Wildlife Watching in Knight Inlet
Grizzlies, orcas, bald eagles, sea lions, sea otters…the wildlife world of British Columbia's Great Bear Rainforest reaches its biodiversity peak in Knight Inlet, the spectacular 105-kilometre-long, 2.9-kilometre-wide fjord that stretches inland from the Pacific Coast to the mouth of the Klinaklini River.

Great Grizzlies: The inlet, one of the largest on the British Columbia coast, forms the southern edge of the 500-kilometre-long, 7-million-hectare Great Bear Rainforest, the largest tract of continuous ancient temperate rainforest left on earth. The deep, blue-green waterway, with its breathtaking backdrop of Coast Mountain snow-capped peaks, steep cliffs and towering Sitka Spruce, is also the southern frontier of western North America's grizzly bear population. To the delight of eco-tourists and nature photographers, the massive bears can be relied upon to appear at the water's edge just about anytime from April to September. In spring, they come to feed on emerging vegetation. In summer, they are accompanied by their cubs, and in the fall, the race is on to pack as many salmon as possible into their pre-hibernation bellies.

Grizzlies aren't the only ursine residents of the inlet - black bears like salmon too. Bald eagles cruise the skies, and in July and August, orcas (killer whales) make their dramatic appearance.

Inner Inlet Experience: While Knight Inlet can be accessed by boat, inland from Johnstone Strait between Vancouver Island and the British Columbia mainland, eco-tourists can book a fly-in visit to a floating eco-lodge located 60 kilometres up the waterway. The lodge runs several tours, including grizzly-viewing tours to Glendale Cove, home to one of the largest concentrations of grizzly bears in British Columbia. During the summer, bear watching is done by boat, but in the fall spawning season, excursions include vehicle access by logging roads to special viewing platforms near salmon spawning channels.

Day-trip grizzly-watching tours by water taxi from Telegraph Cove on Vancouver Island are also available.

Hiking, Paddling, Fishing and Trail-Riding in the Chilcotin Plateau
Kleena Kleene, Tatla Lake, Tatlayoko Lake, Nimpo Lake, Chilko Lake, Anahim Lake, Ts'yl-os Provincial Park, Tweedsmuir Provincial Park - welcome to one of North America's last frontiers. Rugged and remote, just barely populated, and possessing an almost surreal beauty, the land above the Klinaklini is an outdoor lover's dream. It is a land where four-wheelers and floatplanes reign supreme, and where wilderness fishing, camping, hiking and trail-riding reach a high art.

· Hike the Alexander Mackenzie Heritage Trail through Tweedsmuir Provincial Park - The entire Alexander Mackenzie's Heritage Trail/Forest Recreation Trail is 450 kilometres long; unless you have 3 weeks, at least 3 companions and top-notch wilderness hiking skills, you're not likely to follow every one of 18th century explorer Alexander Mackenizie's footsteps on the ancient Nuxalk-Carrier "grease trail" from the Blackwater River to the Bella Coola Valley. But you can hike some its alpine stretches in Tweedsmuir Provincial Park, north of the head of the Klinaklini, or follow some of the Park's northern day-hike trails, including the Chikamin Mountain Trail (3 kilometres), the Tetachuk River Trail (5 kilometres), and the Zinc Mountain Mining road (4 kilometres). In the southern portion of the Park, Hunlen Falls is a popular hiking destination; start from the Young Creek Picnic Site trailhead, and plan to spend 2 -3 days to reach the Falls. Many outfitters offer fly-in/fly-out hiking options; most are based at Nimpo Lake on Highway 20. Trail-riders take note: horseback trips and rubber-tired wagon trips on the Alexander Mackenzie Trail can be arranged through packers in Chilcotin area.

· Canoe the Turner Lake Chain: Follow a remote but well-established 19 -kilometre route through 7 lakes in Tweed Muir Provincial Park's southern section. The lakes are connected by short portages. Canoes can be rented at Turner Lake or airlifted in. Recreation bonus: Superb fishing for cutthroat trout. Sightseeing bonus: the stunning beauty of 260 metre-high Hunlen Falls.

· Fish Chilko Lake at Ts'yl-os Provincial Park - East of the upper Klinaklini, glacier-chilled Chilko Lake is one of the highest and largest freshwater natural lakes in North America. It is full of Dolly Varden, rainbow trout and lake trout, and the nearby Chilko River is famous for its Chinook, sockeye and steelhead runs. Ts'ylo-os Provincial Park surrounds Chilko Lake, and features hiking trails through wildflower-carpeted alpine meadows, spectacular mountain views, a wildlife population of deer, moose, grizzly bears and mountain goats, and occasional sightings of Peregrine Falcons and Vaux's Swift. The Park features 2 basic campsites and both concrete and natural boat ramps, and a popular 12-kilometre round-trip hike on the Tullin Mountain Trail. Rustic lodges, private campgrounds, and first-class resorts are also located in the Chilko Lake area.

· Further Fishing: The lakes and rivers of the Chilcotin Plateau offer endless fishing opportunities; guides, outfitters and fly-in camps and lodges are located throughout the region. Nimpo Lake, on Highway 20, north of Kleena Kleene, is a headquarters for floatplane and charter air services. Lake specialties in the West Chilcotin include: Nimpo Lake: rainbow trout; Tatla Lake: Kokanee; Puntzi Lake: rainbow trout, Kokanee; Charlotte Lake: rainbow trout, char; Anahim Lake: rainbow trout, char; Lessard Lake: rainbow trout, char; Rainbow Lake: rainbow trout, Kokanee, char; Turner Lake: cutthroat trout.

· Trail Rides and Pack Trips - Step into the stirrups on your sure-footed, mountain-bred horse and follow your guide past shimmering glaciers, alpine meadows and azure lakes. Travel an ancient trading trail, camp under the stars…the Chilcotin is ranch country, and throughout the area horseback riding is a well-developed feature of the local eco-tourism industry. Look for professional guiding services near Ts'yl-os Provincial Park, at the north end of Chilko Lake, and in the Charlotte Lake - Charlotte Alplands wilderness area, near the south end of Tweedsmuir Provincial Park. Note: Working guest ranch and dude ranch vacations operate throughout the Chilcotin. Combine trail riding or pack-tripping with rodeo-watching and round ups. Bring your cowboy hat!