Knight Inlet is a 125km long fjord that passes through some of the most remote and stunning scenery on the British Columbia coast. It is characterised by towering and often snow-capped peaks above and dense evergreen forests of sitka and hemlock along its edges.
Sixty kilometres from its mouth is Glendale Cove, a picturesque estuary that used to be the site of a First Nations village and cannery and is now a wildlife watcher’s dream. The estuary and surrounding coastline provide perhaps the most reliable and awe-inspiring bear watching anywhere in the world.
Glendale Cove supports a large population of grizzly bears offering outstanding boat-based viewing of these enchanting animals throughout the season. In late August the numbers of bears in the area swell with the arrival of the annual salmon run leading to a truly world-class wildlife spectacle as numerous grizzlies desperately try to hunt as many salmon as they can.
Other wildlife includes American black bear, river otter, mule deer, coastal wolf and puma (or mountain lion) although the latter two are rarely seen.
Knight Inlet is home to huge pods of Pacific white-sided dolphins and occasional humpback whales plus many seabirds including the tiny marbled murrelet and elegant Barrow’s goldeneye.
The region is best accessed on a floatplane from Campbell River or on a much longer boat ride as a day trip.
