Firvale Wilderness Camp and the Great Bear Rainforest
It all started in Tofino. Well technically, it began with an article printed in 2011 in the National Geographic about the Great Bear Rainforest. I was captivated by the photography and description of this part of Canada that was as mysterious as the “spirit bear” featured in the story.
While touring Tofino in 2020 I met Jen, the owner of Caravan Beach Shop. She shared some insights on what to do and mentioned she and her partner Bobby were building a wilderness camp near Bella Coola, BC. I immediately started following Firvale Wilderness Camp on Instagram and watched as they built their resort from the ground up.
Camp is in the heart of the Great Bear Rainforest. Firvale Wilderness Camp features cozy A-frame cabins and Glamping domes that “boast modern design with handmade touches and luxurious eco-conscious amenities.” Each cabin or dome feature unparalleled views of the surrounding mountain range and glaciers. To top off your experience, every meal is made from scratch using locally grown meat and produce.
To get there I chose to drive from Saskatoon through Jasper National Park to Williams Lake then west to the hamlet of Firvale. As I ventured along, the more remote it became. I lost cell service around Bull Canyon but what I found was friendly passing motorists - which was reassuring in the absence of contact with emergency services. For my stay I booked the Great Bear Rainforest Adventure package.
This included a sail boat tour of the fjords near Bella Coola including a soak in natural hot springs, a float plane tour over Hunlan Falls and Monarch Ice Field and landing on a glacial lake, and also a guided float for wildlife and bird spotting down the Bella Coola River. This trip is a photographer’s dream and was everything I had hoped for! It was packed with outdoor photography opportunities at every bend in the road. Looking back, my only wish was more time to hike and explore
what this beautiful area has to offer!
This trip was so special part of me wants to keep Bella Coola a secret, but at the same time the experience was so remarkable I highly recommend booking a stay to see it for yourself! Give Cutie a little ear scratch for me when you go. Tweedsmuir Provincial Park is definitely a place to come back to. I am hoping to go in late fall or early summer - I can’t decide if I want wildflowers or grizzlies…?
If you want to check out tours of the area visit Kynoch Adventure Tours, Tweedsmuir Air, Great Bear Sailing Adventures and Bella Coola Tourism for more information.