Khutzeymateen
With verdant sedge grass filled estuaries nestled between snow-capped peaks, this itinerary offers access into a rarely visited grizzly bear sanctuary.
View ItineraryCruise Among Giants
Witness grizzly bears in their pristine and remote habitat
Located in the northern tip of the Great Bear Rainforest, the Khutzeymateen is the first area in Canada to be protected specifically for grizzly bears. As one of the select few operators that have permitted access to the Khutzeymateen, this eco-tour offers a very intimate, and one-of-a-kind, bear viewing experience. The Khutzeymateen Park & Conservancy, collaboratively managed by BC Parks, the Coast Tsimshian First Nations, and the Gits’iis Tribe protects the lush and rich coastal ecosystems that are needed to sustain the various species grizzly bears rely on for survival. Covering grass filled valleys, white sand beaches, and cloud scraping mountain tops, this is truly an incredibly special corner of the Earth ripe for exceptional wildlife viewing experiences.
Spring Bear Viewing
Bear viewing in the spring offers a completely different lens into bear behaviour and appetite than seeing them in the fall. Waking up from their winter long hibernation, bears will be seen munching on the verdant sedge grass, occasionally accompanied by their fresh cubs. Spring also means mating season for grizzly bears which allows us the oppourtunity to witness very rare, and typically unseen, bear behaviour.
Outer Island Exploration
The Khutzeymateen itinerary has much more to offer than its spectacular bear viewing. Navigating through the outer islands of the north coast, we have plenty of opportunities to venture ashore to amble through wildflower dotted shorelines, or beachcomb on white sandy beaches. Viewing these rocky outcrop islands from your own kayak at sea level gives a whole new perspective of this rarely visited, but deeply beautiful part of the coast.
Limited Visitor Access
Very few operators are permitted access into the estuary where the sedge munching grizzly bears spend their spring. With less than 200 people visiting the estuary annually, guests on this eco-tour join the select few to observe these grizzly bears in their primal home.
First Nations Petroglyphs
On the final day of this itinerary, we are joined by a hereditary chief of the Metlakatla First Nation who will provide the history and background of various ancient petroglyphs, adding an incredibly special and in depth perspective of the cultural history of the area and the people who have called this part of the coast home since time immemorial.
Current Khutzeymateen Sailings
Running from the end of May to early June, this captivating itinerary is only offered on a few sailings every year. See when you can experience the Khutzeymateen for yourself.
Schedules & PricingVisiting Responsibly
How We Tour Sustainably in the Khutzeymateen
The Khutzeymateen Conservancy offers very limited visitor access and we are proud to be one of the select few operators who can guide guests through this area. In agreement with the Metlakatla First Nation, Bluewater Adventures has been granted access into this area and promises to direct our tours and wildlife viewing in an ethical and responsible way, focusing on the preservation of this area for generations to come.
We also ensure that we provide current and timely trip logistics to BC Parks to ensure that we hold the appropriate permits to the areas we either travel through or stop to visit. All Parks and Protocols agreement fees are included in our trip prices.
As a primarily bear focused itinerary, we guarantee that all crew acting as wildlife guides on this tour are certified Level 1 Bear Guides by the Commercial Bear Viewing Association (CBVA). By being CBVA certified, our guides can promote and facilitate sustainable bear viewing practices that allow us to best view bears in their natural habitat with minimal impact to their behaviour and surroundings.