Conservancy overview
Shearwater Hot Springs (also known as Europa Hot Springs) Conservancy 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. It protects a popular marine hot springs and sheltered boat anchorage site along Gardner Canal. There are no roads or trails in this conservancy.
Local boaters and fishermen commonly stop at Shearwater Hot Springs for hot springs soaking, safe anchorage, picnics and camping.
A bath house is provided so that park visitors may enjoy soaking in the warm and odorless hot springs water. The hot springs water comes out of the ground from cracks in the bedrock at the bottom of the hot springs pool. It flows out at a rate of about 7.1 litres per minute. Water temperature at the source and in the bath house pool is about 40.6 degrees Celsius.
Advisories
Safety info
- 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.
Camping
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 is allowed. Reservations are not accepted at this conservancy and all sites and facilities are on a first come, first served basis.
Facilities
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.
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.
Activities
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 or angling in British Columbia must have an appropriate license.
This conservancy is open to hunting during lawful hunting seasons. Please check the BC Hunting and Trapping Regulations for more information.
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
Conservancy and activity maps
Learn more about this conservancy
Conservancy details
- Date established: May 22, 2007
- Size: 33 hectares (18 ha upland and 15 ha foreshore)
Nature and culture
History
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.
Cultural Heritage
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.
Conservation
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.
Wildlife
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.