This remote British Columbia lodge features beautiful foliage, wildlife, A-frame cabins, geodesic domes, saunas and hot springs.
Nicola Anderson is a photographer, writer, and adventurer based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, on the undisputed territory of the Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and Sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh) peoples.
Located in a small town in British Columbia’s Bella Coola Valley, Firvale Wilderness Camp is a new luxury camping resort designed for travelers who love nature, adventure, and relaxation. Surrounded by the Coast Mountains, the camp is nestled in the Great Bear Rainforest of British Columbia, home to the Nuxalmk people, the first inhabitants of this land 10,000 years ago. The camp is a unique location, perfect for an off-the-beaten-path adventure.
We had the opportunity to visit this camp during a five-day trip early last summer. Upon arrival, the first thing I noticed was the abundance of wild flowers in full bloom. Then we took in the camp’s architecture: it features two A-frame cabins, three glamping domes, a communal dining room, a cedar hot tub and hammock lounge, and a handcrafted sauna overlooking the nearby river.
Whether you’re looking for adventure or relaxation, Firvale Wilderness Camp offers a variety of accommodation options. You can book a few nights in an A-frame lodge or glamping igloo and explore the area on your own, or choose one of the camp’s two adventure packages, which include five days of activities and home-cooked meals straight from the farm.
Adventures in the Great Bear Rainforest include whitewater rafting on the Bella Coola River, a scenic flight over Monarch Glacier and Henlon Falls (which also includes a unique floatplane stop over a glacial lake), a day-long sailing trip on a fjord (including a boat ride to a natural hot spring), and more. Guests traveling in the late summer and early fall can also join Grizzly & Wildlife Adventure Tours, which include excursions in search of grizzly bears, whales, wolves, and more. If you’re not in the mood for the adventure of a lifetime, you can relax in a hot tub or sauna, or explore the campground.
But the big question remains: A-frame or dome glamping? The luxury dome glamping is spacious and features top-notch amenities, perfect for stargazing at night. Although we chose the A-frame for this trip, our favorite features were the loft reading nook with a second bed and picture window, and the large soaking tub for one on the deck.
Firvale’s location is stunning, but what really makes this camp so special is the care and attention that camp owners Jen and Bobby put into every inch of the camp, from the carefully curated (and expertly curated) menu of exclusive adventures to the design and decor of every room in the building, all of which combine to give visitors a complete and authentic experience of the area even on a short trip.
Firvale Wilderness Lodge is a seasonal property and, due to its remote location and extreme local climate, closes during the winter months. While the wait may seem like an eternity, now is the time to book a room for spring 2022 before the few remaining beautifully appointed rooms fill up.
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