Conservancy overview
K’nabiyaaxl/Ashdown Conservancy protects all of Ashdown Island, along with its surrounding islets, rocks and foreshore. Located within the Hecate Lowland and North Coast Fjords Ecosection, this rocky island supports important migratory bird winter habitat. The conservancy also protects an important Steller sea lion haul-out.
Advisories
Special notes
- There are no roads or trails in this wilderness area.
- There are no facilities in this conservancy.
Camping
Wilderness camping is allowed, but no facilities are provided. All sites are on a first come, first served basis.
Facilities
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.
Activities
Swimming is possible in the ocean, but the water is cold year-round.
There are no lifeguards on duty in BC Parks.
This conservancy is open to hunting during lawful hunting seasons. Please check the BC Hunting and Trapping Regulations for more information.
K’nabiyaaxl/Ashdown Conservancy is only accessible by boat and is located about 40 km south of Hartley Bay and 120 km southwest of Kitimat. Ashdown Island is located at the south end of Whale Channel, between Princess Royal Island, Gil Island and Campania Island.
- Reference: Marine Chart #3724 (Caamano Sound and Approaches).
- Reference: 1:50,000 scale Topographic Map #103 H/3 (Gil Island).
Kitimat Visitor Information Centre:
PO Box 214
2109 Forest Avenue
Kitimat, BC, Canada V8C 2G7
tourismkitimat.ca
info@tourismkitimat.ca
250-632-6294 or 1-800-664-6554
Conservancy and activity maps
Learn more about this conservancy
Conservancy details
- Date established: July 13, 2006
- Size: 727 hectares (454 ha upland and 273 ha foreshore)
Nature and culture
History
K’nabiyaaxl/Ashdown Conservancy was designated as a conservancy on July 14, 2006 following recommendations from the North Coast Land and Resource Management Plan.
On February 13, 1950 an American B-36B “Peacemaker” bomber flying from Eielson Air Force Base near Fairbanks, Alaska to Fort Worth, Texas had three of its six engines catch fire. The crew bailed out over Princess Royal Island. The pilot was the last crewmember to bail out and landed in a shallow pond on Ashdown Island. The plane itself crashed on Mount Kologet in what is now Swan Lake/ Kispiox River Park.
Cultural Heritage
The conservancy is in the asserted traditional territories of the Gitga’at and Gitxaala First Nations. Use the below link for more information or to contact these First Nations.
- Gitga’at First Nation
- Gitxaala First Nation
PO Box 149
Kitkatla, B.C., V0V 1C0
Phone: 250-848-2214
Fax: 250-848-2238
Conservation
The conservancy protects a whole coastal island containing undisturbed old growth forests of cedar and hemlock and coastal wildlife habitat, including the marine foreshore and intertidal areas.
Wildlife
Steller sea lions haul-out on the unvegetated rocks 400 metres northeast of McNeill Point. Humpback whales, killer whales, Dall’s porpoises, Pacific white-sided dolphins and harbour seals can also be seen in the waters near Ashdown Island.
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.