Skeena West. 
Know before you go
Advisories
Safety information
- The water in the hot springs is not suitable for drinking.
Special notes
- Mooring Buoys: In April 2010, BC Parks with the help of Canada Coast Guard, installed two mooring buoys in the bay.
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
Shearwater Hot Springs Conservancy is only accessible by boat or floatplane and is located about 45 km east of Hartley Bay and 65 km south of Kitimat. It is located along the north side of Alan Reach in Gardner Canal, on the north side of a small bay between Shearwater Point and Europa Point.
- Reference: Marine Chart #3745 (Gardner Canal).
- Reference: 1:50,000 scale Topographic Map #103 H/7 (Ursula Channel).
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
Cabins and huts
There is trapper’s cabin built by the Haisla First Nation and is available for public use. The cabin is 15 ft by 12 ft with two double bunk beds. The cabin is available on a first come, first served basis. Be prepared to sleep outside if the cabin is full. It is possible to anchor a boat in the bay close to the cabin and hot springs. The cabin is located at the mouth of the creek (south side) in the bay.
The UTM coordinates for the cabin are: Zone 09U; 5922231 m North; 0529701 m East.
Prior approval is needed for the use of the Haisla First Nation cabins. Please contact the Haisla Nation at 250-639-9361 (ext. 207 or 213).
Wilderness camping
Wilderness camping is allowed. Reservations are not accepted at this conservancy and all sites and facilities are on a first come, first served basis.
When visiting the backcountry, always follow Leave No Trace outdoor ethics. To learn more about staying safe in the backcountry, read our backcountry guide.
Winter camping
Things to do
Swimming is possible in the ocean, but the water is cold year-round.
There are no lifeguards on duty in BC Parks.
There are opportunities to fish for trout and salmon in the creek that enters the bay inside the conservancy. 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.
This conservancy is open to hunting during lawful hunting seasons. Please check the BC Hunting and Trapping Regulations for more information.
Anyone hunting in British Columbia must comply with BC hunting regulations. To learn more, see the fishing and hunting guide.
Facilities
Firewood is not provided. We encourage visitors to conserve wood and protect the environment by minimizing the use of campfires and using campstoves instead.
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.
Campfire bans may be in place. Before lighting a fire, check for bans or restrictions on BC Wildfire Service and on local or Indigenous government websites.
Location: North side of Alan Reach in Gardner Canal, in small bay between Shearwater Point and Europa Point, about 65 km south of Kitimat. UTM coordinates are: Zone 09U; 5922456 m North; 0529202 m East.
GPS: Lat. 53° 27’ 01” North; Long. 128° 33’ 37” West
Pool Water Temperature: 42°C
Facilities: Two rock & mortar pools just above high tide line; larger one inside, smaller one outside. Wood frame bathhouse (13 ft by 14 ft) over the large pool with covered upper level (12 ft by 12 ft) change area, picnic table, bench and coat hooks. There are also two mooring buoys in the bay.
Comments: Also known as Europa Hot Springs. The waters are odorless. Bathhouse was rebuilt in 2008.
Soap, shampoo, and other cleaning products can damage sensitive hot spring ecosystems. They are not allowed in or near the hot spring.
Shearwater Hot Springs has a day-use and picnic area. The top deck above the bath house has a covered area of about 12 ft by 12 ft with a picnic table, bench and coat hooks. This area can be used for picnics and provides easy access to the hot spring and good views of Gardner Canal and distant snow-capped mountains. There are two mooring buoys in the bay that are available on a first come, first served basis.
About this conservancy
The conservancy is in the asserted traditional territory of the Haisla First Nation. Use the below link for more information or to contact this First Nation.
Shearwater Hot Springs Conservancy was designated as a conservancy on May 31, 2007 following recommendations from the North Coast Land and Resource Management Plan. The hot springs building and pools were originally built in August 1986 by a crew of volunteers from C.F.I. In June 2008 the original bath house was removed and rebuilt in partnership with BC Timber Sales, BC Parks, Haisla First Nation and the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts.
The conservancy protects an area of high recreational use, portions of a small coastal stream and coastal wildlife habitat that includes the marine foreshore and intertidal areas.
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
| General questions and feedback for BC Parks | We answer emails weekdays from 9 am to 5 pm Pacific Time. |
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