Monckton Nii Luutiksm Conservancy

Welcome to the new BC Parks website

Conservancy overview

Located along the southwest end of Pitt Island, Monckton Nii Luutiksm Conservancy provides safe boat anchorages and protects a diversity of fish and wildlife habitats including marine intertidal areas, several small lakes, streams, estuaries, wetlands, forests and salmon spawning habitats.

A number of small bays and inlets are contained within this conservancy, including all of Monckton Inlet, Port Stephens, Buchan Inlet, Leavitt Lagoon, Cridge Lagoon and Stephen Nelson Lake.

The area also contains several culturally significant sites to local First Nations, including old village sites, traditional use areas, and several archaeological sites. Access to this conservancy is usually made by boat.

Conservancy Size: 24,775 ha

Advisories

Safety info

Special Notes:

There are no roads or trails in this wilderness area.
There are no facilities in the conservancy.

Camping

Marine-accessible camping

Wilderness camping is allowed; no facilities are provided. All sites are on a first-come, first-served basis. Marine access only.

Wilderness camping

Wilderness, backcountry or walk-in camping is allowed, but no facilities are provided. All sites are on a first-come, first-served basis. Marine access only.

Winter camping

There are winter camping opportunities in this conservancy, as it can be accessed year-round.

Facilities

Campfires

Firewood and campfire rings are 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 and spread out the ashes and rocks. 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 camp stoves instead. Limited burning hours or campfire bans may be implemented during extremely hot weather conditions.

Activities

Swimming

Swimming is possible in the ocean, but the water is cold all year-round. There are no lifeguards on duty in the conservancy.

Canoeing

Adventurous and experienced canoeists or kayakers may enjoy exploring the inlets, bays, lagoons, lakes and shorelines in this conservancy. The many inlets can be sheltered and calm, with landing beaches available. Wilderness and backcountry camping is allowed. Kayak rentals are available in Prince Rupert.

Kayaking

Fishing

Excellent tidal water fishing opportunities for salmon and groundfish. Please consult the appropriate non-tidal fishing regulations for more information. Anyone fishing or angling in British Columbia must have an appropriate license. Fishing licenses are available for purchase in Kitimat and Prince Rupert.

Wildlife viewing

Black bears, wolves, waterfowl, eagles, and salmon 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.

Pets on leash

Backcountry areas are not suitable for dogs or other pets due to wildlife issues and the potential for problems with bears or wolves.

Scuba diving

There are opportunities for scuba diving in this marine conservancy. The water clarity is best during winter and spring.

Hunting

This conservancy is open to hunting during lawful hunting seasons. Please check the BC Hunting and Trapping Regulations for more information.

Maps and location

View a more detailed map.

Conservancy and activity maps

Location

Monckton Nii Luutiksm Conservancy is only accessible by boat, floatplane or helicopter and is located about 30 km SW of Hartley Bay and 105 km SW of Kitimat. It is located along the southwest end of Pitt Island, along the east side of Principe Channel.

Reference: Marine Charts #3721 (Plans Pitt Island); #3741 (Otter Passage to Bonilla Island); #3742 (Otter Passage to McKay Reach); #3945 (Approaches to Douglas Channel).
Reference: 1:50,000 scale Topographic Maps #103 H/4 (Trutch Island) and #103 H/5 (Port Stephens).

Visitor Information Centre:

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

Learn more about this conservancy

Conservancy details

Date established: July 13, 2006
Size: 24775 hectares

Nature and culture

History: Monckton Nii Luutiksm Conservancy was designated as a conservancy on July 14, 2006 following recommendations from the North Coast Land and Resource Management Plan. The conservancy provides safe boat anchorages for boaters travelling along the North Coast and good opportunities for fishing and wildlife viewing.
Cultural Heritage: The conservancy is in the asserted traditional territories of the Gitga’at and Gitxaala First Nations. The conservancy contains nine known archaeological sites (i.e. pre-contact shell middens and fish traps) and has historically been used for the traditional harvest of shellfish, seaweed and trapping by local First Nations. There are two Indian Reserves (IR) adjacent to or inside the conservancy. IR #13 (Clowel) is nearby but outside of the conservancy, east of Annie Point. IR #8 (Toowartz), located at the north end of Tuwartz Inlet and entrance to Cridge Lagoon, is inside but excluded from the conservancy. Use the below links for more information or to contact these First Nations.

Gitga’at First Nation
Gitxaala First Nation

Conservation: The conservancy protects a diversity of fish and wildlife habitats including marine intertidal areas, several small lakes, streams, estuaries, wetlands, forests and salmon spawning habitats. A number of small bays and inlets are contained within this conservancy, including all of Monckton Inlet, Port Stephens, Buchan Inlet, Leavitt Lagoon, Cridge Lagoon and Stephen Nelson Lake.
Wildlife: Black bears, wolves, waterfowl, eagles, and salmon 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.
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.