The Great Bear Rainforest · Kwakwaka’wakw territory
Mountains rising from the sea, and our home since time immemorial
The Great Bear Rainforest runs along the mainland coast of British Columbia, where old-growth forest climbs straight out of the water. It is where the bears come down to the rivers, and it is Kwakwaka’wakw territory: the waters our families have travelled for thousands of years.
- 1,000-year-old cedars
- Salmon rivers in every inlet
- Kwakwaka’wakw territory
The Great Bear Rainforest is the largest intact coastal temperate rainforest left on earth: 6.4 million hectares of fjords, islands and old growth along the mainland coast of British Columbia.
Between the mainland and Vancouver Island lie the hundreds of islands of the Broughton Archipelago, and the passages of Johnstone Strait and Blackfish Sound where the humpbacks and orcas feed. Our tours run through the archipelago and up into the inlets on the mainland side: Knight Inlet, Bond Sound and Thompson Sound, where the grizzlies come down to the rivers for salmon.
To us, none of this is wilderness. It is home. The Kwakwaka’wakw have lived here since time immemorial, and the estuaries where the bears fish are the same places our families have fished, travelled and told stories about for generations. When you come out with us you are a guest in that territory, hosted by the people it belongs to.
Our base is Port McNeill, which we call Nalaxstala, on the north-east coast of Vancouver Island. From our dock it is about an hour by boat to the bears.
Our base
The Sea Wolf Adventures office
The Sea Wolf Adventures office is on the waterfront in Port McNeill. Day tours check in here, and your booking confirmation gives the exact time and meeting point for your trip. Lodge guests: your confirmation will tell you whether we meet you at the office or on the dock.
- Address
- 1514 Broughton Boulevard
- Town
- Port McNeill, BC (Northeast Vancouver Island)
- Parking
- Street parking
Getting here
How to reach Port McNeill
Allow a full day of travel from any city, and plan to arrive the evening before your tour.
From Vancouver by plane
The quickest way in. Pacific Coastal Airlines flies from Vancouver's South Terminal to Port Hardy in about an hour, and Port McNeill is a 40 minute drive south of the airport. Car rentals and shuttles are available at Port Hardy airport; ask us when you book and we will point you to the current options.
Most guests arriving from outside BC fly into Vancouver in the morning and connect to Port Hardy the same day.
From Vancouver by car
Take BC Ferries from Horseshoe Bay to Nanaimo (Departure Bay), or from Tsawwassen to Nanaimo (Duke Point). Reserve the sailing in summer. From Nanaimo it is Highway 19 north the whole way, about 4 hours of driving through Campbell River and past Sayward.
Fuel up in Campbell River. There are long stretches with no services north of it.
From Victoria by car
Highway 1 north to Nanaimo, then Highway 19 up the island: about 5.5 hours of driving. Campbell River is the last larger town, and a good place to stop for fuel and food before the final two hours.
From Seattle and the United States
By car, the Black Ball Ferry (MV Coho) sails from Port Angeles to Victoria's Inner Harbour, and from there it is the Victoria route above. Alternatively, drive north across the border to Vancouver and take the BC Ferries route.
By air, fly Seattle to Vancouver and connect to Pacific Coastal's Port Hardy flight from the South Terminal. Allow time to clear customs and transfer between terminals.
Good to know
Planning your trip
Where should I stay?
Day tour guests need a bed in the area the night before. Port McNeill has hotels, motels and B&Bs within walking distance of our office, and Port Hardy, 40 minutes north, has more options near the airport.
Vancouver Island North Tourism keeps the full list of accommodation in the region.
Do I need to arrive the night before?
Yes. Day tours leave early in the morning and there is no same-day connection from Vancouver or Victoria that gets you here in time. Plan to sleep in Port McNeill or Port Hardy the night before your tour.
Do I need a car?
Not if you stay in Port McNeill, where the office is a short walk from most accommodation. If you fly into Port Hardy you will need a rental car or a shuttle for the 40 minute drive south. Ask us when you book and we will tell you what is running this season.
Is there parking at the office?
Yes, street parking on Broughton Boulevard and nearby. Lodge guests can leave a vehicle in Port McNeill for the length of their stay.
Which ferries might I need?
From the mainland, BC Ferries crosses from Horseshoe Bay or Tsawwassen to Nanaimo. From Washington State, the Black Ball Ferry runs Port Angeles to Victoria. Both take vehicles; reserve ahead in July and August.
If you are flying in, you do not need a ferry at all.
Can I fly out the same day my tour ends?
Return times depend on the wildlife and the weather, so we do not recommend booking a flight out of Port Hardy for the afternoon your tour ends. Stay one more night and fly the next morning. If you have no choice, contact us before you book the flight.
Questions about getting here?
Tell us where you are coming from and we will help you plan the connections.