Great Bear Rainforest
The Great Bear Rainforest is nestled between the Pacific Ocean and the Coast Mountain Range on the west coast of British Columbia. Here verdant islands and intimate waterways at the base of 3500 foot granite cliffs are back dropped with towering mountains lush with 1,000-year-old cedar trees and 90-metre tall Sitka spruce trees. This temperate rain forest is one of the largest tracts of endangered coastal rain forest left in the world and is home to ten thousand year old native cultures and hundreds of species of plants, birds and animals.
Rich salmon streams weave their way through valley bottoms that provide food for orcas , eagles, wolves and bears. Magnificent grizzly bear, Black bear and gray wolf walk these rivers and estuaries to feed, while eagles and seabirds feed on the remains. The Great Bear Rainforest is home to the legendary white Kermode Bear, the Spirit Bear of the North Coast of British Columbia. These magnificent bears are a subspecies of the black bear, and are not found anywhere else in the world. Orcas and Humpback whales share these waters which we may see while we paddle. Stellar sea lions bellow across the water while other bears may be seen feeding on barnacles. Groups of Sandhill crane and Canada geese can be heard overhead, while migrating turnstones, Common murres, Hooded mergansers, scooters and Harlequin ducks grace the waters and rocky shorelines.
Located in part along the famous Inside Passage, the Great Bear Rainforest is home to the Heiltsuk and Gitga’at, members of the Tsimshian cultural group. Sir Alexander Mackenzie became the first European to reach the Pacific ocean traveling overland on aboriginal grease trails used by the first nations people trading boxes of eulachon grease for moose hide and obsidian. Fur traders followed, arriving by ship in the 1780’s. A century later, this large pre-contact native population dropped to several hundred. Today the Heiltsuk and Gitga’at nations are striving to retain their lands and culture and they continue to harvest their traditional foods.
Our trips to the Great Bear Rainforest in September are scheduled to coincide with the salmon runs. Our expedition will start in Bella Bella and finish at the native village of Hartley Bay. Upon arrival into Bella Bella, we will board Rain Coast Conservation Society’s boat ‘Achiever’ where we will spend the next five days exploring the inside passage and estuaries where we hope to see wolves and bear fishing in the quiet estuary salmon streams. We will plan to paddle a few hours daily while aboard the Achiever beneath granite cliffs and along quiet estuaries with thundering waterfalls. On Day 5 we will then leave the comforts of the Achiever behind and start the second segment of our kayak expedition: paddling the rugged outer coast north to Hartley Bay, camping along our passage in true expedition style. We will then paddle an average of 5 to 6 hours, covering 13 to 15 km on some days. We maybe able to have a couple of layover days. Weather permitting, we will cross open channels to several islands. We will spend the the last night two nights in the comfort of a local B & B in Hartley Bay, spending one of these days with a local native guide at his favorite bear watching platform. Although the ship-based part of this trip is rated as easy, weather and a rugged shoreline rates the second part of the sea kayaking expedition as difficult.
Paddling the heart of the Great Bear Rainforest provides an unforgettable adventure.
Some highlights of your expedition will include early morning wolf howls, rivers teeming with salmon, the quietness of bear coming into view, the flight of an eagle, getting to know the local people and simply taking in the majestic beauty and wilderness of the world’s last greatest temperate forest. We invite you to join us for a holiday that may just change your life!Highlights
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the services of two fully certified expedition guides
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all group equipment including kayaks, paddles, tents, safety gear
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5 days mother-shipped based with Raincoast Conservation’s 70’ sloop Achiever
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7 day sea kayak expedition in remote wilderness
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Gribbell Island Kermode bear watching tour with local guide
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all meals listed in the itinerary from lunch Day 1 to lunch Day 15
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B&B accommodation Days 13 & 14
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Traditional feast (farewell dinner) in Hartley Bay
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membership to Rain Coast Conservation Society
Inclusive Services
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the services of two fully certified expedition guides
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all group equipment including kayaks, paddles, tents, safety gear
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Gribbell Island Kermode bear watching tour with local guide
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all meals listed in the itinerary from lunch Day 1 to lunch Day 15
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B&B accommodation Days 13 & 14
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traditional feast (farewell dinner) in Hartley Bay
- membership to Rain Coast Conservation Society
Non-Inclusive Services
- personal belongings and gear as per the Clothing and Equipment List
- transportation to Bella Bella or from Hartley Bay and your home
- any meals and accommodation in Bella Bella, Hartley Bay or Prince Rupert not included in the trip itinerary
- any extra expenses incurred because of delayed departures of chartered or scheduled aircraft and boat
- airport transfers
- tips for Captain, first mate aboard Achiever, local Hartley Bay guide or Whitney & Smith guides
Itinerary-in-Brief
More information about this trip is available in our in-depth Trip Information Package. Please contact our office to receive these detailed materials.
Day 1: You will be met at the airport upon arrival in Bella Bella (L & D and Sept. 13: boat accommodation included)
Days 2-5: Weather permitting, travel via inside passage and inlets to inner estuaries aboard the Achiever with Raincoast Conservation Society searching for wildlife and enjoying spectacular views (B/L/D and bunk included)
Days 6-12: You will be traveling by expedition sea kayak exploring the rugged coast line of the Great Bear Rainforest to Hartley Bay. (B/L/D and camping included)
Day 13: We will arrive to Hartley Bay where we will overnight two nights (B/L/D and B&B included).
Day 14: Travel to Gribbell Island by motor boat for bear viewing trip with native
guide. Overnight Hartley Bay. (B, L & D and B&B included)
Day 15: Flights to Prince Rupert . Overnight Prince Rupert (B included)
Day 16: Flights homeward.