portable stove for cooking. If you must have a fire, please burn only dead and down wood, and be sure to extinguish the fire fully. 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. You can conserve firewood and air quality by keeping your campfire small.

About this conservancy

Cultural Heritage

Hakai Lúxvbálís (looks-bal-ease) Conservancy’s rich resources and sheltered anchorages have attracted people for more than 10,000 years. The Heiltsuk people were among the first to inhabit this area. Heiltsuk place names such as Hakai (“wide passage”), Namu (“whirlwind”) and Koeye (“sitting on water”) are reminders of this earlier habitation, as are such physical remnants as shell middens, fish traps, and canoe haulouts.

Heiltsuk oral tradition states that the original Heiltsuk ancestors were set down by the Creator in various areas in the territory now referred to as the Central Coast of British Columbia, before the time of the great flood.

The Heiltsuk people lived in many villages and seasonal camp locations throughout Heiltsuk territory. There were a number of tribal groups that lived in areas of Heiltsuk territory for millennia.

Conservation

The dramatic contrast between marine and terrestrial landscapes make the Hakai Lúxvbálís Conservancy special within the BC Provincial Park system. The area includes some of the most varied and scenic coastline in the province with special features including lagoons, reversing tidal rapids and beaches.

The diversity of habitats within Hakai Lúxvbálís Conservancy results in a great wealth of flora and fauna. The intertidal waters are home to an amazing number of marine life forms whose lives and activities are controlled by the rhythmic movements of the tides. Every rock pool has its own distinctive inhabitants: mollusca, crabs, starfish, anemones, sea urchins and many others.

Wildlife

The offshore waters at Hakai are home to orca, minke, grey and humpback whales, as well as sea lions, seals, porpoises and dolphins. Orcas and Pacific white-sided dolphins are frequently seen as they cruise the waters of Hakai Pass. Grey whales may be spotted feeding in shallow bays while harbour seals are abundant and may be observed anywhere and at any time.

Over 100 species of birds have been identified in the Hakai Lúxvbálís Conservancy. Bald eagles are common. Hosts of sandpipers, plovers and other shore birds feed busily along the beaches and tidal flats. Feeding flocks of gulls, auklets, murres and murrelets are numerous in the waters of Kildidt and Queens Sounds. Black oyster catchers, pelagic cormorants, surf birds and both black and ruddy turnstones are also common. Black-tailed deer and wolves are very common. Due to the dense forest growth they are most likely to be seen on the beaches or swimming between islands. River otters and mink are sighted frequently along the shoreline. Other mammal inhabitants of the islands are beavers and black bears.

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.

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