GRIZZLY MOMENTS - Great Bear Rainforest

The Khutzeymateen Valley is a 44,000 hectare expanse of rugged mountains, watersheds and towering Sitka spruce and is home to about 50 protected grizzly bears.

Coastal Cruise within the Khutzeymateen Inlet

Canada’s Only Grizzly Bear Sanctuary The Khutzeymateen is a 39,000-hectare valley lying 40 kilometers (25 miles) northeast of Prince Rupert on the British Columbia coast. It supports a robust ancient trilogy of grizzly bears, spawning salmon, and mammoth Sitka spruce trees. In 1992, after years of effort by several individuals and organizations, such as the Valhalla Society, the Khutzeymateen Valley was declared Canada’s first Grizzly Bear Sanctuary by the BC government.

4 days / 3 nights  ~  from/to Prince Rupert

This area is home to an estimated 40 – 60 grizzlies who depend on the rich valley for their existence, with its dense rainforest, river mouth estuary, and open fjord. It also attracts wolves, migrating geese, ducks, harbour seals, beavers, wolves, and otters, as well as orca and humpback whales. The watershed also supports over 100 species of birds including owls, grouse, shore birds, hummingbirds, swifts, woodpeckers, and kingfishers. Uninhabited by humans, there are no roads, villages or campsites, making this valley pure wilderness and the perfect habitat for the grizzly bear. To explore this magnificent valley, we will use an Ocean 71 ketch, the ‘Ocean Light II’, as our base, and then travel by motorized inflatable to the estuary to safely observe and photograph these mighty animals.

Highlights

During our four-day tours into the Khutzeymateen Inlet, which supports a robust ancient trilogy of grizzly bears, spawning salmon and mammoth Sitka Spruce trees, we will explore the fjord on the Ocean Light II. At high tide we utilize the inflatable to reach the heart of the river valley and its estuary. In four days you get a real picture of the complex ecosystem in which the grizzly thrives.

What’s involved?

Brief sample itinerary
Trip Day	Meals	Activities
Day 0		Arrive in Prince Rupert prior to trip start. Overnight (accommodation not included). We invite you to contact our friendly and knowledgeable staff to assist with any pre or post trip travel arrangements.
Day 1	L / D	An early morning float plane flight from the Seal Cove float plane dock takes you to     the ‘Ocean Light II’ and her crew who awaits you at the head of the Khutzeymateen     Inlet.
Days 2 & 3	B / L / D	The daily itinerary will remain flexible so that we can maximize bear viewing     opportunities. We will spend the majority of the day ashore. Depending on the tides,     our time ashore will find us in some area of the estuary viewing what could be any     number of animals including black and grizzly bears, seals, geese, ducks, and     herons. At dusk, after the evening’s activities, you will return to the boat to enjoy a hot     drink and dinner while reflecting on the day’s events.
Day 4	B	The float plane will arrive after breakfast for your return trip to Prince Rupert.