Bucket List Experiences in BC

Nearly the size of the Republic of Ireland, the Great Bear Rainforest is the largest remaining coastal temperate rainforest on planet Earth. Wildlife vastly outnumber humans in this pristine wilderness that stretches along The Infinite Coast, from from the northern tip of Vancouver Island to where BC meets Alaska. First Nations communities have thrived here for thousands of years, stewards and caretakers of the land and its inhabitants.

On land, the area’s remarkable biodiversity includes 1,000-year-old spruce and cedar trees, as well as black bears, grizzlies, and the rare white Spirit bears found only in BC. Look up to see bald and golden eagles, and gaze out to sea in search of orcas, dolphins, and harbour seals. 

While some of the bigger communities in the Great Bear can be reached by road, often the only access is by ferry, private boat, or by floatplane. Accommodation options such as Tweedsmuir Park Lodge, Spirit Bear Lodge, and Knight Inlet Lodge provide guided wilderness experiences, comfortable accommodations, and locally sourced dining.

For an exclusive, bucket-list stay in BC, it’s hard to beat a fly-in lodge. Seaplanes and helicopters are an integral part of life here, allowing access to some of the most remote and unspoiled corners of the province. 

Indigenous-owned and -operated lodges like Wahous Wilderness Lodge on the west coast of Vancouver Island, and Klahoose Wilderness Resort in Desolation Sound, share traditional knowledge and add a cultural lens to activities such as rainforest hikes and wildlife viewing. 

Properties including Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge and Nimmo Bay Wilderness Resort go all in on luxury, with locally sourced fine dining menus and wellness and relaxation treatments. Others—Walter’s Cove Resort, and Langara Island Lodge, for example—focus on the perfect catch with exceptional coastal fishing experiences.

The rugged terrain and raw beauty found in the southeast corner of British Columbia—known as the Birthplace of Adventure—create a bucket-list destination for nature lovers and outdoor adventurers. Heli-skiing was invented in these mountains, and the same jagged peaks are perfect for heli-hiking in the summer months. Popular ski resorts like Fernie Alpine Resort in the Canadian Rockies and RED Mountain Resort in the Monashees offer summertime lift-accessed mountain biking.

The area is home to four national parks, six developed hot springs, and a handful of unique mountain towns such as Revelstoke and Nelson, full of friendly locals happy to share a favourite trail or fishing hole over a beer at the neighbourhood craft brewery.

Situated between the glaciated peaks, valleys here are home to epic whitewater rivers. Near the town of Golden, you can run Class IV rapids on the Kicking Horse River, then savour a meal with stunning alpine views at Canada’s highest-elevation restaurant.

A visit to the Khutzeymateen Grizzly Bear Sanctuary is a once-in-a-lifetime, soul-stirring experience. The first area in Canada to be protected specifically for grizzlies, the sanctuary takes its name from a Tsimshian First Nations word meaning “sheltered place of fish and bears.” Approximately 50 bears make their home in this remote inlet north of Prince Rupert that’s accessible only by boat or floatplane.

Mountain peaks tower above a valley of wetlands, old-growth rainforest, and a large river estuary. The bears are drawn here by spawning Pacific salmon, and by the high-protein sedge grass that grows at the water’s edge. 

Access to the estuary and the protected areas of the park is limited to a handful of licensed operators, including Khutzeymateen Wilderness Lodge, who facilitate unforgettable viewing experiences May through September.