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The central rainforest coast region of British Columbia is a vast and largely uninhabited area, incised by deep, glacially formed inlets called fiords. These narrow, finger-like inlets reach kilometres into the mainland of British Columbia, creating extensive shoreline and bringing seawater deep into the heartland of the steep coastal mountains.

Two such fiords, Mussel and Kynoch, compose the major portion of spectacular Fiordland Recreation Area. Kynoch and Mussel Inlets are astoundingly beautiful; each features massive and steep granite cliff faces, with fertile estuaries tucked into many of their bays. Spectacular waterfalls cascade down the steep cliffs into the deep ocean channels below. The vegetation in Fiordland lives up to every description of west coast temperate rainforest; lush and dense, the forest here is old growth at its best.

Fiordland Recreation Area, composed of 6,645 hectares (16,400 acres) of marine area and 84,355 hectares (210,000 acres) of land area, is a little known jewel in British Columbia's protected areas system, and one that visitors will never forget.


"Kynoch and Mussel Inlets are astoundingly beautiful; each features massive and steep granite cliff faces, with fertile estuaries tucked into many of their bays."


location

Fiordland Recreation Area is a marine oriented recreation area located in the central portion of the rainforest coast of British Columbia. It connects to the east with the Kitlope Heritage Conservancy. Due to its remote location, Fiordland Recreation Area is not easy to access; the only way to visit the recreation area is by boat or by floatplane. The nearest road accessible community, Bella Coola, is found 100 km (60 mi) to the southeast, at the head of another of the area's many fiords. Supplies are also available from the village of Klemtu, on Swindle Island.

Boaters visiting the area should consult Canadian Hydrographic chart #3962 - Matheison Channel, Northern Portion.

Click on the map to view an enlargement


"The vegetation in Fiordland lives up to every description of west coast temperate rainforest; lush and dense, the forest here is old growth at its best."


recreation

An area for solitude and marine exploration, Fiordland Recreation Area, is a stunning place to visit. Due to its remote location and challenging access, few people are able to visit the remote recreation area, making it a magical place to experience the true wild nature of British Columbia's untamed Central Coast. Camping is somewhat difficult in Fiordland Recreation Area, due to the steep topography of the shore, the dense vegetation on shore and its abundance of grizzly bears. While it is not impossible to camp, visitors who are able to avoid on-shore accommodation, by staying onboard a boat, will have less to worry about.

Fiordland Recreation Area is primarily a boat accessible park, and boat recreation is one of the easiest and most enjoyable forms possible in the area. However, given the steep walled geography of the Fiordland inlets, anchorages are few in number. Long distances must be travelled along the inlets in between them. And given that strong winds can often affect these waters, boaters must be skilled in marine wilderness travel and must use prudence in trip planning. As mentioned, the Recreation Area is comprised of two inlets, Kynoch and Mussel. Kynoch Inlet has moderate anchorages in Culpepper Lagoon and Desbrisay Bay, but anchorage is less secure towards the head of the inlet. It is a beautiful inlet, with a scenic waterfall at its entrance, sheer granite cliff walls, and significant estuaries at numerous locations along its length.

Mussel Inlet has outstanding rock formations as well as more sheer granite walls, another significant estuary and two picturesque waterfalls. Anchorage in Mussel Inlet is of moderate calibre in David Bay and less secure at the head of the Inlet, in Oatswish Bay and at Poison Cove. Boaters are encouraged to sleep on their boats when possible, due to the lack of suitable onshore camping and because it lowers ecological impacts.

Fishing for groundfish or salmon is permitted with an appropriate licence, but the entire area is closed to shellfish (bivalves such as clams and muscles) harvesting due to a risk of red tide, which causes paralytic shellfish poisoning.

Sea kayaking is possible in Fiordland Recreation Area, but it is somewhat difficult. The shortage of camping sites, combined with the fact that there are limited safe locations for landing can make paddling a challenge. As well, the area is prone to strong inlet winds, meaning kayakers should be prepared for the possibility of being shore-bound for several days while waiting for suitable weather to paddle. This said, those kayakers who do choose to visit will no doubt have the experience of lifetime.


"An area for solitude and marine exploration, Fiordland Recreation Area, is a stunning place to visit."



wildlife

The dense forests growing in Fiordland Recreation Area are characteristic of the temperate rainforest found along the coast of British Columbia. Three biogeoclimatic zones are found in Fiordland, varying by altitude and distance from the ocean: coastal western hemlock, mountain hemlock and alpine tundra.

The combination of lush vegetation and spawning salmon found in Fiordland Recreation Area makes it ideal habitat for the grizzly bear . Grizzlies are extremely abundant in the recreation area, and visitors should keep in mind that the dense forest can make it difficult to know when one is near. For this reason, it is advisable to stay off shore as much as possible, to increase visitor safety as well as to leave the grizzlies uninterrupted.

Black bears , wolves , cougars , mountain goats , black tailed deer and a variety of small mammal species are all common in the recreation area's forests. As well, the marine component of Fiordland supports a diversity of species, including a variety of marine mammals, waterfowl and shorebirds.


"The combination of lush vegetation and spawning salmon found in Fiordland Recreation Area makes it ideal habitat for the grizzly bear."


history

The Fiordland region is within the traditional territory of the Xai Xais and Kitisoo First Nations, whose presence is at times still seen in the park in the form of artifacts or cultural heritage sites. Visitors who encounter such sites are asked not to disturb them, as they are sensitive and highly culturally valuable to their people. As well, doing so is illegal. Fiordland Recreation area was protected on March 14, 1987, as one of a number of parks created after the Wilderness Advisory Committee recommended that government move to create a comprehensive suite of protected areas. While the government agreed to protect the recommended areas, they were nevertheless reluctant to bring in full Class A parks, because they were under pressure from the mining industry not to restrict their access to BC land.

As a result, government decided to use a Recreation Area classification, which was intended to stop logging but allow for mining exploration. The intention was that after a certain period of time the window of opportunity would close and mining exploration would no longer be permitted. In fact, that window has never been and Fiordland remains as one of only a couple Recreation Areas that have not been upgraded to full Class A status. However, given that mineral potentials here are very low, Fiordland in fact enjoys full protection.

Fiordland was created because of its superb fiord features. Conservation interest in the Fiordland area was in part generated as BC Parks sought to fulfil their mandate to include representative samples of all of BC's many ecosystems in the protected area system. Fiordland Recreation Area was recognized as an exceptional example of the Northern Fiordlands Landscape.

Since its protection, there has been ongoing pressure to extend the Fiordland area, and to link it to surrounding protected areas. Already it links up to the northeast with the Kitlope Heritage Conservancy, created in mid-90s, and as part of the Central Coast Land and Resource Management Plan it will soon link up with a protected area proposed for the Khuze Inlet area to the north. Beyond that, it will also soon link indirectly over to Princess Royal Island. A proposed extension to the south, for Pooley Island, would extend the intact approach to Fiordland Recreation Area, and keep it free of clearcut logging for all time.


"Fiordland Recreation Area was recognized as a stunning example of the Northern Fiordlands Landscape."


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