At Great Bear Rainforest, discover one of the world’s best places to observe grizzly (brown) bears in a 1.8 million hectare temperate coastal rainforest located on Canada’s Pacific Coast.
The Great Bear Rainforest is home to hundreds of animal species, including kermode and grizzly bears, cougars and wolves.
Look out for bald eagles, 1000-year-old remnants of Native Indians who once lived here, as well as 61m-tall red cedar and spruce trees.
Each season offers a unique opportunity to view grizzly bears in the wild.
In spring, board a small boat and observe grizzlies as they graze on grasses and sedges and engage in mating behaviour.
In autumn, watch bears congregate along and in the river to catch Pacific salmon. Each bear demonstrates its own individual fishing style, from methodically checking under riverbanks with their paws to charging up the river after salmon.
Along with grizzly bears, see other wildlife including wolves, black bears, river otters, pine martens, mink, harbour seals and bald eagles. Black bears are seen more often during summer season when there are fewer grizzlies.
During summer, see grizzlies gorge on berries, graze on estuarine grasslands and scout for salmon.
Also in summer, see grey and humpback whales, seal pups and merganser ducks, with a dozen or more ducklings trailing behind. And in evenings, listen to wolves howling in the nearby forest.
Accommodation – Stay at Great Bear Lodge, a fully self-contained floating lodge.
Location – Fifty air miles from Port Hardy, Vancouver Island in British Columbia.
Fly from Vancouver directly to Port Hardy or enjoy the scenic drive and ferry ride to Port Hardy. A seaplane takes you from Port Hardy to Great Bear Lodge.
Other activities – Hiking, white water rafting, horseback riding, salmon fishing and sea kayaking.
Best time to visit Great Bear Rainforest – Year-round, except winter. The average summer temperature is around 14°C (57°F).
British Columbia offers a wide range of eco and adventure opportunities.
Johnstone Strait – Explore the many coves and beaches along the narrow strait between the north-eastern tip of Vancouver Island and mainland Canada.
Glide through calm waters past rugged coastal scenery as sleek ebony and ivory orca whales breach, spout and swim nearby.
Encounter minke and humpback whales, porpoises and dolphins, sea lions, seals and bald eagles.
Johnstone Strait is said to be the world’s best place to watch orcas congregate during the summer months to feed, socialise and rub themselves on pebble beaches.
Vancouver – Canada’s largest port is ringed by snow-capped forested mountains in a spectacular natural wilderness that descends to kilometres of sandy beaches.
In Vancouver you can snowboard and sail on the same day.
Discover shiny post-modern glass cathedrals downtown, historic cobble-stoned Gastown, exotic Chinatown and native totem poles in scenic Stanley Park.
Latest update: Eco adventures – Great Bear Rainforest: 6 May, 2025
Advertising