Koeye Conservancy

Highlights in this conservancy

The Koeye Conservancy is a largely undisturbed, outer coastal watershed containing two medium sized freshwater lakes, a diverse estuary, expansive wetlands and productive temperate old growth rainforests. Situated in Fitz Hugh Sound, the Koeye encompasses close to 19,000 hectares and supports a provincially significant grizzly and salmon ecosystem.

This biologically rich area offers excellent wildlife viewing opportunities, making it a favourite stopover for kayakers and boaters.

The Koeye Conservancy offers ample fishing opportunities for chinook, chum, coho, pink, and sockeye salmon as well as steelhead and cutthroat trout. The mouth of the Koeye is a boat haven and is an important area used by boats and ships in poor weather.

The Koeye Conservancy is located within the Wuikinuxv First Nation traditional territory and is co-managed under an agreement between the Wuikinuxv Nation and the Province of British Columbia. This co-operative management agreement will allow the Wuikinuxv Nation to access land and resources for their use within the Koeye while achieving conservation and recreation objectives for the area.

Know before you go

Advisories

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

The Koeye Conservancy is located on the east side of Fitz Hugh Sound near the confluence with Burke Channel, 45 km southeast of Bella Bella and 115 km north of Port Hardy. Directly west across Fitz Hugh Sound from the conservancy is Hakai Pass located within Hakai Luxvbalis Conservancy. The Koeye can only be accessed by boat or air.

Camping

Wilderness camping

Wilderness camping is allowed, but no facilities are provided.

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

Things to do

Hiking

For your own safety and the preservation of the conservancy, obey posted signs and keep to designated trails. Shortcutting trails destroys plant life and soil structure.

There are no developed trails at this conservancy.

Swimming

Swimming is not recommended here, because the water is cold and can be rough.

There are no lifeguards on duty in BC Parks.

Canoeing

Koeye Conservancy is a favorite stopover for kayakers exploring Fitz Hugh Sound.

Kayaking

Koeye Conservancy is a favorite stopover for Kayakers exploring Fitz Hugh Sound.

Fishing

This area is a popular sport fishing destination. Opportunities for fishing five species of salmon, steelhead and cutthroat trout exist.

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

Hunting

The conservancy is open to hunting. Please refer to 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

Campfires are allowed but firewood is not provided. Please conserve firewood. 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.

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.

About this conservancy

Cultural heritage

The Koeye Conservancy is situated in Wuikinuxv, Heiltsuk and Nuxalk First Nations’ traditional territories. In Heiltsuk, the word Koeye means “sitting on water”. Numerous important archaeological sites and features are found in the Koeye including four village sites, fish traps, culturally modified trees and subsurface shell middens.

History

Historically, the Koeye River system was used as a water route that connected, via an overland portage, with the Nootum River thereby allowing access to this freshwater drainage system for peoples inhabiting the Bella Coola region.

Conservation

The primary role of the Koeye Conservancy is to protect representative forests, coastal features and cultural heritage values of the Hectate Lowland ecosection (HEL), an under-represented ecosection within the Province’s protected area system. The Koeye is the only protected area in the HEL with low elevation, highly productive temperate rainforests, provincially significant grizzly/salmon ecosystems and a very productive estuary with red and blue listed species and high biological diversity. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans considers the Koeye a class 1 river for habitat protection purposes.

Wildlife

Excellent opportunities for wildlife viewing can be found in the Koeye, due to its high biological diversity. Species inhabiting the Koeye include grizzly bear, black bear, wolf, deer, cougar, mountain goat, wolverine, river otter and many species of fish including rainbow and cutthroat trout, steelhead, and five species of salmon. Western grebe, trumpeter swans, and marbled murrelets are several rare and endangered waterfowl species which use the highly productive estuary and marine component of the Koeye.

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