In late summer, when the salmon arrive to spawn, Bella Coola is host to one of the highest concentrations of grizzly bears on the planet. Among these old growth forests, pristine rivers, stunning peaks, soaring eagles, and vast glaciers, there is one animal at the top of the food chain: it is the mighty grizzly bear.
Our grizzly bear viewing trips, recognized by Destination Canada (formerly the Canadian Tourism Commission) as a Signature Experience that showcases authentic, immersive and engaging tourism experiences for travellers, take place from September to mid October. This is when the local rivers are host to teeming numbers of returning salmon which in turn draws lots of grizzlies hoping to fatten up for the coming winter. At this time of the year the grizzly bears are intent on fishing and are more tolerant of both other bears and people and are therefore much easier to observe.
Accompanied by an experienced and knowledgeable guide, our drift trips are the perfect way to see the bears and wildlife of the Bella Coola valley. The McKenzie River boats are non-motorized and therefore do not disturb the bears in their natural habitat. The leisurely pace and silence offer a relaxed and peaceful way to travel the valley, as well as a completely unique opportunity for viewing wildlife up close and personal. On some occasions, our guests see up to 15 different grizzly bears in a single float...conversely, there could be a day where no bears are spotted (though that is rare)!
In addition to the river floats you will also be able to walk old growth forests, literally in the footsteps of the bears. Our guide will show you day beds, claw marks on trees, tufts of bear fur, and of course lots of bear scat.
Guests from all over the world have stated that this is one of the ultimate wildlife viewing opportunities on the planet. See what they say about us on TripAdvisor.
Wildlife experiences are so much better in small, intimate groups. Group size is definitely something you should consider when booking your holiday. At Tweedsmuir Park Lodge, guests have the option of choosing a Private or a Small Group package. Here are the differences;
Private package - All of your tours are composed of just the people in your reservation (plus the guide of course!). On the guided Scenic River Drifts you will get to use a McKenzie Drift Boat, which is the best option for serious photographers (as it has a solid base and sides). If you have children 11 years old and younger, then you will need to book a Private package. Bookings can be made for any day of the week (subject to availability).
Small Group package - Both Guided Nature Walks and River Drifts are in small groups, with no more than 6 people. Drift the river in a comfortable raft with seats. Bookings can be made for any day of the week (subject to availability).
In addition to September, the month of October is a great time to visit too! The bears are fattening up before going into hibernation. In October, grizzlies occasionally frequent our lower lodge lawn more often than other months in order to graze on the clover.
Other reasons to visit in October:
- No crowds! We are still running bear viewing tours while the public viewing station is closed. This means our guests pretty much have the river to themselves and a few random Coho fishermen!
- Beautiful Autumn Colours! The contrast is amazing: lush, green lawns, with deciduous trees displaying every variation of green, yellow, orange and red you can imagine.....and sometimes there might be a backdrop of white when the mountain tops receive their first dustings of snow
- Mild temperatures! In October the summer heat is long gone and winter's frigid temperatures haven't arrived just yet
- Mushrooms! Have you been to Bella Coola in the fall and seen cars parked on the side of the road? They belong to local mushroom pickers. The damp forest floor is perfect for pine mushrooms to flourish. You might even get to enjoy some for dinner while staying at the lodge...or come and pick your own, the chef will cook them up for you!
Our multi-day packages have been specifically designed to showcase the best of Bella Coola and the Great Bear Rainforest. If you have areas of special interest, or mobility issues, or are travelling with a young family, we suggest doing a Private package. We can then tailor the program to suit your desires. To see sample itineraries, click on the links in the pricing tiles below. Optional add-on activities for custom trips include Heli-Hiking, Heli-Sightseeing, Fishing, Horseback Riding, overnight camping, and even summer Heli-Skiing!
- Photographers - If you are a professional or serious amateur photographer, we strongly suggest doing the Private package option. When on a river drift in a Private package, guets will be in a McKenzie Drift Boat which has a sold bottom and sides, enhancing stability. Additionally, guests can stay stationary (or move around) as long as you would like as the guide is not concerned with other guests in the group! With a Private, we can customize the tour to your desires.
- Camera Lens - We recommend lens in the 400mm-600mm range, depending if you are using a crop sensor or full frame camera.
- Book Early - As one of the best locations in the world to watch grizzly bears catch salmon, we book up far in advance. It is never too early to book!
- Book A Longer Trip - the only complaint we seem to get is "we didn't book long enough"! We suggest booking a minimum of 4 nights.
The majority of our guests fly to Bella Coola and we then pick them up as we are very remote, however, we are very easy to get to. If you have plenty of time and want to see more of beautiful British Columbia, a road trip is definitely the way to go! We recommend taking the ferry to/from Vancouver Island and doing the Discovery Coast Circle Tour (click for more info).
BC Ferries has several packages that include a stay with us;
Travelling with children? Small Group packages are for ages 12 and older. If you have a child/children 11 years and/or younger, you will need to book the Private package for yourselves, however, if your family is 5 or more people, contact us for special group rates.
Travelling in a group of 5 or more? If your group consists of 5 or more people, contact us for special group rates.
Travelling solo? Welcome! During our bear viewing season we do not offer a Single Occupancy supplement, however, you can book 2 spots for yourself.
2.5 days of guided Small Group bear viewing tours.
If you have children 11 & younger, you need to book a Private package.
3.5 days of guided Small Group bear viewing tours.
If you have children 11 & younger, you need to book a Private package.
4.5 days of guided Small Group bear viewing tours.
If you have children 11 & younger, you need to book a Private package.
5.5 days of guided Small Group bear viewing tours.
If you have children 11 & younger, you need to book a Private package.
6.5 days of guided Small Group bear viewing tours.
If you have children 11 & younger, you need to book a Private.
2.5 days of Private guided bear viewing tours.
3.5 days of Private guided bear viewing tours.
4.5 days of Private guided bear viewing tours.
5.5 days of Private guided bear viewing tours.
6.5 days of Private guided bear viewing tours.
All rates are in Canadian Dollars, based on Double Occupancy and exclude 5% tax.
We would be more than happy to chat about how we can help you have an amazing holiday in the Bella Coola Valley and the Great Bear Rainforest!
