Bear watching

Bears Viewing in North America

Where the land is wild and the salmon plentiful, whether on the coast of British Columbia, Yellowstone or South eastern Alaska, bears will congregate. Bear viewing can range from spotting a bear at the side of the road to luxury wilderness adventure trips. Viewing bears without a guide is certainly possible, but guided bear-watching trips are the best way to ensure a safe, successful experience of viewing bears in their natural habitat.

Bear watching can be an expensive addition to a holiday and for many it is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. There are a large number of companies offering all sorts of bear-watching experiences. Whilst sightings are never guaranteed, to avoid disappointment it is important to pick the trip that will match both your expectations and your budget. Call us and we will help you make the right choice. Here is just a small selection of what we are able to offer:-

Great Bear Lodge

The Great Bear Rainforest is home to a significant concentration on coastal grizzly bears and is arguably one of the best places in the world to observe grizzlies and other wildlife such as wolves, black bears, otters, pine martins, mink and bald eagles. Great Bear Lodge is nestled in a remote inlet in the heart of this Rainforest.

During the spring, grizzlies come down from the mountains to graze on the sedges and grasses of the river estuary. Bear viewing is from boats which float gently through the estuary. The estuary is bustling with other bird and animal life at this time of year. The return of thousands of salmon marks the beginning on the Fall season in mid August. The bear viewing at this time is from a series of viewing platforms along the river as the bears gorge on fish in preparation for hibernation …

Knight Inlet Lodge

In a wild and remote area of Pacific Northwest, set amidst the dramatic snow-capped peaks of Canada's rugged coastline is Knight Inlet Lodge. The area is home to one of the largest concentration on grizzly bears in British Columbia. During the peak Fall season, when the salmon are returning to the river, it is not uncommon for there to be up to 50 bears within 10 kilometres of the lodge.

The grizzly bears are abundant in the fall but this is not the only season that grizzlies frequent the area around the lodge. Starting in April, both black and grizzly bears begin emerging from hibernation and head to the estuary to feed on the succulent new spring growth. This is a great time for watching grizzly bears as they go about their daily lives. Even in mid-summer, when many of the bears have moved into the surrounding timber clearings to feast on berries, several bears can usually be seen each day as they move in and around the estuary and along the logging roads…

Spirit Bear Lodge

In the small remote Kitasoo First Nation fishing Village of Klemtu, in the heart of the Great Bear Rainforest of British Columbia is Spirit Bear Lodge. This area is home to the rare and beautiful Spirit (Kermode) Bear. In addition, an abundance of other wildlife can be viewed including grizzly and black bear, wolves, whales and dolphin. To optimise your chance of viewing the shy and elusive Spirit Bear, we would strongly suggest at least 4 nights in September or October.

Polar Bear with Frontiers North Adventures

Head to the Province of Manitoba and experience the thrill of Polar Bear viewing. Together with our friends at Frontiers North, we are proud to offer the adventure of a lifetime viewing these magnificent animals.

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Churchill Wild

For those who would prefer to view the polar bears at ground level then we are able to offer a unique alternative experience. Staying in remote and exclusive lodges, daily guided hikes into the Tundra are offered with the opportunity to view and photograph polar bears, caribou, and Arctic fox in a backdrop of stunning sea and landscapes – contact us for more details.

Hallo Bay in Alaska is home to the highest concentration of Alaska’s brown bears. The area is a rich source of food from berries and sweet grasses to fish and clams. In early summer the bears can be viewed feeding on grass and digging for clams – this is typically a good time for seeing cubs. In August and September the bears usually feed on salmon. The bear viewing is by foot accompanied by a knowledgeable guide. Day tours or longer overnight programs are offered with accommodation in simple tented cabins

If you have seen film footage or photographs of bears fishing at a waterfall then in all likelihood it was taken at Brooks Falls in Katmai National Park, Alaska. The area is world renowned for its large population of brown bears due to salmon migration through Brooks River. Prime viewing is in July and September. We are able to offer packages to take in this amazing sight – a Mecca for wildlife photographers.

Black Bear are found all over the North American continent but most abundantly in British Columbia and on Vancouver Island. The heavily forested, dense bush and wooded mountains provide the ideal habitat. We work with a number of tour companies who offer day tours to watch for bears – one of our favourite is Remote Passages in Tofino. Your knowledgeable guide will take you into the fjord inlets and sheltered bays of Clayoquot Sound. Black bears come out of the rainforest to feed on crunchy crab, clams & barnacles on the coast.

This is just a small selection of the possibilities. Call us to discuss how we can include bear watching in your itinerary.