Skeena West. 
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
- Conservancy Map [PDF]
Getting there
The Ksi X’anmaas Conservancy protected areas is located approximately 45 km northwest of Prince Rupert and 10 km north of Lax Kwa’ alaams in the Coast Ranges. Access to the Ksi X’anmaas Conservancy Protected Areas is primarily by boat. Reference: Marine Charts #3994
Prince Rupert Visitor Centre:
100 First Ave West
Prince Rupert, BC V8J 1A8
Contact Information:
Phone: 250-624-5637
Fax: 250-627-8009
Toll-free: 1-800-667-1994
Website: http://www.visitprincerupert.com
Email: prinfo@citytel.net
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
For your own safety and the preservation of the park, obey posted signs and keep to designated trails. Shortcutting trails destroys plant life and soil structure. There are no developed trails at this park.
Swimming is possible in the ocean, but the water is cold year-round.
There are no lifeguards on duty in BC Parks.
The Ksi X’anmaas River provides excellent salmon and stealhead fishing in a wilderness setting. Please consult the appropriate non-tidal fishing regulations for more information. Fishing licenses are available for purchase in Kitimat and Prince Rupert.
Anyone fishing in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence. To learn more, see the fishing and hunting guide.
Grizzlies, black bears, wolves, waterfowl, eagles, spawning salmon and the occasional deer can be seen in the conservancy. 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.
Adventurous and experienced climbers may enjoy the challenge of the remote and rugged coastal mountains including the majestic Kwinamass Peak which rises from the ocean to 1807 m (5928 ft).
The park is open to hunting. The conservancy is part of the Nass-Skeena Grizzly Bear Management Area where the hunting of grizzly bears is prohibited. Please check the BC Hunting and Trapping Regulations for more information.
Anyone hunting in British Columbia must comply with BC hunting regulations. To learn more, see the fishing and hunting guide.
Facilities
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
Ksi X’anmaas Conservancy area has a long history of use by First Nations groups. The Conservancy is within the asserted traditional territories of the Nisga’a and Coast Tsimshian. The area was important for fishing, hunting, and food gathering.
Nisga’a name for the entire Kwinamass watershed is X’anmas; the watercourse is Ksi X’anmas [Ksi, in the context of geographical names, refers to “water flowing out from someplace.”
Ksi X’anmas means “water of where it is red.” X’anmas is the place where mis’aws (red ochre) was found. The X’anmas territory was rich in fur-bearing animals, seafoods, salmon and other food resources and is the reason there were several smokehouses and longhouses here at one time.
For further information please contact:
- Nisga’a Lsims Government
PO Box 231, 2000 Lisims Drive
Gitlaxt’aamiks (formerly New Aiyansh), British Columbia Canada, V0J 1A0
Phone: 250-633-3000
Fax: 250-633-2367
Toll Free: 1-866-633-0888 - Metlakatla Stewardship Office
P.O. Box 224
Prince Rupert, BC V8J 3P6
Phone: 250-628-3201
Fax: 250-628-9259 - Lax Kw’alaams Band Office
206 Shashaak
Port Simpson, BC V0V 1H0
Phone: 250-625-3293
Fax: 250-625-3246
Ksi X’anmaas Conservancy was identified for conservancy status during negotiations between the provincial government and First Nations governments following the North Coast Land and Resource Management Plan (LRMP). The conservancy was designated in the spring of 2008.
The conservancy protects a diversity of fish and wildlife habitats including marine intertidal areas, streams, estuaries, wetlands, forests and salmon spawning habitats. The inlet is adjacent to Khutzeymateen/K’tzim-a-deen Grizzly Bear Sanctuary (44,300 hectares) and protects important grizzly bear habitat.
Grizzlies, black bears, wolves, waterfowl, eagles, spawning salmon and the occasional deer can be seen in the conservancy. 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.
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
| General questions and feedback for BC Parks | We answer emails weekdays from 9 am to 5 pm Pacific Time. |
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