Lyell Island

Lyell Island is an island in the Haida Gwaii archipelago off the north coast of British Columbia, Canada. The island is notable for its old-growth coastal rainforest and its role in Indigenous land-defence campaigns during the late 20th century.

Visitors find rugged shoreline, dense temperate rainforest, and a largely undeveloped landscape typical of southern Haida Gwaii; recreational access is by private boat or organized sea trips. Because facilities are minimal, visits are usually brief landings or part of longer paddling and boating itineraries.

In the late 20th century the island was the focal point of Haida protests and blockades against industrial logging; those actions were influential in subsequent agreements and protections for parts of Haida Gwaii. The island is part of the broader cultural and ecological landscape of the Haida Nation and regional conservation efforts.

Lyell Island lies in the southern portion of Haida Gwaii, off the northwest coast of mainland British Columbia, and is reached by vessel from ports on Haida Gwaii.

• Access: Access is by boat; the island is remote and visited mainly by sea or as part of multi-day trips in the Haida Gwaii archipelago.
• Historical significance: The island was the focus of Haida resistance to industrial logging in the 1980s, actions that contributed to later protection and cooperative management efforts in the region.