K'waal Conservancy

Highlights in this conservancy

K’waal Conservancy protects an important river system, a small remote pristine lake, old-growth forests, several streams and wetlands. It has a diversity of wildlife habitats along with spectacular mountain scenery. Access into this wilderness area can be difficult and usually requires the use of jet boats. This conservancy borders with Alty Conservancy to the southwest.

The Quaal River estuary is one of the top-ranking wetlands on the North Coast. Large numbers of waterfowl, including the blue-listed long-tailed duck and trumpeter swan, use these diverse wetlands, which extend from the intertidal zone up the river valley. Large numbers of salmon and steelhead also spawn in the river.

The conservancy also contains yellow cedar, hemlock and amabilis fir stands, as well as muskeg and small lakes. The area is also socially and culturally important to the Gitga’at First Nation.

Know before you go

Advisories

Safety information

There are no roads or trails in this wilderness area.
There are no facilities in the conservancy.
Jet boats are commonly used for access up the Quaal River. It takes about 30 minutes to jet boat up the river to Backlund Creek. About another 15 minutes up the river there are several logs and fallen trees across the river which you can’t get past (UTM coordinates: Zone 09U; 5949115 m North; 0474712 m East).

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’waal Conservancy is only accessible by boat, floatplane or helicopter and is located about 25 km north of Hartley Bay and 60 km southwest of Kitimat. The conservancy is located at the end of Kitkiata Inlet, along the west side of Douglas Channel, west of Hawkesbury Island and is bordered to the southwest with Alty Conservancy.

Reference: Marine Chart #3743 (Douglas Channel).
Reference: 1:50,000 scale Topographic Map #103 H/11 (Kitkiata Inlet).

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

Camping

Wilderness camping

Wilderness camping is allowed, but no facilities are provided. All sites 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, but access will be a problem if the river freezes.

Things to do

Canoeing

Adventurous and experienced canoeists or kayakers may enjoy exploring the remote rivers and creeks in this conservancy.

Kayaking

Adventurous and experienced canoeists or kayakers may enjoy exploring the remote rivers and creeks in this conservancy.

Fishing

There are opportunities to fish for trout, char and salmon in Quaal River and its tributaries. 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

Eagles, waterfowl, bears, wolves, moose, deer and furbearers may be seen in the conservancy.

Hunting

This conservancy is open to hunting during lawful hunting seasons. 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. 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.

We encourage visitors to conserve wood and protect the environment by minimizing the use of campfires and using campstoves instead.

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 conservancy is in the asserted traditional territories of the Gitga’at and Gitxaala First Nations. The conservancy contains one known archaeological site (pre-contact shell midden, habitation, burial site). The Gitga’at First Nation continues to use this area for traditional fishing, hunting, trapping, food harvesting and other cultural uses. The Indian Reserves at the end of Kitkiata Inlet and along Quaal River are excluded from the conservancy.

Use the below link for more information or to contact these First Nations.

Gitga’at First Nation
Gitxaala First Nation
PO Box 149
Kitkatla, BC V0V 1C0
Phone: 250 848-2214
Fax: 250 848-2238

History

K’waal Conservancy was designated as a conservancy on May 31, 2007 following recommendations from the North Coast Land and Resource Management Plan.

Conservation

The conservancy protects undisturbed old-growth forests of cedar and hemlock, wetlands, wildlife habitat and much of the Quaal River watershed, including important salmon spawning habitat.

Wildlife

Eagles, waterfowl, bears, wolves, moose, deer and furbearers may be seen in the conservancy.

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.

Contact