Kelowna 
The untouched parts of northwestern British Columbia’s wilderness are unlike any other region in Canada. These coastal mountains are lush with not only forests, but actual rainforests, and all the beauty and wildlife that comes with it. With these mountains and forests are expansive river valleys or gorges, massive lakes, glaciers, rushing waterfalls, and much more. And while these areas are, for the most part, quite challenging to explore, there are helpful guides up north who have all the knowledge, experience, equipment, and jet boats to get you there.
Credit: Northern BC Jet Boat Tours
Embark on what is sure to be a memorable journey with one of the many excursions offered by the Northern BC Jet Boat Tours. The aim of each tour is to provide guests with a chance to witness or experience parts of this wilderness that are usually harder to see or access. This includes the larger wildlife like bears, whales, and sea lions, the rivers, waterfalls, and lakes, coastal mountains, and places that at one time were not considered so remote or desolate.
Grizzly Bear Tours
The remote wilderness of west-central BC, with its coastal mountains, wide and lush valleys, and large green-blue lakes, is, of course, beautiful to behold on its own. But part of the remote BC wilderness beauty also comes from the abundance of wildlife that inhabit these wild lands. With the Northern BC Jet Boat Tours departing from both Kitimat (on the water) and Terrace (within a large river valley), there will be a variety of wildlife to watch for on these mesmerizing and memorable tour options.
- Bear Viewing tours will be available in both spring and fall for 2025. The spring tour will depart from Terrace, while the fall tour will leave from Kitimat. These are unique opportunities to see one of the most intimidating and dangerous predators within the Canadian mountains: the grizzly! The tour takes up a full day, at 8 hours in length, and will include education on the grizzlies, as well as viewing and education for many other types of wildlife and landscapes.
- Spring Sea Lion River Tours are available in March only, and Whale Watching tours are not currently available. However, more whale-watching tours or grizzly tours may be added as the season goes on.
The Kitlope
As these boat tours travel across the remote waters, they’ll also travel towards even more remote locations for views of BC’s most beautiful, untouched wilderness. And while the surrounding scenery is meant to be a major highlight of the overnight Kitlope trip, there will also be numerous wildlife viewing opportunities for grizzly bears in the forests, and humpback whales in the water.
- The Kitlope tour provides views you cannot get anywhere else in Canada. This is the only part of the country classified as a rainforest climate, and the Kitlope tour brings the boat around the WORLD’s largest intact coastal rainforest.
- The trip begins with a ride down the Gardner Canal before reaching the Kitlope River. From here, the tour continues to the remote waters of Kitlope Lake.
- Some of the majestic scenery within these rainforests includes the towering mountains, dozens of rushing waterfalls, smooth glaciers, and the massive granite cliffs over the lake.
- As an overnight trip, there will be a stop on the shores to camp in one of many available cabins. But before you rest, the tour will offer a chance to soak in all-natural hot springs.
- Northern BC Jet Boat Tours offers similar trips like the Cannery Tours, or the Waterfalls & Remote Rivers; these are not currently available for booking, but each may be added as the season goes on.
Hot Springs Tours
This single-day tour is a unique opportunity to experience natural coastal hot springs which aren’t normally accessible to the public. With Northern BC Jet Boat Tours, you’ll get to travel the Douglas Channel from Kitimat with four stops at four hot springs. And while you soak, take in the incredible coastal scenery.
- From July to October, there are good chances of spotting whales in the water during the tour. The tour is also an excellent opportunity to spot other marine life, coastal birds, and possibly a grizzly on the shore.
Ghost Town Tours
Anyox is a former copper mining town and was once the province’s largest mining town overall. Today, Anyox is a small, privately owned community, with most of the former parts of the town having become overgrown and reclaimed by nature. And with Northern BC Jet Boat Tours, guests will get to experience this remote, abandoned town and all the nature around it, on an overnight trip with two days for exploring.
- The tour company have a camp near Anyox where you’ll stay overnight after exploring the town on foot or ATV.
- There are many highlights while exploring the town, like the Dam, which the current owners are trying to restore, old ore cars, the old “red light district,” a cemetery, and many other sites.
Planning Your Trip – Northern BC Jet Boat Tour Company
What: The Northern BC Jet Boat Tour company are a group of experienced and local guides who bring visitors to some of the more remote but incredibly scenic parts of northwestern BC. The seasonal tours begin each spring and offer a variety of tour types from which to choose, like wildlife viewing, hot springs touring, or ghost town touring.
Location and how to get there: departure locations vary by adventure and include Terrace Visitor Centre & Tourism Terrace (4511 Keith Ave, Terrace)
or the MK Bay Marina (4935 Kitamaat Village Rd, Kitimat)
Terrace and Kitimat are 70km apart on BC-37
Best time to go: April-September
Cost: $600-$1300 per person per tour
For more information:
