The remote village is home to the Kitasoo/Xaixais people who safeguard one of the most diverse ecosystems on earth; a land surrounded by snow-capped peaks, deep fjords, open beaches and lush rainforest.
Here, in the heart of the Great Bear Rainforest, experience the Kitasoo/Xaixais way of life which has thrived for thousands of years. You can visit some 100 ancient cultural sites including abandoned native villages and fish traps; stand before 1,000 year-old cedar, fir and spruce trees that soar 30 stories high. The area also has remarkable biodiversity and varied wildlife. You may even witness wildlife species found only in this part of the world.
The area is home to the elusive Kermode Bear or Spirit Bear – the world’s only white-coated variation of the black bear – as well as grizzly bears, black bears, mountain goats, eagles, and grey wolves.
You can reach Klemtu by air or ferry. Many choose to explore the area by sea kayak either on a self-guided tour or by booking a First Nations-guided ecotour, combining the best elements of First Nations culture, wildlife and wilderness.
Flights to Klemtu depart from Vancouver and Port Hardy or charter service is available from Bella Coola. Reach Klemtu by ferry as part of BC Ferries’ Discovery Coast Passage route from Port Hardy on Vancouver Island.
Many explore Klemtu by water but there are a few walking/hiking trails in Klemtu village and the surrounding area. Trails vary in length and difficulty. Take a short, easy walk in the village or venture out on a longer mountain-access route.
Although there are no designated campgrounds in the Klemtu area, camping is permitted. To play your part in preserving the area’s stunning ecosystem, visitors to the backcountry are encouraged to spread out in order to minimize the impact on any one area. The beachfronts are also great places to set up camp.
First Nations-owned and operated, Klemtu Tourism has built wilderness cabins in beautiful isolated areas offering amazing coastal views.
For hearty climbers, there are several undeveloped rock climbing faces to explore in the fjords to the east.
Central to the Klemtu community is a new traditional big house including carved and painted poles of the Kitasoo/Xaixais people. Attached to the big house is a museum/gallery displaying contemporary Aboriginal artwork and a few local artifacts.
You’ll find other poles and artifacts in the village and surrounding area as well as some 100 documented archaeology and heritage sites. Explore abandoned native villages, fish traps, or culturally modified trees (i.e. a tree once used for its bark or planks that is left alive and standing). The area also features mounds known as middens; these are beach or land forms made up of discarded shells and other objects that mark ancient sites of human usage or habitation.
Soon to be BC’s newest provincial park, an area now known as the Kitasoo-Spirit Bear protected area is one of Klemtu’s natural wonders. The area is a feast for the eyes.
In addition to pristine rainforest, you can stand before deep fjords, cascading waterfalls, snow-capped peaks, glaciers and great river estuaries. Looking west, you’ll discover many inlets, coves, islands and sandy beaches.
Wildlife in the area includes grizzly bears, black bears, wolves and many species of birds. Perhaps the most elusive species is the white Kermode (Spirit) Bear. BC’s Central Coast is the only place in the world where you’ll find this sub-species of the black bear; its white colour is the result of a single recessive gene carried by both parents. On Princess Royal Island, near Klemtu, some 10 per cent of the black bears are born white. To catch a glimpse of the elusive Kermode Bear, visit during salmon-spawning season in September.
Fjordland Recreation Area is a large marine park encompassing Kynoch and Mussel Inlets, their estuaries and the surrounding mountainous landscape. Here you’ll see one of the finest examples of glacially gouged fjords on BC’s coast, with sheer granite cliffs rising more than 1000 m (3281 ft). Paddlers can glide past the soaring Coast Mountain peaks, along dense coastal forests, and lush river estuaries.
Many magnificent ocean sea kayaking adventures launch from Klemtu. The area offers paddlers countless inlets, coves, sandy beaches and protected waters to explore. The surrounding waters are home to Orcas, humpback whales, Steller sea lions and sea otters which may be spotted on the journey. Kayak rentals and highly recommended multi-day, guided tours are available from Klemtu.
Kayakers can also take advantage of BC Ferries' "wet launch" service. With advance booking, kayakers can be picked up/dropped off between ports along the ferry route.
River and ocean fishing is also a popular seasonal pursuit. In summer, fish for steelhead and five species of salmon; in winter, drop a line for steelhead and coho salmon.
Klemtu has a new visitor mooring dock available for pleasure and charter boats located near the Klemtu tourism office.