Sandspit is a perfect base for visitors who want to experience the beautiful natural world of Haida Gwaii and get an up-close view of the connection between nature and culture. Perched on the boundary between forest and ocean, the town provides unparalleled access to marine and land-based activities. Sandspit is the closest community, and the closest airport, to Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve, which makes it the starting point for all tours to this amazing wilderness area. Whether or not you plan to visit Gwaii Haanas, you can experience the beauty of the islands by hiking, kayaking and boating in the Sandspit area. This is also a great area for birdwatching.
The ocean
No visit to an island community is complete without spending some time on the water. Sandspit is located between the wild ocean of Hecate Strait and the calmer waters of Skidegate Inlet. Traveling through Skidegate Inlet to the west, you can reach the rugged west coast of the islands. This makes for a wide range of options when it comes to exploring by water. Those looking for a relaxing area to kayak for a day will enjoy the calm inlet waters dotted with small islands, while those looking for a longer wilderness adventure will likely head south into Gwaii Haanas. Sightseeing tours by boat mostly focus on the Gwaii Haanas area and the area just north of Gwaii Haanas, while fishing tours will take you to the west coast. Beachcombing the many miles of shoreline is fun and relaxing for the whole family.
The oceans around Sandspit are rich with sealife, from crabs and starfish to whales and dolphins. Anyone traveling by water, even if is just on the ferry from Graham Island, will likely see some wildlife along the way.
If you are interested i
n seeing whales, the best time to visit is spring and early summer. In May and June, humpback whales migrate through Hecate Strait, and are a common sight on any tour to the south of Sandspit. Dolphins are also most common at this time of year, although they are unpredictable and can be seen all year round. The spring also brings gray whales into Skidegate Inlet where they feed off of Onward Point and near Skidegate. Killer whales or orcas may be spotted at any time of year, and sometimes pass by near Sandspit. Seals are a common sight, and larger sea lions congregate on rocky islets on the more exposed coastlines.
The life of the intertidal zone, revealed when the tide is low, is rich and plentiful along the beaches of the area. Keep in mind that the biggest factor in whether or not you will see intertidal life is the height of the tide. Pick a day with low tides (5 ft or less) and time your exploring to coincide with the time of low water. The protected, flatter and sandier beaches in Skidegate Inlet are home to starfish, crabs, sand-dollars, and shellfish. These are good areas to walk with the family and collect treasures such as the large, round moonsnail shell. The more exposed, rocky coastlines that border on the Hecate Strait are best for viewing dense, colourful collections of starfish, sea urchins, sea anemones and colourful seaweeds. Some of these sites are best viewed from the water by boat or kayak. If you are joining a scheduled boat tour and hope to see intertidal life, pick a time when there are low tides during the day.
The forest
Haida Gwaii is considered a temperate rainforest environment. This type of forest is famous for its towering old-growth spruce, hemlock and cedar trees rising from a thick carpet of moss on the forest floor. Various old-growth stands around Sandspit are great examples of this forest type. Other stands have been logged and provide a view of the forest succession as various species grow back.
Less obvious than the trees, but equally fascinating, are the tiny plants and mosses that grow on the forest floor. These include some species that are found only on Haida Gwaii. The dedicated naturalist will find plenty of entertainment walking forest paths with a plant book handy.
The high precipitation levels on the islands mean that the forest is often wreathed in mist, and every valley bottom has its stream, some of which provide spawning grounds for salmon. The return of salmon the their streams of birth every year is known to transfer nutrients from the sea to the land around spawning streams, and contributes to the rich growth of the forest.
The forest around Sandspit can be enjoyed through a variety of hiking trails, some located in conservancies that protect the old growth forest. You can also learn about the forestry history of Sandspit by talking to local people, many of whom work or have worked in the logging industry. The visitor will get a very real and down-to-earth perspective on logging history by learning from those who were actually involved.
