The Great Bear Rainforest in B.C. is a global treasure of untouched wilderness, stretching 400 km along the central and northern coast from Knight Inlet to the Alaska Panhandle — around the size of Ireland, according to Destination BC. It’s even been called the “Amazon of the North“!
As the world’s largest remaining coastal temperate rainforest, it has a huge role in contributing to the world’s oxygen production. According to Destination BC, the region’s top-tier air quality is evidenced by the survival of highly susceptible lichen, which have grown from ancient cedars and spruces for thousands of years.
Some of the most diverse plants and animals on Earth
According to Indigenous Tourism BC, its network of valleys, crystal-clear lakes, fjords, and inlets are home to some of the most biodiverse arrays of plant and animal life on Earth, and all British Columbians have a stake in protecting the region. This includes underwater kelp forests, more than 2,500 annual salmon runs, and the elusive Kermode Bear, after which the massive rainforest is named.
“Venture into a realm where thousand-year-old trees stand tall, unique plants and animals inhabit the lands and waters, and salmon feed the trees,” says Indigenous Tourism BC on its website. “The Great Bear Rainforest is home to living glass sponge reefs thought to be extinct, a recovering population of humpback whales, and more than six million migratory birds.”
One of the rainiest areas in North America
Much of this biodiversity can be attributed to the fact that the Great Bear Rainforest receives an average of 6,650 mm of rainfall per year, more than four times that of Vancouver! Being considered one of the rainiest areas in North America has its plus sides, though.
In a single trip, visitors can climb ancient limestone rocks, go on an eco-friendly sailing tour via Great Bear Sailing Adventures, and embark on one of many Indigenous-led wilderness tours, including guided grizzly bear tours. Along the way, there are plenty of diverse flora and fauna to spot, including towering Western Red Cedars that can grow up to 70 metres tall and live for hundreds of years.
Indigenous Tourism BC also notes that the area experiences some of the strongest tides in the world, and its proximity to the Queen Charlotte faultline makes earthquakes and tsunamis possible.
The ancient forest is protected by the Great Bear Rainforest Agreement between the Coastal First Nations, Nanwakolas Council, and the Province of B.C. The agreement ensures that the region’s critical wildlife remains protected for generations to come, with forest carbon projects planned to ensure First Nations have the resources they need to steward the land as they have done for thousands of years.
It’s not an easy trip to access by any means, but with the right planning, it’s certainly the trip of a lifetime.
How to visit the rainforest
There are three access points to the Great Bear Rainforest, according to Destination BC: Bella Coola, Klemtu, and Prince Rupert.
To get to Bella Coola, visitors can take a direct ferry from Port Hardy (runs mid-June to mid-September via BC Ferries), fly from downtown Vancouver (70-minute flight via Pacific Coast Airlines), or drive down the famed “Freedom Road” Heckman Pass, all of which boast incredible views.
Klemtu is a remote community located in a pristine cove on Swindle Island, 228 km northwest of Bella Coola. Its population of just over 400 residents is composed of two First Nations groups who speak completely different languages: The Kitasoo and the Xai’xais.
Sitting on the doorstep of Princess Royal Island (home of the Kermode Bear), Klemtu offers cultural tours, multi-day paddleboarding trips via Norm Hann Expeditions, and custom wildlife tours in the Great Bear Rainforest and Gitga’at Territory.
The Museum of Northern B.C. in Prince Rupert offers guided cultural tours, while Prince Rupert Adventure Tours offers water tours to the Khutzeymateen, which boasts the largest population of grizzly bears on Earth.
Want to make the most of your visit? The Spirit Bear Lodge in Klemtu is Kitasoo Xai’xais First Nation-owned and operated, contributing $200 per guest towards conservation efforts for those who book an experience with the lodge.
Best times of year to visit
According to Destination BC, June to August are the warmest months to visit the rainforest, though thermal layers, a waterproof jacket, and gloves are recommended year-round due to ever-changing weather conditions.
The best bear-viewing odds are between late August and October when the magnificent grizzlies and spirit bears feast on fish before going into hibernation.
Finally, those keen on whale-watching can head to the Johnstone Strait or the Broughton Archipelago for some of the best orca-spotting opportunities in the world. Destination BC notes that the best time of year to see humpback and gray whales is from late July to September.
How to get there: Take a ferry from Vancouver to Nanaimo, then drive four hours to Port Hardy via BC-19 N. Take a seasonal ferry to the village of Bella Coola, or fly directly from downtown Vancouver via Pacific Coast Airlines.
