Grizzly Bear watching tour in BC

A Grizzly Bear viewing excursion from Port Hardy to a beautiful river valley deep in the snow capped Coast Range Mountains on the mainland coast of British Columbia. Known as the Great Bear Rain forest, this area is one of the best places in the world to observe Grizzly Bears and many other forms of wildlife including black bears, wolves and bald eagles. The fully self-contained floating lodge is the ideal base for photography and wildlife tours, nestled at the mouth of a pristine salmon river. Glacier fed waterfalls cascade down massive granite cliffs into the blue-green waters of the inlet. This is a place of spectacular beauty where one can still find the silence and solitude of another era. From this location we operate our Grizzly Bear viewing program. With a maximum of ten guests, you are ensured of an intimate experience in this very special wilderness area.

Each season offers a unique view into the world of grizzly bears. In Spring after emerging from hibernation, the bears head to the estuarine grasslands to feed on the new growth of grasses and sedges. At this time, we view the bears from small boats. Spring is also the time when most of the mating activity occurs for the bears. Spring can be a great time for photography when the sun is out, as we are in the open estuary.

In Summer as the berries begin to ripen, the grizzlies begin their summer pattern of moving between the estuary, the river and the scattered berry patches. Given that they are not at a fixed concentrated food source all the time, we have to work harder for our bear sightings. We do have some of our best bear viewing experiences in summer, but the bear sighting frequency is less than in the other seasons. Summer is also great time for other animals, such as the harbor seals with their pups or the mergansers who may have a dozen or more ducklings with them. This is the best time of the year for fine weather. It is also a great time to combine a visit at our lodge with whale watching or kayaking tours provided by other operators in nearby Johnstone Strait.

In Fall the salmon move into the river during August, setting the stage for a feast for the grizzlies and other forest animals and birds. The salmon run lasts from August through November. Each bear will use its own fishing technique to catch the salmon, from chasing them through the water to carefully feeling for them under the riverbank. At this time we view the bears from specially-constructed viewing blinds built along the river. The blind accommodates up to 10 guests, with enough room to allow each person to set up a camera tripod in front of them.

All grizzly bear tours include the following:

Two grizzly bear viewing sessions per day, with a wildlife biologist as guide

Accommodation in a private room at the Great Bear Lodge

Wilderness-gourmet meals, including wine with dinner

Optional activities such as interpretive hikes and sea kayaking

Floatplane flights from Port Hardy to the Great Bear Lodge

Binoculars, rain gear and rubber boots, if required

day-by-day itinerary

Day 1:	Departing from Port Hardy at 3pm, you will leave behind the noise of modern life for a pristine wilderness. Transportation is by seaplane flight. Journeying to our site is a spectacular adventure in itself, traveling past the breathtaking scenery of the central coast and over the rich waters of Queen Charlotte Strait, the home of orca, gray and humpback whales. Upon your arrival at the lodge, your hosts will be on the dock to welcome you to your wilderness retreat. Settle into your private room at the lodge. Each bedroom has a private washroom, with hot showers located downstairs. In the late afternoon, your grizzly bear experience begins. We have a range of different viewing sites, and will choose one according to where the bears have been most active. Estuary sites are reached by boat, while river sites are reached by a bus. There is nothing quite like seeing your first grizzly emerge from the forest. Returning to the lodge that evening, you will be treated to a wilderness-gourmet meal. Our biologist will present slides and videos, explaining the interaction of the grizzly bear with this unique ecology.
Day 2:	In the morning, you will be on the trail of the grizzly bear again after some good coffee and breakfast. A typical viewing session lasts three hours. After a morning of adventure, you will return to the lodge for lunch and a chance to relax. Spend the early afternoon exploring the surrounding area with a guide. A popular activity is the interpretive rainforest walk, examining bear sign and the general ecology of the area. In mid-afternoon you will venture out to see the bears before returning to the lodge for dinner. On clear nights, the stars are amazing.
Day 3:	As your stay at the lodge continues, you begin to settle into the natural rhythm of the valley. The bears are generally most active in the early morning and late afternoon hours, which is why we focus our viewing sessions on these times. Over the course of your stay we will take you to a variety of sites, depending on the bear activity. For the afternoon recreation today we may take a guided sea-kayaking tour of the estuary, or a boat cruise to explore the glacier-carved inlet. Or you may prefer to relax and enjoy the view from the lodge. The Great Bear Rainforest is home to many animals, including grey wolves, otters, black bears, mink and bald eagles. One of our favorite dishes is marinated salmon baked on a cedar plank.
Day 4:	After your parting session with the bears you will enjoy lunch at the Great Bear Lodge. You will be returned to Port Hardy in the afternoon between 4pm and 6pm.