Great Bear Rainforest

In this magnetic stretch of coastline, dewy forest with old-growth trees, babbling rivers, and snow-capped mountains meet jagged rockfaces bejewelled with colourful sealife at low tide. Along the rugged shores, ghostlike creatures peer through the mist, hunting for salmon as eagles soar overhead.

At more than six million hectares, the Great Bear Rainforest is the largest coastal temperate rainforest in the world. Its incredible biodiversity is protected to maintain ecological integrity, including 1,000-year-old spruce and cedar trees. The rainforest is home to the Kermode, or “Spirit” bear, a black bear with all-white fur. The creature’s dramatic colour is caused by a recessive gene, and it’s estimated to occur in one in 10 bears of the area. Stories of the bear are woven into the legends of the local First Nations, whose stories and stewardship have been deeply tied to the area for millennia.

In the Great Bear Rainforest, wildlife outnumber humans, though remote communities are dotted in hidden inlets along the coast—many accessible only by ferry, boat, or plane. Bella Coola, on the central coast, is an adventure hub, with backcountry lodges, flightseeing tours, heli-skiing, and wildlife viewing.