Bella Coola's Famous Grizzly Bears.

In the autumn, when the Salmon arrive to spawn, Bella Coola is host to one of the highest concentrations of Grizzly Bears. 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.

Trip Highlights

• See Grizzly Bears feasting on Salmon
• Float the pristine Atnarko River in our McKenzie drift boats
• Fly the stunning scenery of the Bella Coola valley in a helicopter
• Walk ancient forests in the company of a local guide
• Explore Nuxalk First Nations culture and visit the Petroglyph gardens
• Stay in private Chalets at the Historic Tweedsmuir Park Lodge

Our Grizzly Bear Viewing trips are in the autumn, from start of September to the middle of October. This is when the local rivers are host to teeming numbers of returning Salmon which in turn draws lots of Grizzly Bear 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.

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, and they have the pictures to prove it.

Small Group Sizes

Nature encounters are best experienced in small groups and we keep our Grizzly Bear viewing drifts to a maximum of three guests per boat. Walking excursions are a maximum of six.

Get more information

We can organize a custom stay for you, but recommend either our 3, 4 or 5 night program (see the suggested itineraries below). These trips have been designed to showcase some of the best Bella Coola has to offer and provide an excellent wildlife viewing experience.