Nestled in the B.C. Rainforest, Nimmo Bay Resort Puts Nature First

Tucked away in a cinematic locale, this B.C.–based rainforest retreat puts nature first.

Picture if you will a tiny, idyllic collection of nine cozy wooden cabins, nestled in a small coastal bay near the base of Mount Stephens in British Columbia’s Great Bear Rainforest. Surrounded by local wildlife, giant cedars, and a cascading waterfall that supplies clean drinking water and green energy, these accommodations are so remote that they are only accessible by float plane or helicopter. This isn’t the introduction to David Attenborough’s newest nature special (though an episode of Boston Legal was once filmed here). It’s the day-to-day backdrop of Nimmo Bay Resort, and it’s breathtaking.

Originally founded in 1980 as a sports-fishing lodge, Nimmo Bay has more recently evolved into a sustainability-focused luxury retreat that offers world-class wilderness, culinary, and wellness experiences in the midst of 50,000 square miles of pristine forest, mountains and water. (Nimmo became the B.C. government’s first official Stewardship Partner of this expanse of land in 2005.)

Nimmo has always been a family affair. And to say owners Craig and Deborah Murray are “outdoorsy” wouldn’t really be doing their story justice: Bonded by their mutual love of nature, the Murrays had long planned to raise their family in harmony with the natural world. They towed a float-home to Nimmo Bay and set up a simple fishing lodge — their first guests arrived in 1981. (As legend has it, Craig installed the resort’s current hydroelectricity system by himself, barging a 1,500-pound water turbine during the highest tide of the year.)

Since the resort was overtaken by the Murrays’ oldest son, Fraser, and his wife, Becky, Nimmo Bay’s amenities have expanded far beyond fishing — though guests still enjoy catch-and-release access to the area’s salmon and trout. Whale-watching, mindful hiking, glacier-trekking and spelunking in karst caves are just some of the excursions on offer, but guests keen to stay closer in-land can simply launch a kayak from, quite literally, their doorstep and explore the local flora.

For all of its relaxed elements — yoga facilities, wellness treatments, and waterfall-side hot tubs — one thing the team and Nimmo Bay takes very seriously is its relationship with its natural surroundings. Everything from its cabin amenities to its power grid are designed to be as low-impact as possible to its surrounding vulnerable ecosystem.

Speaking of greenery, chef David Hassell sources much of his seasonal culinary inspiration from the local landscape, incorporating foraged flowers, berries, roots — as well as meatier options, like wild Pacific salmon, albacore tuna, and Dungeness crab — into the dishes at Nimmo Bay’s new floating restaurant, Little River. This year, Nimmo Bay will launch its own online store, intended to promote Canadian-owned businesses that share the Murrays’ passion for sustainability. Per usual, they’ll be keeping things local.