Qwiquallaaq/Boat Bay Conservancy

Highlights in this conservancy

Qwiquallaaq/Boat Bay Conservancy protects forested lands, protected bays and coves, small islands, and cliffs, and supports a natural and scenic setting for visitors.

The conservancy is located in the Johnstone Strait, directly across from the Robson Bight (Michael Bigg) Ecological Reserve, a reserve that protects key habitat for killer whales and prevents their harassment.

The Qwiquallaaq/Boat Bay Conservancy was identified for consideration as a protected area as a result of the Central Coast Land and Resource Management Plan planning process. Following Government to Government discussions between the Province and First Nations, the central coast land use decisions (February 7, 2006) confirmed that Qwiquallaaq/Boat Bay would become a conservancy. The area was legally designated as Qwiquallaaq/Boat Bay Conservancy in Spring 2007.

The conservancy contains a rustic campground and picnic sites used by small boaters, especially kayakers. A seasonal killer whale monitoring and research camp is also present as well as anchorages at Boat Bay and just outside the entrance to Growler Cove for recreational and commercial boaters.

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

The conservancy occupies the western end of West Cracroft Island in the Johnstone Strait and is 72 km southeast of Port Hardy, 103 km northwest from Campbell River, and 300 km northwest of Vancouver.

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

The Conservancy is within the traditional territories of the Mamalilikulla-Qwe’Qwa Sot’Em, ‘N|u/u|mg̱is and Tlowitsis First Nations.

Sources of fresh water and protected beaches made the Boat Bay area an important stopover site for First Nations’ journeys requiring travel through the key transportation corridor between the northern and southern Kwakwaka’wakw’ First Nation communities. Marine and terrestrial resources such as salmon, crab, ground fish, wildlife, medicines, berries, and cedar were conveniently available to First Nations travelling through the area.

Wildlife

Visitors to the conservancy are often attracted by its proximity to the whale activity and other wildlife in the region. High shoreline cliffs in the conservancy provide excellent viewpoints for observing whales in the strait.

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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