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Hartley
Bay
Hartley Bay (Gitga'at) is located 145 km (90 miles) south-east of
Prince Rupert and 80 km (50 miles)
south-west of Kitimat at the confluence
of Douglas and Grenville Channels along British Columbia's north
coast.
Gitga'at
Nation
Harley Bay is home to between 200-400 residences belonging to the
First Nation Hartley Bay Band or Gitga'at Nation. The Gitga'at are
affiliated with the Tsimshian Tribal Council whose members reside
along this portion of BC's coast.
Fishing
Industry
The Gitga'at Nation economy relies mostly on fishing industry with
a local fish enhancement contract in place and some logging.
Getting
Into Hartley Bay
To get transportation into Hartley Bay there is plane service with
scheduled flights from Inland Air Seaplanes from the Prince Rupert
seaplane base. Metlakatla Ferries has two trips per week from Prince
Rupert - phone (250) 628-3201 or (250) 624-3337 - for more information
and schedule updates.
Barge
Service
For people who need to ship things there is also a barge service
offered from Kitamaat Village at the head of Douglas Channel or
from Prince Rupert.
Fishing
Resorts
This area of the coast has some incredible salmon fishing especially
near Hartley Bay. Several operators work in the area, notably King
Pacific Lodge and Westcoast Resorts Milbanke Sound operation offering
you floating lodges and top-notch guiding services in order to catch
record-sized fish.
Boating
and Marinas
If you happen to be boating in Hartley Bay, there is the Hartley
Bay Fuels and Marina, nurse station, post office and a small store
located here. The marina has moorage space for about 40 boats with
different fuels available.
Boardwalks
Hartley Bay does not have roads but a series of boardwalks that
traverse about the various buildings and houses.
Bishop
Bay Hot Springs
Some areas around Hartley Bay that you might want to explore are
the recreational site and hot springs located at Bishop Bay east
of Hartley Bay on the other side of Gribell Island.
Marine
Parks
There is also Union Passage Marine Provincial Park where you'll
find numerous peaceful anchorages and beaches. Other marine parks
in Grenville Channel include Lowe Inlet and Klewnuggit Inlet.
Inside-Passage
Close to Hartley Bay is Grenville Channel part of British Columbia's
famed inside-passage route where BC Ferries has a scheduled route.
"Queen
of the North"
The route takes you aboard BC Ferries Northern Adventure from Port
Hardy to Prince Rupert. Unfortunately a BC Ferries the "Queen
of the North" hit a submerged rock near Gil Island and sank
in Wright Sound on March 22, 2006, located very near to Hartley
Bay.
Horrifying
Experience
This horrifying experience occurred early in the morning with the
vessel experiencing rough seas, rainy weather and 40-knot winds
with 2-metre (6.5 feet) seas. With quick thinking from the BC Ferries
crew, members of the Coast Guard and a very helpful hand from quick-thinking
Hartley Bay residents only two ferry passengers went missing.
Generous
Hartley Bay People
A special thanks goes out to the Hartley Bay people for supplying
private boats, warm blankets and hot coffee to help comfort the
stranded and distressed passengers. The community set up in the
Waaps Wahmoodmx Cultural Centre various accommodations for the stranded
passengers waiting for BC provincial help and transportation back
to Prince Rupert.
Tourist
Services
There
are a few B&B's in Hartley Bay and if you require more information
or other tourist services contact the Gitga’at Development
Corporation, phone: (250) 841-2602.
Information
on Hartley Bay
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