Positioned within the coronary heart of British Columbia’s Coastal area, the Nice Bear Rainforest is house to thriving biodiversity and acts as an vital grizzly bear habitat. It’s right here, on the sting of the rainforest at Tweedsmuir Park Lodge that we had our first grizzly bear encounter.
Within the winter, Tweedsmuir Park Lodge serves as the bottom for a flourishing heli-skiing operation. And in the summertime months, the lodge and the encircling Tweedsmuir Park turn into a dense habitat of grizzly bears in Canada.
Spending 5 days on the Tweedsmuir Park Lodge Grizzly Bear Safari made for an genuine grizzly bear viewing expertise. It was a luxurious wilderness escape we are going to always remember.
At Tweedsmuir Park Lodge
Concerning the Nice Bear Rainforest
The spectacular Bella Coola Valley is situated within the coronary heart of three overlapping eco-zones. The world across the valley and alongside the coast from Vancouver Island is called the “Nice Bear Rainforest”. The rainforest covers 21 million acres on the North and Central Coast of British Columbia and is abound with wildlife.
Right here, the coastal temperate rainforest meets mountains, fjords, and glaciers. This fosters wealthy biodiversity with an unbelievable mixture of land and marine life. The Nice Bear Rainforest is the largest intact coastal temperate rainforest on the planet. Lately, it has been diligently protected against logging and industrial growth.
Grizzly bears in Canada flourish right here within the temperate Nice Bear Rainforest the place rivers and fjords make method for salmon spawning. Throughout the salmon season (between August and October), the bears emerge from the forest. They make their method in direction of the Bella Coola River to replenish on the fish. The chance to see grizzly bears of their pure habitat feasting on salmon is among the best wildlife exhibits on the planet. And it’s an journey price taking!
Antarko River, flowing by way of the Nice Bear Rainforest
About Tweedsmuir Park Lodge within the Bella Coola Valley
Tweedsmuir Park Lodge is ideally positioned for grizzly bear viewing. The lodge sits on 60 acres of personal land inside the lovely Tweedsmuir Provincial Park. The Bella Coola river runs proper alongside the property of the lodge. Yearly, the lodge grounds turn into a playground for dozens of bears.
However don’t be fooled. A keep on the Tweedsmuir Park Lodge just isn’t a rugged expertise, however a luxurious wilderness escape full with unbelievable meals, fabulous wines, unbelievable guides, and comfy chalets.
The historic lodge was initially in-built 1929 and is considered one of seven magnificent luxurious wilderness lodges of Canada. The grounds include 10 timber chalets with a surprising major lodge, full with a restaurant, a bar and a video games room. There’s additionally a spa, health club and sizzling tub on web site.
The attractive grounds at Tweedsmuir Park Lodge
The Chalets
There are ten luxurious chalets at Tweedsmuir Park Lodge completely arrange for a peaceable wilderness retreat. The timber-framed chalets are rustic and comfy with a queen or king mattress, ensuite lavatory, and non-public deck. Every chalet is distinctive in its personal method however all of them supply a comfy base in your Grizzly Bear adventures.
We stayed in one of many Loft Chalets which can be nestled on the sting of the forest and boast wildlife viewing proper out of your deck. The chalet was very spacious. It provided not only one however two double beds, making it completely set as much as home a household. And though we solely used one mattress, we cherished the additional house for our digital camera gear and different electronics. To not point out, the excessive loft-style ceilings of the chalet.
Contained in the Loft Chalet at Tweedsmuir Park Lodge
If you’re on the lookout for a smaller and cozier house, there may be the Grizzly Log Chalet. It gives a super retreat for {couples} and boasts gorgeous views and a toasty fuel hearth.
For those who’re travelling with a gaggle, think about staying within the Pika Duplex which blends Scandinavian minimalism with luxe but eco-friendly finishes.
Outdoors the chalet at Tweedsmuir Park Lodge
The Meals
The principle lodge at Tweedsmuir Park Lodge homes an on-site restaurant providing worldwide delicacies paired with award-winning wines.
For breakfast, the culinary group serves up an incredible a la cart menu with favourites like Eggs Benedict that includes farm-fresh eggs and salmon from the Bella Coola Valley.
The lunch menu modified every day and included 2-3 major choices together with an appetizer. There was often a alternative of salad, sandwich/flatbread or a extra filling pasta possibility. Snacks, tea and occasional can be found all through the day.
Dinners had been positively our favorite! Every dish featured native produce and seafood completely paired with British Columbia wines. We significantly loved the Asian theme evening with dishes taking inspiration from Vietnamese and Thai cuisines. We had been comfortable to see that the group can accommodate any allergy symptoms in addition to our vegetarian and low carb dietary restrictions.
The Excursions
Tweedsmuir Park Lodge gives all-inclusive packages for nature and journey excursions. Based mostly on the time of 12 months, you possibly can take pleasure in guided nature walks, see grizzly bears, go fishing, and even go heli-skiing. We visited in late summer time and went on an incredible grizzly bear safari.
Grizzly Bear Safari
September to October at Tweedsmuir Park Lodge marks the prime time for west coast grizzly bear excursions. We had been fortunate sufficient to take pleasure in a 4-night Grizzly Bear Safari led by knowledgeable guides in an unbelievable pure setting.
Day 1:
Our safari began as soon as we arrived in Bella Coola after taking the scenic ferry journey from Port Hardy on Vancouver Island. We settled in and obtained a run-down of the lodge and its environment earlier than heading into the restaurant for a scrumptious 3-course dinner.
Day 2:
Simply after breakfast, we met our superb information, Ellie, for just a few bear consciousness suggestions earlier than occurring a guided stroll by way of an old-growth forest. The information identified the way to acknowledge indicators of grizzly bear exercise and confirmed us across the peaceable panorama. We adopted a few trails snaking alongside the river, drove out to the bear viewing spot at Fisheries Swimming pools and ultimately returned again to the lodge and wandered right down to the wildlife viewing platforms trying over the river.
Studying in regards to the Grizzly bear habitat with our information Ellie
Looking for grizzly bears from the Tweedsmuir Park Lodge viewing platform
With the salmon spawn in full swing, it didn’t take us lengthy to identify our first set of grizzly bears: a mother, Lucy, and her 2 younger cubs. We watched them take pleasure in salmon proper in entrance of the viewing platform on the lodge and ultimately disappear into the forest.
Within the afternoon, we jumped right into a river raft for a drift down the Antarko River. It’s an incredible alternative to see the bears from one other perspective. And though we weren’t fortunate this time round, our information, Jessep, shared some fascinating tales of his bear encounters and his huge information of their habitat.
Day 3:
We joined our information, Jessep, for an extended hike to the Rainbow Vary. We hiked by way of a burnt forest and fields of wildflowers and berries and loved lunch relaxed by a gorgeous lake with a vibrant mountain vary as our backdrop. An ideal solution to stretch our legs and benefit from the distinctive natural world of Tweedsmuir Provincial Park.
Rainbow Valley hike, Tweedsmuir Provincial Park
Overlooking the Rainbow Valley
Day 4:
Our final full day was stuffed with extra bears and extra adventures. Our morning drift proved to be fairly thrilling as we obtained an opportunity to see one other mother and cub proper on the river financial institution.
After an exquisite meal, we took on a enjoyable journey on through Ferrata, a singular climbing course that includes hyperlinks and ladders that allowed us to climb above the Nice Bear Rainforest alongside a rock face. It was a enjoyable and barely terrifying exercise that provided gorgeous views of the Bella Coola Valley!
View from the highest is nicely price it!
That night, we loved our closing night on the sundeck overlooking the grounds. The meals was unbelievable as at all times and the sundown was lovely. However, what we cherished probably the most was a shock go to from just a few grizzlies! Mama bear and her cub stopped by the primary lodge on their method from the river to the forest. We had been fortunate sufficient to identify them from our dinner desk. Then, we rushed to the top of the porch and obtained a bonus 15 min bear viewing expertise in the midst of our meal!
We spent our final evening at Tweedsmuir Park Lodge dreaming of cuddly bear cubs. We’re in awe of our expertise on the lodge. What an incredible solution to see grizzlies within the wild!
Having fun with the views of Tweedsmuir Park Lodge
Disclaimer: We had been hosted friends on the Grizzly Bear Safari at Tweedsmuir Park Lodge, however as at all times, all opinions expressed on this article are our personal, regardless of who’s footing the invoice for our keep.