The Khutzeymateen inlet is a protected area and part of the "Great Bear Rainforest". It is a completely wild environment with the only visible boundary being a set of buoys in the river announcing the restricted status. Access to the upper parts of the river/inlet are closed to general tours and accessible only by contracting with one of the 2 licensed guides. These 2 guides have held exclusive licenses for the last thirty years.

No hunting, commercial logging, mining or hydro-electric power generation is permitted (for now) in the sanctuary.