Spring Grizzly Bear viewing on Vancouver Island

On arrival you will be able to take a free airport shuttle to one of the good quality hotels we provide for our clients with easy access both to the airport, but also the car rental companies. Some of our clients use to include a couple of days to explore the city which is easily added in.

Accommodation: Pacific Gateway Hotel or similar

Your wildlife adventure starts with the ferry crossing between Vancouver and Nanaimo, which is the gateway for the eastern side of Vancouver Island. Some of the best grizzly bear viewing on Vancouver Island is accessed from the busy and diverse town of Campbell River. It’s marina is home to many different specialist wildlife operators, so whether you want to go whale watching, or bear viewing in British Colombia, this is one of the best places to be.

Overnight at Browns Bay Resort or similar

Most of the local companies we have hand picked ourselves while living on the island, have a maximum group size of approximately 12 people per boat. This provides you with better interpretation and a more intimate connection with the wildlife you observe during the course of the tour. You may encounter transient orcas; minke whales, Pacific white-sided dolphins, porpoise, sea lions, and seals on our way to Bute Inlet to comb the shores for close-up encounters with the bears as they forage for shellfish

Campbell River and its surrounding areas are famous for having some of the most unique and fast tidal rapids in the world. Between May to July, we visit the Stuart Island area, located north of Quadra Island, when the currents are at or near their peak flows. Upwards of 300 bald eagles can be found gathering in the trees to feed here. It’s been nicknamed the “Eagle Show”.

Hopefully you will have glorious spring weather for your second half-day morning boat trip and after the @eagle Show’, you can get on the road for the 3 hour drive to your beautiful wilderness cabin near Telegraph Cove.

Overnight: One or two bedroom wilderness cabin

We have been working with the same bear viewing company at Telegraph Cove since 2003 and although they recently changed ownership, they still have access to the world famous Knight Inlet estuary (the viewing stands do not open until late August!) and this is where you have the chance to see female grizzlies and their cubs n the Spring.

During the early spring love is in the air! May and June is breeding season and offers the opportunity to see otherwise large elusive males reluctantly reveal themselves in their pursuit of love. Courtship rituals, mating behaviour and defence of love interests are definitely a spectator’s sport.

Telegraph cove is the closest coastal community to Johnstone strait, which is famous amongst whale lovers as one of the best places to see Orcas in the wild. It is also home to one of the oldest and continous whale research projects in the world. Although the best time to see Orcas off Vancouver Island is July and August; there are still great opportunities for other marine wildlife during your 3 hour Zodiac tour with only 12 passangers.

Overnight: Kwa’lilas Hotel, Port Hardy

Spend the day exploring the wildlife rich waters, islands and shores off northern Vancouver Island. Search for sea otters, humpback whales, orcas, Dall’s porpoises, Pacific white-side dolphins, Steller sea lions, bald eagles and a multitude of sea birds. Surrounded by sea and cedar trees, connect with the breathtaking beauty of the natural world. The tour will last approximately 6 hours.

Our signature 5 ½ to 6 hour tour showcases the unparalleled waters of the Kwakwakaʼwakw First Nations. The speed of our vessel allows us to cover a large area and provides us with greater opportunities to see as much wildlife as possible.

Morning walk on the Fort Rupert Trail – a boardwalk trail close to Port Hardy with chance to see Black Bears. After finishing the work we will drive south west to the small pictereque community of Gold River.

Accommodation: Gold River Chalet

This 136-foot wooden hulled maritime vessel provides passenger and freight service through historic Nootka Sound, Esperanza Inlet, and Kyuquot Sound (departures every Monday)

The west coast of Vancouver Island is home to an abundance Killer Whales, Gray Whales, Black Bear, Sea Otters, Seals and Sea Lions, Pacific Dolphin and Bald Eagles so be sure to bring your binoculars and your camera!

At Wildlife Trails we are always connected with the local guides in each destination and they are fundamental to the planning process. So when we were told ‘Elk are commonly seen in the areas of Strathcona Park off highway 28 (Gold River to Campbell River Highway) we had to add it to our Vancouver Island wildlife holidays.