Join me for the best grizzly viewing opportunities in Western Canada. Watch for abundant grizzlies as they hunt for salmon in the azure blue waters of Chilko Lake and the Chilko River! Stay in riverside safari-style tents perched high above the waters while grizzlies feed on salmon right in front of you.

Remote and spectacular, the Chilcotin Country of British Columbia remains largely undiscovered by outsiders. Chilko Lake lies at the heart of this vast and diverse region, flanked by the jagged, ice-etched Coast Range on the west and sage-covered plateaus on the east. The lake, a 55-mile-long alpine basin filled with clear glacial water, is our base for natural adventure on a scale rarely encountered. From our wilderness camp we will embark on nature walks, river trips and lake excursions that bring us close to the abundant wildlife that thrives in the Chilcotin: Canada’s true “Wild West.”

Our Chilko wildlife tour group size is limited to 12 people as nature expeditions are best experienced with smaller sized groups of travelers. Based out of Bear Camp, guests will be dazzled by fine food, great hospitality and a “Canadian twist” on the classic wildlife safari.

 

Itinerary at a Glance

Take a scenic flight over the Coast Mountains and transfer to Camp

  • Check into the waterfront Bear Camp and get settled in our deluxe safari tents

  • Be amazed by the abundance of grizzlies, black bears and eagles feasting on spawning salmon

  • Watch grizzlies feed on salmon below your deck and while on daily excursions

  • Explore the Coast Mountains, Chilko and Tatlayoko lakes by canoe, kayak, boat, and on foot

  • Paddle and fish the breath-taking azure waters of Chilko River

  • Hike or bike on paths enveloped by awe-inspiring mountains

  • Enjoy home-cooked meals and evening “feasts” paired with eclectic wines and craft beer

  • Unwind with a book, or do nothing but drink in the spectacular scenery



What’s Included:

  • Experienced professional guides

  • Accommodations at Bear Camp

  • 1 on 1 tuition with myself throughout the day and image review in the evenings

  • All meals from dinner on Day 1 to breakfast on Day 5

  • All activities described in the itinerary

  • Park fees and necessary permits

 

Have questions? Make an enquiry here..

 

What to Expect When Bear Viewing at Chilko Lake

We pride ourselves in running a relaxed and flexible schedule. Every trip is different depending upon the weather, the wildlife and the group. I like to have a clear structure to the trip and then we can deviate as necessary along the way.


Day One – Fly to Bear Camp

We meet in Vancouver for your flight. For those arriving at Vancouver International Airport on Day One – it is essential to arrive a minimum of two hours before our meeting time. You need to allow enough time for possible flight delays, time to clear customs, and time to transfer from the Vancouver International Airport terminal to the South Terminal.

Please make sure your gear is packed in soft luggage (NO SUITCASES PLEASE) as this will allow for easy storage. As soon as everyone’s gear is stowed, we will board our plane for the incredible flight over the mountains and glaciers. Upon arrival, your guides will give you an orientation to the events ahead and we’ll enjoy the first of many delicious meals in our wilderness setting.

Though we are here to encounter nature, the camp environs are also captivating. Your safari tents are built up on large viewing platforms and have either one king or two double beds complete with comfy duvets, indoor/outdoor lounging areas and a view that cannot be beat. The main tent and renovated 1954 Trappers Lodge are the focal points for meals, cocktails and relaxing. Fine fare is a ROAM hallmark, and our chef creates elegant meals using local and regional natural foods. Once checked in we will begin one of or many wildlife viewing options culminating with a sunset paddle or boat ride and bear viewing from our raised platforms.


Day Two, Three and Four

Every morning before breakfast we bring a hot coffee or tea delivery to your tent. Watching the bears as the sun rises is otherworldly and something everyone should experience. After breakfast, we offer a host of activities to choose from based on weather, people’s interests and energy levels. All the activities incorporate bear viewing as a key component but there’s no sitting around Camp, unless you choose too! We prefer to engage with our local bruins while explore this incredible environment.

The Chilko River lies within an ecosystem that contains some of the world’s best habitat for grizzly bears. They converge in great numbers in the fall, when millions of salmon return to spawn at the river’s mouth, providing a feast of stunning proportions. Black bears, wolves and cougars also abound in the pine and fir forests.






Our focus at Bear Camp is to create the best bear interactions that allow us to observe the bears behaving naturally and leading to the best opportunities for image making. After years in the field, in my experience the best way to do this is by patiently waiting and watching the bears behaviour to see how it develops. Being ‘slow’ always produces the best results. I find that rushing from one bear to another, just to see as many bears as possible doesn’t create a good experience for you or the bears. This is why we gently drift down the river with a combination of drift boats, kayaks and jet boats. This low impact viewing is much more ethical and allows for much better image making opportunities, it also gives us ample opportunities for photography tuition and discussion.

You are not limited to photographing bears from the water though, there are bears everywhere (including camp) so generally all activities will involves bear viewing at some point. This is stunning wilderness to any of the other activities are incredible fun and availble to you at no cost.



Activities to choose:

Hiking: there are an endless number of great trails accessible right from Bear Camp. Green Lake offers pretty mellow terrain for stretching one’s legs, while Mt Tullin is a challenging hike with 360 degree views.  Heli hiking can also be arranged at additional expense (but is worth every penny) and visits a number of valleys and nearby glaciers.

Kayaking:  Chilko Lake is one of the world’s premiere alpine lake destinations where you can explore by boat in total tranquility. Surrounded by massive glacier-capped peaks and a road-less wilderness, you will spend the days paddling the lake and picnicking on sandy beaches. Days are long but the alpenglow sunsets are worth the wait! During bear viewing season, most of the bruins congregate right at our doorstep so we do not have to paddle far to watch bears feeding on Mother Nature’s bounty. We also have a quiver of very stable paddle boards (SUP’s) and paddling above the salmon is truly surreal.

Fishing: A veritable bouillabaisse of fish, the Chilko is utopia for anglers of all abilities.  The river is a giant bevy of hot spots, with clear shallows and deep pools.  Draining the main lake, the waters never cloud and fishing is superb throughout the season. The river is “fly fish only, catch and release” and we have jon and drift boats and all the necessary gear to wade and fish this pristine waterway. We can teach beginners to fly fish or you can take a spin rod on the lake, the choice is yours.

Mountain Biking: flowing double track, winding dirt roads, coasting along the rivers edge or gliding through pine-scented forests, we’ve got it all. Our fleet of Kona mountain bikes comes with vehicle support and a knowledgeable guide. What more could you want? Eliminate the hills? We can do that too!

River Float or Paddle: floating right from Bear Camp, we can travel a half-day (10 miles) or an entire day (21 miles with a picnic lunch) by inflatable kayak (aka “ducky”) and navigate some fun and scenic water that is still appropriate for little ones.

Drift Boat: for the ultimate in scenic rides – and ideal for photographers – try a drift on this breathtaking stretch.  In a drift boat you get a fun ride but soak up the scenery instead of waves.  Our drift boat is also ideal for fly fishing outings and during salmon season, the dories provide an unobtrusive way to float among the bears.

Bushcraft: there are many options for paddling, fishing, hiking or biking but one of the big highlights of this trip is the option for “bushcraft”. This involves a hike or drive up to Scotty Meadow to meet, 80 year old survivalist expert, Mike Yates, a.k.a. “Grizz”.  Mike ran a survival school for decades and was better known as the Marlboro Man for the cigarette manufacturer’s advertising series in Europe and abroad. Participants will see how to live off-the-grid, learn about plants and wildflowers as well as learn about constructing traditional log homes. By the day’s end you will be ready to face even the worst zombie apocalypse…or at least light a fire and build shelter!


Day Five

After another morning paddle and amazing breakfast, we will leave Bear Camp and get ready for flights home. You should arrive mid-afternoon but we always recommend overnighting in Vancouver at the end of the trip in case of weather issues with smaller aircraft. ROAM would be pleased to make Vancouver accommodation arrangements on your behalf as we often get preferred rates.

This is one of my favourite trips to do for a number of reasons. It is probably the most productive wildlife trip to go on as a photographer. On many occasions I have filled memory cards with so many bear images that its hard to select the best ones. We have also chosen are the latest in the year which means more bears, and even more golden autumn colours. Finally, the hospitality of the team at Bear Camp is unmatched. Hearty dinners in a cozy setting with good friends and shared interests is hard to beat. It reminds me of the luxury of east african bush camps with the intense beauty of wild canada at its finest.

I am always on hand to chat or answer queries about this trip. Pls use the enquiry form above.