Best of Great Bear Rainforest

Top itineraries and travel advice in and around Great Bear Rainforest
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Pasley Island near Vancouver
Guide to British Columbia's Regions

British Colombia has the perfect trip for everyone, any time of year. From cosmopolitan Vancouver to the vast tracks of wilderness in the north, from wine tasting in the rolling hills of the Okanagan to salmon-fishing in wild waters of Haida Gwaii, there really is something for everyone. To help you figure out your perfect trip, we've broken down the main regions for you to consider.

Explore the beautiful coastline around Bella Coola
Great Bear Rainforest & Chilcotin Coast Road Trip - 11 Days

This itinerary is very fast-paced, designed for those who want to experience the Great Bear Rainforest and Chilcotin Plateau in a short amount of time. You'll have 2-4 hours of driving each day, with two nights in the beautiful Bella Coola Valley to unwind and recharge before taking the long ferry sailing to Vancouver Island. You'll also get a brief feel of the historical Gold Rush Trail, as you overnight in Cache Creek. 

Paddleboarding off the coast of the Great Bear Rainforest
Map of West Coast Wilderness at Nimmo Bay Resort - 8 Days
West Coast Wilderness at Nimmo Bay Resort - 8 Days

Head off into the remote wilderness of the west coast of British Columbia with a multi-day stay at Nimmo Bay Resort. You'll immediately feel at home at this family-run resort which is located on the coast of the Great Bear Rainforest. Surrounded by pristine wilderness, you can choose from a variety of adventures each day, from sea kayaking to grizzly bear viewing to helicopter tours.

Returning to shelter at Nimmo Bay Resort
Map of Wild Outposts of the Pacific Northwest - 10 Days
Wild Outposts of the Pacific Northwest - 10 Days

An hour's flight north of Vancouver takes you to two of British Columbia's most remote landscapes—Tweedsmuir Provincial Park and the Great Bear Rainforest. Setting up base camp at two luxury wilderness resorts, disconnect yourself from the outside world, and fully immerse yourself in the mountains and coastal rainforest. Spend your days choosing from a variety of outdoor and wellness activities and your evenings dining on fresh gourmet meals.

The dramatic coastline around Bella Coola
Great Bear Rainforest & Chilcotin Coast Road Trip - 13 Days

With 13 days, this is the minimum amount of time you'll want to explore the wild and remote Chilcotin Plateau and Great Bear Rainforest without feeling too rushed. Take your time following Highway 20 to Bella Coola along a narrow ribbon of asphalt that winds its way through a sparsely populated wilderness scattered with lakes, historic ranches, and prime grizzly bear and wildlife habitat. Here, you'll discover one of the most unspoiled and spectacular landscapes in North America. Finally, end the trip with a couple of days of relaxation on Vancouver Island's Pacific Rim. 

Explore the beautiful coastline around Bella Coola
Great Bear Rainforest & Chilcotin Coast Road Trip - 14 Days

Two weeks is just enough time to complete a road trip through the vast Chilcotin Plateau and Great Bear Rainforest without feeling too rushed. With relatively short drives each day, most of your time will be spent in the outdoors, where you can truly appreciate this unique and dramatic corner of British Columbia. This route is best suited for those who are looking for an adventure away from the crowds. 

Explore the beautiful coastline around Bella Coola
Great Bear Rainforest & Chilcotin Coast Road Trip - 15 Days

This itinerary takes you through four regions in 15 days, with the bulk of your time spent exploring the vast wilderness of the Chilcotin Plateau and the Great Bear Rainforest. Designed for those seeking to get away from it all and have a truly memorable experience, you'll pass through some of the most diverse and unique landscapes of British Columbia that are largely devoid of human settlement. Finally, end the trip with a couple days of relaxation in the famous Pacific Rim of Vancouver Island. 

Explore the beautiful coastline around Bella Coola
Great Bear Rainforest & Chilcotin Coast Road Trip - 16 Days

Spend 16 days driving through some of the most unique and remote wilderness in southern British Columbia. After a quick visit to Vancouver and Whistler, you'll slow down the driving as your make your way on Highway 20 from Gold Rush Country to the coastline of the Great Bear Rainforest. En route, hike, raft, go horseback riding, and take to the sky to fly over one of Canada's largest waterfalls. End your trip with some relaxation and comfort in the Pacific Rim of Vancouver Island.

Bella Coola's shoreline at sunset
Great Bear Rainforest & Chilcotin Coast Road Trip - 19 Days

Get ready for a road trip adventure of a lifetime. This route takes you away from the crowds through the remote Chilcotin Plateau and Great Bear Rainforest before ending with some relaxation and comfort on Vancouver Island's west coast. Pass through a vast, raw wilderness dotted with lakes and historic ranches that transforms into dense temperate rainforest that has one of the world's highest concentrations fo grizzly bears.

Adult Grizzly Bear spotted at Knight Inlet in the Great Bear Rainforest
Great Bear Rainforest & Chilcotin Coast Road Trip - 17 Days

With minimal time in the city, this itinerary focuses on the unique beauty and diverse landscapes of the wild Chilcotin Plateau and the Great Bear Rainforest. After following the Sea-to-Sky Highway to Whistler, you'll head north for a true Canadian adventure across a vast, sparsely populated landscape. From there, it's a full day's ferry sailing to Vancouver Island, where you'll end your trip along the wild coastline of the Pacific Rim.

An old, abandoned cabin near Bella Coola in the Great Bear Rainforest
Great Bear Rainforest & Chilcotin Coast Road Trip - 18 Days

This epic road trip takes you into the heart of British Columbia's ranchlands and coastal rainforest, through some of the most accessible remote wilderness from Vancouver. After passing through Whistler and Gold Rush Country, you'll head west along Highway 20. Here, you'll spend less time driving and more time exploring the vast Chilcotin Plateau and trails of the Great Bear Rainforest. Finally, end your trip on Vancouver Island's rugged pacific coast before returning back to Vancouver.

Bella Coola's shoreline at sunset
Great Bear Rainforest & Chilcotin Coast Road Trip - 20 Days

With 20 days, get ready for a true adventure into the remote and sparsely populated landscape of the Chilcotin Plateau and Great Bear Rainforest. After taking the iconic Sea-to-Sky Highway north into Gold Rush Country, you'll veer west on Highway 20 for one of the most memorable drives of your life. Here, the frontier spirit converges with one of the best-preserved and most densely populated wildlife habitats of the Pacific Northwest. Finally, end your trip at one of the cozy coastal lodges along the Pacific Rim on Vancouver Island.