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Knight Inlet Lodge – Bear Viewing

Departure Date:: Mid May to Mid Oct
Price:: from AUD 5,240/pp

Knight Inlet is located in a wild and remote area of the Great Bear Rainforest, and is home to one of the largest concentrations of grizzly bears in Canada. With a few days at the lodge, guided by local experts, observe these beautiful creatures in their natural environment.

Day 1 – Campbell River

Overnight: Comfort Inn & Suites, Campbell River AT

Note: We can arrange flights from Vancouver to Campbell River, please speak with our Expedition Consultants for further information.

Day 2 – Campbell River > Knight Inlet Lodge

Located 80 kilometers (50 air miles), north of Campbell River, British Columbia, is a wild and remote area of the Great Bear Rainforest known as Knight Inlet. As the longest fjord on the British Columbia coast, Knight Inlet offers visitors spectacular scenery set against a backdrop of dramatic mountain peaks plunging into the Pacific Ocean. Variegated hues of blues and greens seamlessly blend forest, ocean and sky. It can be a place of immense silence in the calm of the temperate rainforest and of immense power in the face of the many thundering glacier-fed waterfalls.

Situated 60 kilometers from the mouth of the inlet is Knight Inlet Lodge. Our floating lodge is tucked into Glendale Cove, which offers one of the few protected anchorages in the inlet, and it is here that you will begin each day’s adventure.

The lodge is an assortment of modern cement floats containing 18 guest rooms, dining room, lounge, interpretive centre and support buildings. All rooms have two queen beds with private washroom and shower except the family rooms which have one queen and two twin beds. The dining room has ample seating for 50, plus a separate common area with comfortable seating and gas fireplaces where guests can mingle before and after meals. Our usual full house is about 36 guests, though during the summer average capacity is between 34-40 including children (B,L,D).

Overnight: Knight Inlet Lodge

Included activities available during your stay at Knight Inlet Lodge:

Excursions to Johnstone Strait for marine wildlife viewing
Tours to see the grizzly bears from the platforms or boats – 1 excursion per day to the viewing stands starting August 25
Excursions for other wildlife viewing depending on location and availability
Scenic cruise of Knight Inlet
Wildlife tracking to make plaster casts of animal prints
Interpretive forest walks in the Kwalate Valley
Interpretive forest walks in Glendale Cove area
Kayak tour of Glendale Cove

*NOTE: As some of the tours are marine-based, they are weather dependent and may not be available every day.

Days 3-4 – Knight Inlet Lodge

Glendale Cove is home to one of the largest concentrations of grizzly (brown) bears in British Columbia. It is not uncommon for there to be up to 50 bears within 10 kilometers of the lodge in the peak fall season, when the salmon are returning to the river. Although they are abundant in the fall, it is not the only season that grizzly bears can be found in Glendale Cove. Starting in late April the bears return to the estuary from winter dens and start the year feeding on the sedges, succulents, grasses and barnacles that abound in our estuary. This luxuriant spring growth provides the basic nutritional needs for the bears which draws them from the mountains down to the estuary. This is the time to see, at close proximity; the tiny cubs emerge with their ever-cautious mothers. In the summer, the berry crop is very heavy, and this helps keeps the bears in the general area. The lodge does not get the high numbers of the spring and late summer/fall season viewing, but usually some bears can be seen every day.

Bears are viewed differently in the different seasons. In the spring and summer, guests will set out in boats so that you can get close to the shore (50 meters) and get a good view of the bears feeding, keeping far enough away as to not disturb them. In late August, viewing stands open although you can continue to view the bears by boat as well. With the entire viewing program, guest safety is of utmost importance. The lodge strives to see the bears in their natural environment without having a negative impact on them.

As well as bear viewing, the lodge also offers several other tours. The marine wildlife tour is offered in all the seasons that the lodge operates but it varies as the seasons change. In the spring, you travel throughout the inlet viewing the seals, sea lions, porpoises, dolphins and the occasional minke whale that may travel though these waters. From July onwards, tours have the added attraction of the orca (killer) and humpback whales and when journeying to the world-famous Johnstone Strait, you are almost assured of spending some great viewing time with these magnificent marine mammals. Not only can you view the whales, but the tour includes all the spring marine viewing as well, so the program lasts for up to 10 hours. In addition, the lodge also offers estuary tours, excursions to the upper reaches of Knight Inlet, and walking tours in the local area. As well, the lodge also have guided kayaking tours in Glendale Cove. These tours are great for the novice as we have doubles and singles and excellent guides to take you through the brief lesson and then get you on the water. In past years this has been one of the lodge’s most popular tours. Knight Inlet Lodge have great photographic opportunities on all our tours, whether the viewing is of birds, bears, other wildlife or scenery. (B,L,D)

Overnight: Knight Inlet Lodge

Day 5 – Knight Inlet Lodge > Campbell River

After breakfast, depart Knight Inlet Lodge for Campbell River via floatplane at approximately 10.30am. Transfer to the airport (included) for onward flight or speak with our team for suggestions of further touring options. (B)

Note: We can arrange flights from Campbell River to Vancouver, please speak with our Expedition Consultants for further information.