Bligh Island Marine Provincial Park encompasses the southern portion of Bligh Island, Villaverde Islands, Pantoja Islands, Verdia Island, Vernaci Island and Spouter Island in Nootka Sound, part of the Spanish Pilot Group of Islands. Bligh Island is located between the mouths of Muchalat Inlet, Tlupana Inlet, and Tahsis Inlet, to the east of Nootka Island. The park protects mature coastal forests and marine ecosystems and offers sheltered anchorage with deep bays in the lee of numerous forested islands.

There is much to explore in this group of six islands, scattered where Muchalat Inlet converges with two adjacent inlets (Tahsis and Tlupana) and their channels (Hanna, Zuciarte and Cook Channels).

Nootka Sound has a colourful history with First Nations heritage and European exploration and settlement. First Nation peoples have occupied Nootka Sound for at least 4,000 years, enjoying the area’s bountiful natural resources. Historically, Bligh Island has been used extensively by the Mowachaht First Nations people, and still remains part of their traditional territory.

Large Bligh Island is named for a much-maligned British Navy Captain who sailed here with the equally well-known Captain James Cook in 1778. Resolute Cove on Bligh Island is named after Captain Cook's ship, where a cairn on the southeast cove of the island commemorates the landing. The area subsequently became a major centre for international fur trading.

Bligh Island (on the right) viewed across Hanna Channel from Tuta Marine on Hanna Creek.

The 4,455-hectare Bligh Island Marine Provincial Park (1,584 hectares upland and 2,871 hectares foreshore) is a favourite boating and fishing destination amongst local and visiting yachtsmen. Sea kayaking tours to the Nootka Sound are available for paddlers who wish to explore the many scenic islands in the Spanish Pilot Group, or kayakers can arrange to be dropped off near the island by the MV Uchuck lll as it plies between Gold River and Yuquot. The waters in this region can get choppy, so small craft must cross with care.

Beautiful Bligh Island offers rustic beach camping in a user-maintained area on Charlie’s Beach. This site has a pit toilet. Numerous other undeveloped wilderness sites can be found in the Spanish Pilot Group of Islands, however no facilities are provided in these areas.

Nootka Sound is one of the more popular saltwater sports fishing destinations on the west coast of Vancouver Island. Bligh Island offers anglers protected waters and beaches, and the opportunity to catch chinook, coho, chum and pink salmon, and a variety of rockfish. Numerous float lodges and camps in Nootka Sound offer fishing opportunities as well.

Visitors to Bligh island and Nootka Sound are likely to spot a variety of marine life, including Grey whales, killer whales, seals, sea lions and sea otters, as well as waterfowl, Bald eagles, black bears, wolves and deer.

Wolves have been frequenting wooded areas and beaches at camping sites on Bligh Island. More recently, they have become more curious of campers and their belongings. Please ensure that you maintain a clean campsite, store your food and garbage so as to not to attract wildlife, and remove all traces of food, fish entrails,and garbage from the park.

Bligh Island Marine Provincial Park is located in Nootka Sound on the west coast of Vancouver Island. Access to the park is by boat only from the communities of Gold River, Zeballos and Tahsis. The closest boat launches are at Cougar Creek, Tuta Marina and Gold River. Boaters can reference marine chart #3664 for more information on this area.