Great Bear Rainforest
Great Bear Rainforest (BC Land Use Orders, 2016) / First Nations Territories · Klemtu, British Columbia
The Great Bear Rainforest covers millions of hectares of the central and north coast of British Columbia, a maze of fjords, islands, estuaries and old-growth cedar, spruce and hemlock, among the largest intact tracts of temperate rainforest left on Earth. It is the home of the spirit bear, or Kermode bear, a black bear carrying a rare gene that gives some animals a creamy white coat. First Nations such as the Kitasoo/Xai'xais at Klemtu, the Heiltsuk at Bella Bella and the Gitga'at at Hartley Bay have lived here for thousands of years, and many of the best tours are led by their guides. Grizzlies, wolves, whales and eagles share the coast. This is a serious trip, not a stop: there are no roads in, flights and boats are weather-dependent, and good tours are expensive and small. Allow several days. No operator can promise a spirit bear, and rain is likely, so go with patience, a real budget and a spare day, and confirm current terms.
Klemtu (Kitasoo/Xai'xais Nation), Klemtu, British Columbia, V0T 1L0, Canada
There are no gates or opening hours. This is a vast region of territory and coast, and what you can do depends on the season and on the community or operator you book with. Guided bear viewing and lodge stays run mainly from spring into the autumn, with September and October the classic window for bears fishing salmon in the rivers. Winters are wet, dark and mostly quiet, and many lodges close. Tours leave from Klemtu, Bella Bella, Hartley Bay and Prince Rupert, and each operator sets its own departure days, trip length and booking rules. Confirm dates, group size and what happens if weather stops a flight or boat, well before you commit to dates and fares.
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