Great Bear Lodge
BEAR & WILDLIFE VIEWING
PORT HARDY | GREAT BEAR RAINFOREST
A small scale, true “back to nature experience”, where you can observe grizzly and black bears as well as marine life in a pristine environment. Located in the Great Bear Rainforest, home to a significant concentration of coastal grizzly bears, the Lodge is 50 miles from the northern tip of Vancouver Island near the mouth of a major salmon river in a place of spectacular beauty.
Stretching over 8 million acres this remote, temperate coastal rainforest is home to several threatened species and is one of the last strongholds of the great bear, the grizzly bear, in the world. This coastal ecosystem revolves around the annual return of five species of Pacific salmon each autumn that provide a rich nutritional bounty, which allows for the immense trees and bears for which the coast is famous.
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More about the incredible Great Bear Lodge
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Accommodation
Great Bear Lodge has been upgraded with the unveiling of a new floating lodge. The charming two-storey lodge is covered in red cedar, a signature tree from the forests of coastal British Columbia. In keeping with Great Bear’s eco policy the lodge is powered by wind, solar and micro-hydro. Each bedroom is located on the second storey, with views out onto the sublime Great Bear Rainforest. With a maximum of 16 guests, the experience is designed to be personal and welcoming.
Natural wood decks surround the lodge, a perfect place to enjoy a glass of wine while enjoying the beautiful scenery. Wilderness-gourmet meals await you at the lodge on your return from your day’s adventure. Only the freshest possible local ingredients and all organic food are used when it is available. A typical dinner might feature freshly caught salmon roasted on a cedar plank with a marinade of maple syrup, mustard seeds and balsamic vinegar.
Activities
Two bear viewing sessions are scheduled each day at the lodge, tailored to the activities of the bears, observing them when they are most active in their chosen habitats. Viewing blinds have been constructed in the best locations to photograph from. When the bears move from the river to the estuary, viewing is from boats. Each season offers a unique view into the world of grizzly bears in the Great Bear Rainforest. Spring takes you to the estuary to observe the grizzlies as they graze on grasses and sedges and engage in mating behaviour. Birdlife is abundant in spring, and long hours of daylight ensure optimal light for photography. At this time you view the bears quietly from small boats. During the summer the grizzlies move between the various habitats to optimise their feeding. In autumn the grizzly bears congregate at the river to take advantage of the returning Pacific salmon. Watch as each individual bear demonstrates its own fishing style, from methodically checking under riverbanks with their paws to charging up the river after salmon. Between bear viewing sessions you will be able to join a guided activity such as sea-kayaking or an interpretive hike.
Getting to Great Bear Lodge
The lodge is not accessible by road. All tours commence with an included seaplane flight from Port Hardy. On arrival at the lodge in the late afternoon, your grizzly bear experience begins. On your final day you will leave the lodge in the late afternoon to Port Hardy. Flights are weather dependent, so can be subject to delays; we advise that you do not arrange any additional transfers from Port Hardy on the same day.
