K'lgaan/Klekane Conservancy

Highlights in this conservancy

K’lgaan/Klekane Conservancy is located on the east side of Princess Royal Channel, along the Inside Passage route. Klekane Conservancy shares its south and east boundaries with adjacent Q’altanaas/Aaltanhash Conservancy.

This conservancy protects grizzly bears, salmon and marbled murrelets and low elevation Sitka spruce forests. It also provides a protected anchorage adjacent to the main Inside Passage route where visitors can spend a night to rest, fish or soak in a small hot springs.

A bath house (8 ft x 12 ft) with a concrete block pool (8 ft x 8 ft) is available so that park visitors may enjoy soaking in the warm and odorless hot springs water. The hot springs water comes out of a crevice in the granodiorite bedrock about 150 metres away from the bath house. It flows out at a rate of about 10.4 litres per minute. Water temperature at the source is about 53.2 degrees Celsius and about 41.3 degrees Celsius in the bath house.

The hot springs bath house is located at the northeastern end of the estuary; about a five minute walk in at high tide and about 20 metres from a small stream. The hot springs water is not suitable for drinking.

Know before you go

Advisories

Safety information

There are no roads or trails in this conservancy.
The water in the hot springs is not suitable for drinking.
This conservancy is closed to grizzly bear hunting.
Be bear aware while on shore in this 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

Getting there

K’lgaan/Klekane Conservancy is only accessible by boat or floatplane and is located about 45 km southeast of Hartley Bay, 65 km north of Klemtu and 90 km south of Kitimat. It is located along the east side of Princess Royal Channel (Inside Passage route), by Work Island.

Reference: Marine Chart #3739 (Swanson Bay to Work Island).
Reference: 1:50,000 scale Topographic Maps #103 H/2 (Butedale) and #103 H/7 (Ursula Channel).

Kitimat Visitor Information Centre

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

Camping

Wilderness camping

Wilderness camping is allowed. Reservations are not accepted at this conservancy and all sites and facilities are on a first come, first served basis.

When visiting the backcountry, always follow Leave No Trace outdoor ethics. To learn more about staying safe in the backcountry, read our backcountry guide.

Winter camping

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

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

There are canoeing opportunities in this park.

Kayaking

Adventurous and experienced kayakers may enjoy exploring the inlet, bays and shorelines in this conservancy.

Fishing

There are opportunities to fish for trout and salmon in Klekane River. 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, spawning salmon and the occasional deer can be seen in the conservancy. The best place to see wildlife is at the river mouths and estuaries of Scow Bay and north end of Klekane Inlet. 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.

Pets on leash

Backcountry areas are not suitable for dogs or other pets due to wildlife issues and the potential for problems with bears.

Scuba diving

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

Hunting

This Conservancy is open to hunting during lawful hunting seasons but is closed to Grizzly Bear hunting. 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 is not provided. We encourage visitors to conserve wood and protect the environment by minimizing the use of campfires and using campstoves instead.

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.

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.

Hot spring

Location: North end of Klekane Inlet, east side of estuary, about 10 km north of Butedale. The trail to the hot springs can be difficult to find. Ensure you have the following coordinates marked.
GPS: Lat. 53° 14’ 46” North; Long. 128° 40’ 50” West
Pool Water Temperature: 41°C
Facilities: Cedar building (8 ft x 12 ft) with green metal roof and a concrete block pool (8 ft x 8 ft x 3 ft deep).
Comments: The waters are odorless. About a five minute walk in at high tide at the NE end of the estuary and about 20 m from a small side stream. Source of the hot springs is at 53° 14’ 50” North; 128° 40’ 50” West (53° C). Be aware of bears in the area.

Soap, shampoo, and other cleaning products can damage sensitive hot spring ecosystems. They are not allowed in or near the hot spring.

About this conservancy

Cultural heritage

The conservancy is in the asserted traditional territory of the Gitga’at and Kitasoo First Nations. Use the below link for more information or to contact these First Nations. The conservancy contains two known archaeological sites (culturally modified trees) and has historically been used for traditional food gathering, fishing and trapping by local First Nations.

History

K’lgaan/Klekane Conservancy was designated as a conservancy on July 28, 2006 following recommendations from the Central Coast Land and Resource Management Plan. The hot springs building and pool were built prior to 2005 by unknown volunteers.

There is an old diesel donkey engine on a wooden barge/skid on the shoreline about 400 metres north of Maskill Point. The UTM coordinates are: Zone 09U; 5893110 m North; 0522842 m East.

Conservation

The conservancy protects an area of popular recreational use by boaters, the Klekane River watershed, all of Work Island and several small remote streams, lakes and wetlands. The conservancy also protects old growth forests of red cedar, hemlock and spruce as well as coastal wildlife habitat including important salmon spawning streams and habitat for black bears.

Wildlife

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