Protected area overview
Thunderbird’s Nest (T’iitsk’in Paawats) Protected Area was established in the spring of 2011 as a result of obligations detailed in the Maa-nulth First Nations Final Agreement. This protected area protects T’iitsk’in Paawats which is a sacred and spiritual place for the Uchucklesaht Tribe and the Nuu-chah-nulth First Nations.
T’iitsk’in Paawats translates to “Thunderbird’s Nest” and is where the last remaining Thunderbird lives. Thunderbirds are creatures of tremendous importance to the Uchucklesaht Tribe and Nuu-chah-nulth First Nations. They control the rain and thunderstorms and they are connected to whales, whaling and whaling power. The protected area is a natural place of old growth forests without any permanent structures.
The T’iitsk’in Paawats is made up of creeks, bathing pools, waterfalls, archaeological sites and five named mountains:
- Tuutuuchpiika (Thunder Mountain/Eldest Brother)
- Titskakuulth (Thunder Face Mountain)
- Uusajuu-is (Ritual Bathing Mountain)
- Uu-aatsuu (Second Eldest Brother Mountain)
- Kalthaatik (Youngest Brother Mountain)
The spiritual sites within the T’iitski’in Paawats are places that Uchucklesaht people go to ‘osimich’, a process crucial to the proper preparation for persons seeking to cleanse themselves spiritually.
Advisories
Safety info
- Bears and cougars are common in this area and visitors are reminded to be bear and cougar aware. Bear and Cougar Safety Information [PDF]
- Leave detailed information of your plans and your estimated arrival time home with someone responsible.
- The protected area is a rugged wilderness area with no facilities and visitors wishing to venture into the area need to be entirely self-sufficient, properly equipped and experienced. Anyone planning to visit the protected area is asked to get updated access and area information by contacting Uchucklesaht Tribe at 250-724-1832.
Special notes
- Thunderbird’s Nest (T’iitsk’in Paawats) Protected Area and adjacent Uchucklesaht Tribe’s land are Uchucklesaht Tribe sacred and spiritual places. Visitors are asked to respect the cultural significance and special nature of these areas.
- Please practice “Leave No Trace” hiking and camping ethics in the protected area.
Camping
Wilderness camping is allowed, but no facilities are provided. Please practice “ Leave No Trace” camping ethics. This protected area is accessible year-round.
Facilities
Visitors are asked to conserve the environment in the protected area by minimizing the use of fire. Be prepared by bringing a potable stove for cooking.
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.
Activities
A rustic, steep trail follows Thunder Creek from Thunderbird Beach and provides access the protected area. There is a 15 kilometre old logging road from Uchucklesaht Inlet provides access into the protected area.
Anyone planning to hike into the protected area is asked to get updated information about the area and access by contacting Uchucklesaht Tribe at 250-724-1832.
The protected area can be accessed by canoe or kayak from Thunderbird Beach, across Henderson Lake from the Elbow Beach Boat Launch.
The protected area can be accessed by canoe or kayak from Thunderbird Beach, across Henderson Lake from the Elbow Beach Boat Launch.
Various species of trout and salmon can be found in the waters of Henderson Lake. Fishing is permitted as per provincial and federal fishing regulations.
Anyone fishing in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence. To learn more, see the fishing and hunting guide.
Bicycle helmets are mandatory in British Columbia. Bicycles can be used to access the protected area from Silverside following an old logging road.
Please note that bicycles with electric assist motors (e-bikes) are not allowed on the trails within Thunderbird’s Nest (T’iitsk’in Paawats) Protected Area. E-bikes are restricted to park roads and areas where motorized use is permitted. The only exception to this policy will be for authorized and identified trail maintenance bikes conducting work on behalf of BC Parks.
Thunderbird’s Nest (T’iitsk’in Paawats) Protected Area is located on the western shore of Henderson Lake near the mouth of Uchucklesaht Inlet on the Alberni Inlet approximately 38 kilometers southwest of the Port Alberni on Vancouver Island.
Access
Access to this remote Thunderbird’s Nest/T’iitsk’in Paawats Protected Area is currently by several options which includes by road, water, foot, or bicycle.
- By road from Port Alberni to Elbow Creek: from Port Alberni follow approximately 60 kilometres of forest service road to the east shore of Henderson Lake and Elbow Creek. There is a rustic boat launch at Elbow Creek. From Elbow Creek, there is a two kilometre boat trip across Henderson Lake to (T’iitskakis)Thunderbird Beach on Uchucklesaht Tribe land. The protected area can be accessed following a very rough trail following (T’iit’iiskakis) Thunder Creek.
- By road from Port Alberni to the Uchucklesaht Village of Ehlhateese: from Port Alberni follow approximately 60 kilometers of forest service road to Ehlhateese. From Ehlhateese, there is a two kilometer boat trip across the Uchucklesaht Inlet to Silverside. The protected area can be accessed by following Silverside Road for approximately 15 kilometres hiking, mountain biking or by ATV.
- By boat from Port Alberni to Silverside: from Port Alberni by boat down the Alberni Inlet to Silverside. The protected area can be accessed by following Silverside Road for 15 kilometres hiking, mountain biking or by ATV.
Notice:
The access road to Henderson Lake is an active logging road and is maintained by Western Forest Products. For current information on active logging in the area, contact them at westernforest.com. Be advised that Henderson Lake is a large dangerous lake where weather and the lake conditions can change quickly at any time.
For more information on accessing Thunderbird’s Nest (T’iitsk’in Paawats) Protected Area, please contact Uchucklesaht Tribe at 250-724-1832.
Protected area and activity maps
Learn more about this protected area
Protected area details
- Date established: March 24, 2011
- Size: 2,338 hectares
Nature and culture
Cultural Heritage
The protected area is located within the traditional territory of the Uchucklesaht Tribe. It is rich in First Nation’s cultural history and the Uchucklesaht Tribe members continue to practice their traditional uses of the area. There are several parcels of Uchucklesaht Tribe land adjacent to the protected area and the Uchucklesaht Village of Ehlhateese is located within close proximity.
Conservation
As a result of Maa-nulth First Nations Final Agreement the T’iitsk’in Paawats was protected to preserve important cultural and ecological values. The protected area protects a mostly wilderness landscape, which contains representative natural features associated with the Coastal Western Hemlock biogeoclimatic zone and the area is recorded as one of the wettest spots in Canada.
Wildlife
The west coast of Vancouver Island supports a large diversity of wildlife including American Black Bear, Mule (Black-Tailed) Deer, Roosevelt Elk, Grey Wolf, Cougar, Raccoon, American Mink, Red Squirrel, Ermine, North American River Otter and a variety of reptiles and amphibians. Resident birds include Red Crossbills, Bald Eagle, Cedar Waxwing, Steller’s Jay and Chestnut-back Chickadee. Henderson Lake is a significant fish bearing lake supporting a variety of fish species including several species of salmon, Dolly Varden, Cutthroat Trout and Rainbow Trout (anadromous and resident)
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.