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Wildlife Safaris in Great Bear RainforestCA
The world's largest intact coastal temperate rainforest, and the only place on earth to see the white Kermode spirit bear.
Why here
The Great Bear Rainforest is the world's largest intact coastal temperate rainforest, 6.4 million hectares of fjord and old growth on British Columbia's central coast, and it is the only place on earth to see the Kermode spirit bear, a white-coated black bear subspecies numbering only a few hundred. September and October salmon runs pull grizzlies, black bears, spirit bears, wolves, and humpbacks into the river estuaries at once. Spirit Bear Lodge is owned by the Kitasoo Xai'xais First Nation at Klemtu, and viewing runs through their traditional territory with community guides, which is both the access model and the point.
Best months
September and October are the season, timed to the salmon runs; some grizzly viewing starts in August. Viewing is boat-based and stand-based in rain gear, and it rains often; that is what keeps the forest standing. Multi-night lodge packages are the only format.
Getting there & around
Fly Vancouver to Bella Bella or Port Hardy, then floatplane or boat transfer; the lodges handle the chain. Book a year out for the salmon-run weeks.
Skill levels: beginner
Schools & guides (2)
Great Bear Lodge
OutfitterFloating wilderness lodge at a salmon river mouth near Port Hardy, with guided grizzly viewing from stands and boats through October.
Spirit Bear Lodge
OutfitterKitasoo Xai'xais-owned wildlife lodge at Klemtu, running spirit bear and grizzly viewing in the nation's traditional territory each fall.