Q'Altanaas/Aaltanhash Conservancy

Highlights in this conservancy

Q’altanaas/Aaltanhash Conservancy is located on the east side of Princess Royal Channel, along the Inside Passage route. It shares its northwestern boundary with K’lgaan/Klekane Conservancy and its southern boundary with K’ootz/Khutze Conservancy.

Q’altanaas/Aaltanhash Conservancy protects the Aaltanhash and McIsaac River watersheds, scenic mountains, coastal old growth forests, bear habitat, salmon spawning streams, marbled murrelets and low-elevation Sitka spruce forests. It also provides a protected anchorage adjacent to the main Inside Passage route where visitors can spend a night to rest, fish or watch wildlife.

Know before you go

Advisories

Safety information

Be bear aware while on shore in this conservancy.
There are no roads or trails in this conservancy.

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

Q’altanaas/Aaltanhash Conservancy is only accessible by boat or floatplane and is located about 60 km southeast of Hartley Bay, 60 km north of Klemtu and 100 km south of Kitimat. It is located along the east side of Princess Royal Channel (Inside Passage route) and east of Princess Royal Island.

Reference: Marine Chart #3739 (Swanson Bay to Work Island).
Reference: 1:50,000 scale Topographic Maps #103 H/1 (Khutze River) and #103 H/2 (Butedale).

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

Camping

Wilderness camping

Wilderness camping is allowed but no facilities are provided. Reservations are not accepted at this conservancy and all sites are on a first come, first served basis.

Winter camping

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

Things to do

Swimming

Swimming is possible in the ocean, but the water is cold year-round.

There are no lifeguards on duty in BC Parks.

Canoeing

Adventurous and experienced kayakers may enjoy exploring the inlet, bays and shorelines in this conservancy.

Fishing

There are opportunities to fish for trout and salmon in Aaltanhash River and Head Creek. 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

Black Bears, wolves, waterfowl, eagles, spawning salmon and the occasional deer can be seen in the conservancy. The best place to see wildlife is at the river mouths and estuaries at the end of Aaltanhash Inlet. Humpback whales, orca 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.

Scuba diving

It is possible to scuba dive or snorkel in the conservancy. The water clarity is best during winter and spring.

Hunting

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

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.

About this conservancy

Cultural Heritage

The conservancy is in the asserted traditional territory of the Gitga’at and Kitasoo First Nations and is an important traditional use area for them. The conservancy contains ten known archaeological sites (Pre-contact fish traps, shell middens, canoe skid, and culturally modified trees) and has historically been used for traditional food gathering, fishing and trapping by local First Nations.

The area was inhabited year-round by First Nations as recently as the 1930’s, when resident families hunted and trapped in the area and travelled to Butedale for supplies. Use the below link for more information or to contact these First Nations.

History

Q’altanaas/Aaltanhash Conservancy was designated as a conservancy on July 14, 2006 following recommendations from the Central Coast Land and Resource Management Plan.

Conservation

The conservancy protects an area of popular recreational use by boaters, the Aaltanhash and McIsaac River watersheds and several small remote streams, lakes and wetlands. The conservancy also protects old growth forests of red cedar, hemlock and spruce as well as coastal wildlife habitat including important salmon spawning streams and habitat for bears.

Wildlife

Black bears, wolves, waterfowl, eagles, spawning salmon and the occasional deer can be seen in the conservancy. The best place to see wildlife is at the river mouths and estuaries at the end of Aaltanhash Inlet. 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.

Contact