A tiny volcanic island on the edge of Juan Perez Sound where natural rock-rimmed hot pools steam beside the sea, watched over by Haida Gwaii Watchmen. Boats anchor in the pocket water nearby rather than off the springs themselves.
Gandll K'in Gwaayaay - Hotspring Island - sits near the southeast shore of Lyell Island on the open edge of Juan Perez Sound, one of the most prized stops in Gwaii Haanas. Heated water seeps from dozens of vents and feeds a handful of rock-lined natural tubs perched above the shoreline, with sweeping views south across the Sound toward Ramsay and the outer islands.
This is a protected Haida Heritage Site staffed by the Haida Gwaii Watchmen, who manage how many visitors are ashore at one time and must be contacted before landing. The springs went briefly dormant after the 2012 Haida Gwaii earthquake but have since returned to flow, and the pools, the wildlife of the Sound, and the cultural setting make this a centerpiece anchorage of any Gwaii Haanas cruise.
Approach notes, hazards to watch for, and what's available once you're tied up.
Hotspring Island lies on the exposed eastern margin of Juan Perez Sound and is approached from the Sound through waters dotted with rocks, reefs and kelp around the island and neighboring House Island, so a careful chart-and-eyeball approach in good light is essential. The water immediately off the springs is open and offers only marginal, rocky holding; cruisers do not anchor at the island itself but tuck into the more sheltered pocket between Hotspring Island and House Island just to the side.
Even that pocket is small and partly open to swell working in from Juan Perez Sound, so it is best treated as a settled-weather, fair-forecast stop with an anchor watch; nearby Murchison Island and its coves offer a more secure fallback if conditions deteriorate. Verify exact depths and the gap between the islands against current CHS charts before committing.
Wind protection summary and tide planning at a glance. Full per-direction and 7-day detail with Plus.
Live readings from the nearest OpenWeather station and WorldTides; refreshed every few minutes.
Source: OpenWeather One Call API + WorldTides.
A curated photo + map walkthrough showing approach, mooring options, and points of interest.
A guided walkthrough of Hotspring Island with approach photos, depth notes, and points of interest — written by members who have been here recently.
Real first-hand reports and questions answered by members who have actually been here.
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Cruising-distance picks near this anchorage.
