Manzanita Cove Conservancy

Highlights in this conservancy

Manzanita Cove Conservancy was established as part of government’s land use decision for the north coast planning area. The conservancy protects the viewscape surrounding a historical point of interest centered on an 1896 US Army Corp of Engineers stone house that dates from the United States-Canada boundary dispute in the late 19^th century.

Manzanita Cove Conservancy protects an anchorage at the mouth of Portland Canal and is located on the east side of Wales Island. Manzanita Cove Conservancy covers 27 hectares of upland and 35 hectares of foreshore.

The conservancy includes the land portion of Wales Island adjacent to Manzanita Cove, and the foreshore and intertidal areas covered by water within 200 metres of the high tide line.

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

Manzanita Cove Conservancy is located along the northwest coast of British Columbia and is within the asserted traditional territories of the Coast Tsimshian¹ and the Kitsumkalum First Nation. It is also within the asserted traditional harvest area of the Kitselas First Nation. The conservancy is situated approximately 20 kilometres north of Lax Kw’alaams (Port Simpson), 45 kilometres north of Metlakatla and 50 kilometres north of Prince Rupert.

¹ The term “Coast Tsimshian” is used to refer to the people of both the Lax Kw’alaams First Nation and the Metlakatla First Nation.

Things to do

Hunting

Hunting is permitted in this park.

Anyone hunting in British Columbia must comply with BC hunting regulations. To learn more, see the fishing and hunting guide.

About this conservancy

Cultural heritage

Manzanita Cove Conservancy encompasses a bay and surrounding upland and intertidal area where the Coast Tsimshian have strong cultural interests, including the desire to pursue their traditional activities as they have done for millennia, in a manner that sustains the biological diversity and natural values of the bay.

The area has been, and continues to be, an important source of natural resources for food, medicines, cultural materials, and economic goods.

To date, no known archaeological sites have been recorded in the conservancy. The lack of identified archaeological sites in Manzanita Cove is typical for the British Columbia north coast where few detailed archaeological assessments have been completed. Future archeological site inventories may yet identify additional cultural heritage and archaeological resources within the Manzanita Cove Conservancy.

Manzanita Cove Conservancy plays a role in preserving and maintaining cultural heritage values for ongoing social, ceremonial, economic and cultural uses by First Nations, and protecting the viewscape of the historic stone house.

History

An 1896 United States Army Corp of Engineers stone house that dates from the Canada and United States boundary dispute in the late 19th century is located on the south side of Manzanita Cove, near the mouth of the cove.

Conservation

Knowledge of the conservancy’s flora and fauna, especially ecosystems, ecological communities and species of conservation concern, is incomplete.

Wildlife

Marine wildlife species that have been recorded in or near the conservancy are: gray whales, harbour porpoises, humpback whales, killer whales, marbled murrelets, and pacific white-sided dolphins.

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.

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