Know Before You Go
Know Before You Go | Spirit Bears of British Columbia
Whether you're preparing for your upcoming British Columbia adventure or just want to learn more about Canada's Inside Passage and the Great Bear Rainforest, we've got you covered. We've rounded up an array of helpful resources, from wildlife guides and packing tips, to nature trivia and thrilling travel stories to fuel your excitement.
Travel Tips
Frequently Asked Questions
Have questions about British Columbia? We've got answers! We've compiled a list of our most frequently asked questions about spirit bears, natural wonders, weather and more.
Wildlife Guide
As you enter the realm of the spirit bear, you'll encounter an astounding array of wildlife by land and sea. Learn more about British Columbia's creamy-white Kermode bears, grizzlies, whales and eagles!
Spirit Bear Park & The Kitasoo People
Spirit Bear Park protects far more than an amazing wilderness. It also secures the ancestral homeland and traditional hunting grounds of the Kitasoo people.
Weather & Climate
Find out the typical weather conditions in British Columbia in this month by month breakdown of average temperatures and rainfall.
Packing List
Peruse our useful packing guidelines containing gear and clothing recommendations for a spirit bear adventure in British Columbia.
Travel Stories & Articles
An Indigenous History of Climate Change in Canada
—By Megan Brief
Since time immemorial, the Indigenous peoples of Canada have served as gatekeepers for the Earth and of the earth. First Nations, Inuit and Métis grow closer to the land with each passing season, and with it, a fear that climate change could sever their connection for good.
The Ancient Trees of British Columbia’s Great Bear Rainforest
—By Michelle Peters
Within a 250-mile stretch of British Columbia’s central and northern coast, some of Earth’s oldest and tallest trees reach for the sky. Covering 21 million acres, the expansive Great Bear Rainforest is home to thousand-year-old red cedars and towering Sitka spruce trees.
Nat Hab’s Bear Adventures Around the Globe
—By Michelle Peters
Seeing a special spirit bear is a heady experience. A Nat Hab adventure to the Great Bear Rainforest, tucked in the remote valleys of the Coast Range on Canada’s far western edge, reveals this pale bear of Native legend.
Traveler Story: Emotional Depth on a BC Nature Adventure
—By Nat Hab traveler, Will Bracken
I was both moved and impressed by the emotional depth that was expressed by all my fellow travelers—as well as myself.
Spirit Bear Videos: A Look into Lives of Peace and Harmony
—By Candice Gaukel Andrews
According to legend, Raven went among the black bears and promised that every 10th bear cub would be born white as a reminder of the time when the world was pure and clean and covered with snowdrifts...
White, Wild Animals and Why Difference Shouldn’t Be Wrong
—By Candice Gaukel Andrews
The spirit bears of British Columbia, Canada, represent a white animal that has great cultural meaning and is thought to be sacred. A subspecies of the American black bear (Ursus americanus), the spirit bear...
Finding Magic in the Great Bear Rainforest: A Photo Journal
—By Megan Koelemay
Truly, nothing else describes my spirit bear trip with Natural Habitat Adventures better than this singular word: magical. And it was absolutely a photographer’s paradise at every turn! I’ve never experienced more joy...
