GRIZZLY BEAR VIEWING RIVER DRIFT

Gently float down the Atnarko River in the presence of Grizzly Bears. Observe them in their natural environment, foraging for food, and looking after their young. Starting in late August, thousands upon thousands of salmon arrive in the local rivers to spawn - the final phase of their lifecycle. For the bears, salmon are an easy meal. Many bears, as well as other wildlife, congregate on the river to feast and fatten up before the long winter ahead. Due to the abundance of food, the bears are less shy than usual. They are also more tolerant of each other as well as of the people drifting by with their cameras. Along with bears, it is also possible to see a wide variety of birds and other wildlife with incredible mountain views as the backdrop.

GRIZZLY BEAR ECOLOGY WALKING TOUR

In autumn, Tweedsmuir Park Lodge is all about bears and a highlight activity is to venture out on foot, with a guide, to discover these majestic animals in their natural habitat. Guests will learn about bear ecology and how to cohabitate safely amongst these magnificent creatures. Guides will take guests to some of the bears’ favourite hang outs and will point out signs of bear activity such as claw marks, day beds, scat, and tufts of fur stuck in the bark of rub trees. Other wildlife species that also inhabit the forest include black bears, mule deer, moose, American beaver, mountain goats, bald eagles and numerous amphibian species. The adjacent lands are also a significant habitat for Vaux’s swift, the Peregrine falcon, fisher, wolverine, and Townsend’s big-eared bat.

GRIZZLY BEAR ECOLOGY WALKING TOUR

In autumn, Tweedsmuir Park Lodge is all about bears and a highlight activity is to venture out on foot, with a guide, to discover these majestic animals in their natural habitat. Guests will learn about bear ecology and how to cohabitate safely amongst these magnificent creatures. Guides will take guests to some of the bears’ favourite hang outs and will point out signs of bear activity such as claw marks, day beds, scat, and tufts of fur stuck in the bark of rub trees. Other wildlife species that also inhabit the forest include black bears, mule deer, moose, American beaver, mountain goats, bald eagles and numerous amphibian species. The adjacent lands are also a significant habitat for Vaux’s swift, the Peregrine falcon, fisher, wolverine, and Townsend’s big-eared bat.

GRIZZLY BEAR VIEWING RIVER DRIFT

Gently float down the Atnarko River in the presence of Grizzly Bears. Observe them in their natural environment, foraging for food, and looking after their young. Starting in late August, thousands upon thousands of salmon arrive in the local rivers to spawn - the final phase of their lifecycle. For the bears, salmon are an easy meal. Many bears, as well as other wildlife, congregate on the river to feast and fatten up before the long winter ahead. Due to the abundance of food, the bears are less shy than usual. They are also more tolerant of each other as well as of the people drifting by with their cameras. Along with bears, it is also possible to see a wide variety of birds and other wildlife with incredible mountain views as the backdrop.

Day 1 - ARRIVAL - GBS

For those arriving by air, enjoy the 70 minute mid-morning flight to Bella Coola, marvelling at the impressive Coast Range mountains and expansive fjord system as you fly overhead. On arrival, our staff will greet you and transfer you the 45 minutes to the lodge, highlighting points of interest along the way. If you are arriving by car, we recommend arriving by 2pm as your first bear viewing tour will start around 3pm!

After check-in, your holiday will start with a lodge orientation and an informative bear awareness seminar.

Your bear viewing commences with a late afternoon Scenic River Drift down the Atnarko River. Relax and enjoy the amazing mountain scenery……..and keep your eyes open for wildlife! The salmon are spawning and provide an easy meal for majestic bald eagles and impressive grizzly bears. River otters and black bears may also be seen. Small Group River Drift Bear Viewing is a unique experience only found at Tweedsmuir Park Lodge and is the best way to see grizzlies. The bears are busy fishing and ignore your presence, allowing you to see them at their most natural. It’s also a great way to capture amazing photographs.

The bears aren’t the only ones who will be feasting on a delicious meal; you will too, with a scrumptious 3 course dinner back at the lodge! Dinner is at 7:00pm every night

DEPARTURE DAY

Departure day!

We recommend one last visit to the Wildlife Viewing Station before your final breakfast with us.

Check-out is 11am. If you are flying out, take advantage of a leisurely morning in which you can enjoy the lodge property, make use of the spa and gym, play some lawn games, or simply relax before taking our shuttle back to the Bella Coola Airport for the flight back to Vancouver.

If you are departing by ferry, we will arrange to drive you to the harbour.

Thank you for staying with us! 

Guided Nature Walk - Full Day

Guided Nature Walk - Full Day

Wake up early and wander down to our Wildlife Viewing Station, which is for the exclusive use of Tweedsmuir Park Lodge guests. Early morning is a great time to spot bears and the raised structure provides open lines of sight both up and down the river. After checking out the Wildlife Viewing Platforms you have a choice of a hot or continental breakfast, which is held every day at 8am. Afterwards, it’s time to head out for a Guided Nature Walk in the old growth forests of Tweedsmuir Park, the largest provincial park in British Columbia.

Your guide, a naturalist, will show you how to track the bears and will point out various bear signs, including rub trees with claw and bite marks, and places the bears dig out in the forest floor for their naps called day beds. A picnic lunch will be served in the field.

In the afternoon, continue exploring Tweedsmuir Park with a drive on the Tote Road past old, abandoned homesteads brimming with character. At the end of the road there is a short, highly recommended hike to Stillwater Lake. This is a beautiful, pristine place that should not be missed! You will arrive back at the lodge in the late afternoon. Now you can relax and enjoy some hors d’oeuvres on the sun deck of the lodge, exchanging stories of wildlife seen with your fellow guests. Make sure to head back to the Wildlife Viewing Platforms before dinner.

Drift & Walk

Check out the Wildlife Viewing Station before breakfast. Then it’s time hit the river with your guide for a morning drift on the Atnarko River in search of more bears! A nutritious lunch will be served at the lodge before you head off with your guide to further explore Tweedsmuir Park. Our knowledgeable and friendly guides know the area well and have mapped numerous short walks to superb vantage points overlooking the Atnarko River to see spawning salmon…and the bears and eagles fishing for them! 

Walk / Drift

More bear watching! In the morning your guide will take you, on foot, to look for traces of bears and to explore our corner of the Great Bear Rainforest. After your walk and a delicious lunch back at the lodge, you will head off on a float down the Atnarko River in order to see grizzlies catching and eating salmon in the river!

DEPARTURE DAY

Departure day!

We recommend one last visit to the Wildlife Viewing Station before your final breakfast with us.

Check-out is 11am. If you are flying out, take advantage of a leisurely morning in which you can enjoy the lodge property, make use of the spa and gym, play some lawn games, or simply relax before taking our shuttle back to the Bella Coola Airport for the flight back to Vancouver.

If you are departing by ferry, we will arrange to drive you to the harbour.

Thank you for staying with us! 

Guided Nature Walk - Full Day

Guided Nature Walk - Full Day

Wake up early and wander down to our Wildlife Viewing Station, which is for the exclusive use of Tweedsmuir Park Lodge guests. Early morning is a great time to spot bears and the raised structure provides open lines of sight both up and down the river. After checking out the Wildlife Viewing Platforms you have a choice of a hot or continental breakfast, which is held every day at 8am. Afterwards, it’s time to head out for a Guided Nature Walk in the old growth forests of Tweedsmuir Park, the largest provincial park in British Columbia.

Your guide, a naturalist, will show you how to track the bears and will point out various bear signs, including rub trees with claw and bite marks, and places the bears dig out in the forest floor for their naps called day beds. A picnic lunch will be served in the field.

In the afternoon, continue exploring Tweedsmuir Park with a drive on the Tote Road past old, abandoned homesteads brimming with character. At the end of the road there is a short, highly recommended hike to Stillwater Lake. This is a beautiful, pristine place that should not be missed! You will arrive back at the lodge in the late afternoon. Now you can relax and enjoy some hors d’oeuvres on the sun deck of the lodge, exchanging stories of wildlife seen with your fellow guests. Make sure to head back to the Wildlife Viewing Platforms before dinner.

Drift / Walk

Check out the Wildlife Viewing Station before breakfast. Then it’s time hit the river with your guide for a morning drift on the Atnarko River in search of more bears! A nutritious lunch will be served at the lodge before you head off with your guide to further explore Tweedsmuir Park. Our knowledgeable and friendly guides know the area well and have mapped numerous short walks to superb vantage points overlooking the Atnarko River to see spawning salmon…and the bears and eagles fishing for them! 

Drift & Walk

Check out the Wildlife Viewing Station before breakfast. Then it’s time hit the river with your guide for a morning drift on the Atnarko River in search of more bears! A nutritious lunch will be served at the lodge before you head off with your guide to further explore Tweedsmuir Park. Our knowledgeable and friendly guides know the area well and have mapped numerous short walks to superb vantage points overlooking the Atnarko River to see spawning salmon…and the bears and eagles fishing for them! 

GUIDED HIKE IN THE RAINBOW RANGE

Rainbow Range Hike

This day will take you up onto the Chilcotin Plateau for a hike on the stunning Rainbow Range trail. The peaks of the Rainbow Range “Tsitsutl” in the local dialect, meaning painted mountains, form an enormous dome of eroded lava and fragmented rock that presents an astonishing spectrum of reds, oranges, yellows, and lavenders. The colours are really spectacular!

It’s also lake country and there are hundreds of large and small lakes dotting the area. The Rainbow Range offers a strong contrast to the higher and more rugged Coast Mountains just a small distance to the west. It’s a very different ecological experience, with smaller pine and fir forests. In 2010 there were large fires in the area and a wide variety of alpine flowers, including asters, arnica and fireweed are reclaiming the ground in between the blackened burnt forest.

For more information on the Rainbow Range, see this blog post.

DEPARTURE DAY

Departure day!

We recommend one last visit to the Wildlife Viewing Station before your final breakfast with us.

Check-out is 11am. If you are flying out, take advantage of a leisurely morning in which you can enjoy the lodge property, make use of the spa and gym, play some lawn games, or simply relax before taking our shuttle back to the Bella Coola Airport for the flight back to Vancouver.

If you are departing by ferry, we will arrange to drive you to the harbour.

Thank you for staying with us! 

Guided Nature Walk - Full Day

Guided Nature Walk - Full Day

Wake up early and wander down to our Wildlife Viewing Station, which is for the exclusive use of Tweedsmuir Park Lodge guests. Early morning is a great time to spot bears and the raised structure provides open lines of sight both up and down the river. After checking out the Wildlife Viewing Platforms you have a choice of a hot or continental breakfast, which is held every day at 8am. Afterwards, it’s time to head out for a Guided Nature Walk in the old growth forests of Tweedsmuir Park, the largest provincial park in British Columbia.

Your guide, a naturalist, will show you how to track the bears and will point out various bear signs, including rub trees with claw and bite marks, and places the bears dig out in the forest floor for their naps called day beds. A picnic lunch will be served in the field.

In the afternoon, continue exploring Tweedsmuir Park with a drive on the Tote Road past old, abandoned homesteads brimming with character. At the end of the road there is a short, highly recommended hike to Stillwater Lake. This is a beautiful, pristine place that should not be missed! You will arrive back at the lodge in the late afternoon. Now you can relax and enjoy some hors d’oeuvres on the sun deck of the lodge, exchanging stories of wildlife seen with your fellow guests. Make sure to head back to the Wildlife Viewing Platforms before dinner.

Drift / Walk

Check out the Wildlife Viewing Station before breakfast. Then it’s time hit the river with your guide for a morning drift on the Atnarko River in search of more bears! A nutritious lunch will be served at the lodge before you head off with your guide to further explore Tweedsmuir Park. Our knowledgeable and friendly guides know the area well and have mapped numerous short walks to superb vantage points overlooking the Atnarko River to see spawning salmon…and the bears and eagles fishing for them! 

Drift & Walk

Check out the Wildlife Viewing Station before breakfast. Then it’s time hit the river with your guide for a morning drift on the Atnarko River in search of more bears! A nutritious lunch will be served at the lodge before you head off with your guide to further explore Tweedsmuir Park. Our knowledgeable and friendly guides know the area well and have mapped numerous short walks to superb vantage points overlooking the Atnarko River to see spawning salmon…and the bears and eagles fishing for them! 

GUIDED HIKE IN THE RAINBOW RANGE

Rainbow Range Hike

This day will take you up onto the Chilcotin Plateau for a hike on the stunning Rainbow Range trail. The peaks of the Rainbow Range “Tsitsutl” in the local dialect, meaning painted mountains, form an enormous dome of eroded lava and fragmented rock that presents an astonishing spectrum of reds, oranges, yellows, and lavenders. The colours are really spectacular!

It’s also lake country and there are hundreds of large and small lakes dotting the area. The Rainbow Range offers a strong contrast to the higher and more rugged Coast Mountains just a small distance to the west. It’s a very different ecological experience, with smaller pine and fir forests. In 2010 there were large fires in the area and a wide variety of alpine flowers, including asters, arnica and fireweed are reclaiming the ground in between the blackened burnt forest.

For more information on the Rainbow Range, see this blog post.

Walk / Drift

More bear watching! In the morning your guide will take you, on foot, to look for traces of bears and to explore our corner of the Great Bear Rainforest. After your walk and a delicious lunch back at the lodge, you will head off on a float down the Atnarko River in order to see grizzlies catching and eating salmon in the river!

DEPARTURE DAY

Departure day!

We recommend one last visit to the Wildlife Viewing Station before your final breakfast with us.

Check-out is 11am. If you are flying out, take advantage of a leisurely morning in which you can enjoy the lodge property, make use of the spa and gym, play some lawn games, or simply relax before taking our shuttle back to the Bella Coola Airport for the flight back to Vancouver.

If you are departing by ferry, we will arrange to drive you to the harbour.

Thank you for staying with us! 

Guided Nature Walk - Full Day

Guided Nature Walk - Full Day

Wake up early and wander down to our Wildlife Viewing Station, which is for the exclusive use of Tweedsmuir Park Lodge guests. Early morning is a great time to spot bears and the raised structure provides open lines of sight both up and down the river. After checking out the Wildlife Viewing Platforms you have a choice of a hot or continental breakfast, which is held every day at 8am. Afterwards, it’s time to head out for a Guided Nature Walk in the old growth forests of Tweedsmuir Park, the largest provincial park in British Columbia.

Your guide, a naturalist, will show you how to track the bears and will point out various bear signs, including rub trees with claw and bite marks, and places the bears dig out in the forest floor for their naps called day beds. A picnic lunch will be served in the field.

In the afternoon, continue exploring Tweedsmuir Park with a drive on the Tote Road past old, abandoned homesteads brimming with character. At the end of the road there is a short, highly recommended hike to Stillwater Lake. This is a beautiful, pristine place that should not be missed! You will arrive back at the lodge in the late afternoon. Now you can relax and enjoy some hors d’oeuvres on the sun deck of the lodge, exchanging stories of wildlife seen with your fellow guests. Make sure to head back to the Wildlife Viewing Platforms before dinner.

Drift / Walk

Check out the Wildlife Viewing Station before breakfast. Then it’s time hit the river with your guide for a morning drift on the Atnarko River in search of more bears! A nutritious lunch will be served at the lodge before you head off with your guide to further explore Tweedsmuir Park. Our knowledgeable and friendly guides know the area well and have mapped numerous short walks to superb vantage points overlooking the Atnarko River to see spawning salmon…and the bears and eagles fishing for them! 

Drift & Walk

Check out the Wildlife Viewing Station before breakfast. Then it’s time hit the river with your guide for a morning drift on the Atnarko River in search of more bears! A nutritious lunch will be served at the lodge before you head off with your guide to further explore Tweedsmuir Park. Our knowledgeable and friendly guides know the area well and have mapped numerous short walks to superb vantage points overlooking the Atnarko River to see spawning salmon…and the bears and eagles fishing for them! 

GUIDED HIKE IN THE RAINBOW RANGE

Rainbow Range Hike

This day will take you up onto the Chilcotin Plateau for a hike on the stunning Rainbow Range trail. The peaks of the Rainbow Range “Tsitsutl” in the local dialect, meaning painted mountains, form an enormous dome of eroded lava and fragmented rock that presents an astonishing spectrum of reds, oranges, yellows, and lavenders. The colours are really spectacular!

It’s also lake country and there are hundreds of large and small lakes dotting the area. The Rainbow Range offers a strong contrast to the higher and more rugged Coast Mountains just a small distance to the west. It’s a very different ecological experience, with smaller pine and fir forests. In 2010 there were large fires in the area and a wide variety of alpine flowers, including asters, arnica and fireweed are reclaiming the ground in between the blackened burnt forest.

For more information on the Rainbow Range, see this blog post.

DEPARTURE DAY

Departure day!

We recommend one last visit to the Wildlife Viewing Station before your final breakfast with us.

Check-out is 11am. If you are flying out, take advantage of a leisurely morning in which you can enjoy the lodge property, make use of the spa and gym, play some lawn games, or simply relax before taking our shuttle back to the Bella Coola Airport for the flight back to Vancouver.

If you are departing by ferry, we will arrange to drive you to the harbour.

Thank you for staying with us!