British Columbia · Remote access
G̱andll K’in Gwaay.yaay
On Hotspring Island in Gwaii Haanas, warm pools meet a sweeping coastal setting. The place is part of a living Haida cultural landscape, and a visit belongs within the wider experience of travelling respectfully through Gwaii Haanas.
Historical source coordinate; not a trailhead. Accuracy and datum have not been independently verified. Historical water readings describe source samples, not safe soaking temperatures.
The springs that an earthquake switched off
On 28 October 2012 a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck Haida Gwaii, and the only thermal springs in the entire archipelago stopped. Discharge ceased at every existing outlet and the pools drained empty — an outcome that is rare enough to have generated its own scientific literature.
The mechanism, as reconstructed from the seismic data, is that Hotspring Island and its neighbours shifted westward during the quake. That sudden movement appears to have opened cracks and pore space in the rock, letting the groundwater that fed the springs drain away deeper underground instead of surfacing.
And then they came back
The springs were dry for roughly ten weeks. In early 2013 some began to flow again, though not at their former rate, and new outlets appeared — notably closer to the shoreline than the originals.
Recovery has been gradual, on the order of five years, which researchers note is consistent with earlier recorded flow stoppages at the site. The slow reappearance of lower, weaker springs suggests the source is rebuilding pressure rather than being permanently lost.
Haida ground, in Gwaii Haanas
G̱andll K'in Gwaay.yaay lies within Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve, National Marine Conservation Area Reserve and Haida Heritage Site, cooperatively managed by the Haida Nation and Parks Canada. The Haida name is the proper one; Hotspring Island is the English rendering.
Access is by boat or float plane as part of a Gwaii Haanas visit, and the area has visitor requirements including orientation and reservation systems. Haida Gwaii Watchmen are present at cultural sites. Treat this as visiting a heritage site with hot water on it, not a hot spring that happens to be remote.
Opening hours & season
No verified visitor timetable
Access depends on land-manager permission, closures and local conditions. No published timetable should be interpreted as 24-hour access.
All times are local to the spring. Checked 2026-10-01; this is not a live opening-status display. Closure notices override regular hours.
Our take
A remarkable combination of spring water and ocean surroundings for a carefully organized marine journey. It is the opposite of an impromptu roadside stop.
Editorial assessment based on published information. No firsthand visit or customer score is implied.
Before you go
Sources & record notes
Geoscience BC’s 2016 compilation · 1 historical sampling record · Source name: Hotspring Island. References recorded in the dataset: NWT 2010.
Sources used for this guide
- Natural Resources Canada — hot springs temporarily run dry after the Haida Gwaii earthquake
- Council of the Haida Nation — hot pools filling at G̱andll K'in Gwaay.yaay
- Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies — seismic induced flow disruption of the thermal springs
- Canadian Geographic — hot springs return to Haida Gwaii
Written from the published sources above. Operator hours, access rules and closures change; the official link is authoritative.