Top-rated grizzly and black bear viewing holidays in southern British Columbia

Grizzly Bear Ranch is a small, specialised bear-viewing lodge in southern British Columbia offering top-rated grizzly and black bear viewing holidays.

Remote and nestled in a hidden valley about half way between Vancouver and Calgary, the ranch was opened by Julius and Kristin in 2006.

Since then we have endeavoured to offer excellent and personalised bear-viewing, superior cuisine, well-appointed accommodation and first-class hospitality to a limited number of guests each year.

To date, our guests have given us the compliment of a top rating on Trip Advisor and our holidays have been favourably reviewed by the media.

Sharing the bears’ world

We believe that the key to getting to know the bears is understanding their world and we have a small team of experienced and extremely professional bear guides of whom we are very proud.

Each day they will take you into the world of the Rocky Mountain grizzly and black bear, either in one of our 4x4s, by boat, raft or on foot.

Depending on the season, we will also try and take you into the high alpine meadows above the ranch, out on to a remote wilderness lake or rafting on the gorgeous blue-green river that runs past our front door.

 

Freshly-cooked food and private cabins

Kristin is an accomplished cook, who graduated at the prestigious North West Culinary Academy of Vancouver, one of Canada’s leading culinary schools.

Using organic ingredients she sources locally and her own herbs, she conjures up fresh meals each evening which we serve with carefully-selected British Columbian wines.

While staying at the ranch you will have your own hand-built riverside cabin away from the main house with its own bathroom, sundeck and unique character.

An unforgettable riverside setting and a relaxed pace

The ranch is set on 32 acres of wilderness overlooking a fast-flowing mountain river.

We accept a maximum of eight guests at any one time to make sure the experience remains a personal one.

Most of our spots are booked well in advance.

We strive for guests who share our passion for life,  fine food and the beauty of nature.

Our philosophy – small, personal and natural

In a commodified world, we do not aim to be all things to all men.

We do not use viewing platforms or large motorised boats to view bears from a distance.

We prefer to move through their world using our knowledge of bears to interpret their behaviour and keep you safe.

Because of the nature of the holidays, our offerings are not a good match for the physically frail or for those for whom photography is their overwhelming priority.

We do not usually recommend our holidays to guests under the age of 14, or over 65, unless they are fit and agile.

Some of the world’s most beautiful wilderness

We ask that those of you who wish to stay at the ranch bring with you a respect for the wild animals and our wilderness environment.

In exchange we think we can offer you an unforgettable setting, superior lodging, excellent food, good company and a chance to experience bears living naturally in some of the most beautiful wilderness left on the planet.

This was a truly wonderful experience on so many levels. The warmth, hospitality and generosity of Julius & Kristin, not forgetting Kristin’s great cooking. The marvellous scenery, our fun fellow guests, the beautiful log cabin with it’s cosy woodburner, the white water rafting, the trip to an isolated peak with breathtaking views, the majestic bald eagles. Oh, and the bears! To see these animals behaving naturally in their own environment was a real privilege.” Richard & Jenn, Reading, UK. To read more of our reviews on Trip Advisor click here.