The Great Bear Rainforest is home to a significant concentration of coastal grizzly bears. During the late summer and early autumn bears are drawn to the many salmon spawning streams feeding into the coastal inlets. While the local bear population reaches its peak in the autumn, during the spring and summer bears feed on sedges, succulents and grasses that make up the dense bio-mass of the river estuary. These ongoing sources of high quality food are why coastal grizzlies or brown bears are larger than inland grizzlies. Click on our bear-viewing page for more information on the bear viewing program, or you can find out more about the Great Bear Lodge.
Great Bear Lodge is located 50 air miles from Port Hardy, British Columbia. The fully self-contained floating lodge is situated at an outstanding wildlife viewing location. 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. The BBC used the lodge as their base while filming for the series Secrets of Our Living Planet.
Wilderness-gourmet meals await you at the lodge on your return from the wilderness. We use the freshest possible local ingredients, and all organic food 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. In between bear viewing sessions you will be able to join a guided activity such as an interpretive walk or a boat excursion, or you may choose to relax with a book from the extensive natural history library. We are happy to cater for all dietary restriction and preferences.
Rooms (8) Twin or King
The charming floating lodge has eight bedrooms. The common area is a comfortable place for relaxing and listening to natural history presentations from our wildlife biologists. Completely upgraded in 2014, each bedroom now has an ensuite bathroom with a shower. The wind and solar powered lodge is in keeping with our commitment to low-impact ecotourism. Natural wood decks surround the lodge, a perfect place to enjoy a glass of wine while enjoying the beauty of the scenery.
Bear Viewing
Each season offers a unique view into the world of grizzly bears in the Great Bear Rainforest. A wonderful time for photography, spring takes us to the estuary to observe the grizzlies as they graze on grasses and sedges and engage in mating behavior. Birdlife is abundant in spring, and long hours of daylight ensure optimal light for photography. At this time we view the bears from small boats, watching the bears quietly.
During the summer season, the grizzlies move between the various habitats to optimize their feeding. We will find them gorging on berry patches, grazing on estuarine grasslands and scouting for the early salmon. The grizzly bears congregate at the river in autumn to take advantage of the best food source available on the coast, Pacific salmon, so we see our highest number of bears during autumn. 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.
Other Wildlife
Along with grizzly bears there is a chance to view other wildlife like wolves, black bears, river otters, pine martens, mink, harbour seals and bald eagles. Bear viewing areas are reached by a boat or bus ride from the lodge, which are opportunities to spot other wildlife in the area. The bear-viewing program has been developed by Great Bear Lodge owner, Tom Rivest (MSc). As a professional guide and wildlife biologist he is well versed in bear behavior as well as the natural history of this remarkable area.
Sample Trip - 4 Days
Sample itinerary for a stay at Great Bear Lodge
The following itinerary is based on a tour in autumn. Tour itineraries change through the seasons as we need to allow for differing hours of daylight.
Day One – Your adventure begins
Departing from Port Hardy in the afternoon, you will leave behind the noise of modern life for a remote wilderness. Transportation is by seaplane. Journeying to our site is a spectacular adventure in itself, traveling over 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, before joining the group for your first wildlife viewing session. 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 wilderness track. The viewing blinds on the river have been constructed with the photographer in mind, and are optimal and comfortable places from which to view bears.
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 Two
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 the 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 relaxing in the lodge for dinner. On clear nights, the stars are amazing.
Day Three
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 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 a variety of sites, depending on the bear activity.
For the afternoon recreation today we may take a boat excursion 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 Four
After your parting session with the bears, lunch and an afternoon activity, you will be returned to Port Hardy by floatplane in the afternoon sometime between 4pm and 6pm. Your final night will be spent at the Kwa’lilas Hotel in Port Hardy, owned by the Gwa’sala-‘Nakwaxda’xw Nations on whose traditional territory we operate.
The BBC filmed the story of how the giant trees of the Great Bear Rainforest are dependent upon bears and salmon for nitrogen in the "Magical Forest" episode of their series "Secrets of Our Living Planet". They chose to film at Great Bear Lodge to showcase the annual return of salmon and the grizzly bears that gorge upon them.