Lanz and Cox Islands were set aside as a provincial park to protect an unspoiled coastal wilderness environment. Together with the outer three islands of the Scott Islands chain (Beresford, Sartine and Triangle Islands) they protect some of the most important seabird nesting colonies in the world.
Due to the extreme weather conditions and sea states that these islands can experience at any time of the year, this park receives very few visitors. The rugged, rocky coastline of these islands provides poor access for boaters and the steep slopes of the islands makes travel onshore near impossible.
Established Date: July 12, 1995
Park Size: 5,556 hectares (1,950 hectares upland and 3,606 hectares of foreshore)
Special Notes:
Though this area has been traditionally utilized by commercial fishers, the extreme weather and sea conditions make it unsuitable for recreational fishers. All anglers should check the current regulations issued by Fisheries and Oceans Canada prior to fishing. Anyone fishing or angling in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence.
Lanz and Cox Islands are accessible by boat only. Cox Island lies approximately 6 nautical miles off the tip of Cape Scott on the northwest tip of Vancouver Island. Lanz Island sits less than half a nautical mile further west. Only extremely experienced boaters should consider visiting these islands. Boaters can reference marine chart #3625 (Scott Islands) for more information on this area. Lanz and Cox Islands are part of the Scott Islands chain, however the outer three islands are provincial Ecological Reserves and public access is prohibited. Nearby communities include: Port Hardy, Winter Harbour
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.