Wild Bear Lodge (formerly Grizzly Bear Ranch) is a small, specialised wilderness lodge about halfway between Vancouver and Calgary. We are located in the world’s only inland temperate rainforest, a vast hideaway of ancient mountains, old-growth trees, and fast-flowing rivers. We offer some of the most exciting and natural bear-viewing, nature and wilderness holidays in north America, against a backdrop of some of western Canada’s most dramatic terrain.
We chose Wild Bear Lodge because we wanted the experience to be more than just ticking bears off the list of wildlife to see and photograph: if you didn’t see bears, you left yourself open to disappointment. We did see bears, but in the wider context of their natural environment, rather than just another photographic “gotcha”. Our experience over 4 days at the Lodge was brilliant, and the credit for this must go to the team that Julius, the owner/manager and guide has put together: the guides, Sage and Paul, the cook, Kim, and Katya the adorable dog. The whole team worked long days to ensure we got the most from our experience with wilderness walks in the forests and mountains, including “lessons” in how identify animal tracks and “poo”, riding/rafting the river in an inflatable and the exhilarating experience of the riverside sauna and cold plunge pool. Each evening ended, after dinner, with talks and discussions about the wildlife and the environment they inhabit: these talks were an enriching and convivial illustration of the extensive knowledge and visceral passion for the wildlife and nature we had experienced during the day. All of this felt like you were shooting the breeze, wine or beer in hand, with your smartest and most entertaining friends and there was nobody smarter that Sage – what a bright, passionate and ethically driven young woman she is, every minute in her company is an education. All the above enriched the mind and spirit, but what about the earthly appetites of food and drink? Step forward Kim. It is no exaggeration to say that the meals she prepared were wonderful: they were an essential element that contributed to the feeling that around the table, in the main house, we were a group of friends enjoying life, sharing our experiences and knowledge, lubricated by excellent wine and beer. Finally, the accommodation was excellent: we stayed in the Whitewater lodge with an upstairs bedroom and balcony that overlooked the idyllic riverside location and a woodburning stove that made the whole place cosy and homely prior to heading for bed and another exciting adventure the following day. We loved every minute of our stay at Wild Bear Lodge, which was absolutely unforgettable.
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Date of stay: September 2022
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Room Tip:Go for Whitewater Lodge.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The rationale for the Wild Bear Lodge is to enable guests to see bears in their natural environment, which, of course, means that there is no guarantee that one will be successful. While we did see a couple of bears in the distance, the overall bear viewing was not what we had hoped for. It seems that we were somewhat unlucky, as other reviews suggest that most people have better luck. In fact, the other two couples that were there at the same time did have better sightings of bears. With that said, the lodging, the food, the guides, and the staff are extraordinary. Our guides, Paul and Sage, were extremely knowledgable and helpful, and went to great lengths to search for bears. In the process, we learned a lot about wildlife, tracking, and animal habits, both during hikes and at evening talks. These are remarkable people who care deeply for the environment and the animals. Hikes to search for animals were in very small groups of 2-4, and the guides took great care of us. Although Wild Bear Lodge is in the wilderness, the lodging and food were outstanding. The cabins are large and comfortable, and heated with a wood stove. The food prepared by Kim is served homestyle and is excellent. The overall ambience is one of being with friends. The host, Julius, and one of the guides joined us for meals, which were served family style with all the guests at the same table. Julius is a quite interesting person, who has many stories to share and meals were one of the highlights of the trip because of that. Although the bear sightings were not as we had hoped, the overall experience was outstanding.
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Date of stay: October 2022
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Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Our stay at Wild Bear Lodge exceeded our expectations in every way—from the personal service and attentive hospitality from the staff to the high quality, well-appointed cabins. We waited nearly two years for this trip due to Covid and were so excited to finally experience this unique travel experience. One our guides, Paul, met us at the airport and we enjoyed getting to know him on a lovely drive through the mountains to Kaslo, a charming mountain town where we stayed the first night of our holiday. We met Sage and the other guests the next morning and our adventure began! We were busy from sun up to sun down learning about wildlife, tracking and so much more! We started our days with delicious breakfasts, packed picnics for our afternoon hikes, and enjoyed gourmet family style meals with our Judy’s and fellow travelers each evening. Julius and the team helped tailor the hikes to our abilities so it felt very personalized. We made wonderful memories and new friends. We highly recommend this experience!
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Date of stay: October 2022
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Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Hiking can be vigorous. Be honest about what you can do. Grizzlies were viewed from a...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Here I was 63 yrs old lying still as a statue on the bank of a beautiful Canadian river ….. only 5 meters away was this amazing creature a wild ‘ Grizzly Bear’. Thank-you to our knowledgeable guide Paul we were able to witness up close a wild Grizzly hunting, eating salmon & swimming in the crystal clear river. We had come to beautiful Canada to stay at the home of our expert tracking guide in all things Bears .. Julius of ‘Wild Bear Lodge’ Every day was magic from tracking wildlife thru the amazing dense forest to rafting down the clearest waters showcasing the red salmon lining up to spend the few remaining weeks of their lives … on our rafting adventure we stealthily paddled along scanning the area for a sighting of a Grizzly. We weren’t disappointed as there in the water was a magnificent Grizzly eating away on his salmon… Julius quickly directed us to .. back pedal ! Our guides the effervescent Kim & humble /knowledgeable Paul together with our expert Julius made our stay a life long dream come true.
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Date of stay: October 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We chose Wild Bear Lodge because we wanted to see wildlife in its natural environment. We expected the guides would have to work to put us in the position to see wildlife. What we didn't expect was how hard they worked, with us for 12 hours each day in the field with talks from our guide Sage and Julius each evening, not just about bears. These talks highlighted the depth of knowledge and passion for the wildlife and nature overall of not only Sage but also Julius the owner. The variety of locations gave us the best chance of seeing wildlife and we were lucky enough to see grizzly and black bears, bald eagles and a golden eagle together with smaller animals. The Lodge provided all the equipment to ensure our treks and activities were safely done and provided binoculars and a spotting scope to enhance our sightings. This experience was complemented perfectly with a comfortable cabin and excellent food prepared by Kim. The atmosphere was as if spending time with friends and we were truly reluctant to leave.
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Date of stay: September 2022
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
It is difficult to know where to start in praising The Wild Bear Lodge but here goes … The setting is divine. Scattered in front of a sparkling salmon river, the guests’ log cabins are just a short walk from the main property, where all the meals are provided. The backdrop of mountains in front and behind makes the setting idyllic. The substantial cabins are so comfortable that you would be happy to spend a whole holiday hunkered down inside, bathing in the glow of the log burner. However, the draw of the smell of breakfast wafting from the main house is irresistible. Copious servings of food to satisfy any palate (including us vegetarians) are served to guests and staff alike. With Julius sharing the so well prepared meals, conversation around the table was as interesting as the excursions that we ventured out on in the day. The schedule for us included guided walks in the forest, by the river and at altitude in the mountains, necessary travelling achieved in an exhilarating ride in an UTV. The final day was spent rafting; Julius, the guide, at the helm. We learned so much from the guide during our stay and always felt in expert hands. Alas, unusually, we saw no bears but we did see so much, from coyotes to bear tracks, from salmon to unspoilt scenery. This was a thoroughly immersive experience – three days of serenity in a great area with a great guide. Add the marvellous food that Bree provided and all you want to do really, is return for another stay.
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Date of stay: September 2024
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Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:If you want to experience pristine Canada, book it.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Julius Strauss, Owner at Wild Bear Lodge
Responded Oct 24, 2024
Hi Peter. Thank you for the wonderful review. You have us blushing! I'm glad you enjoyed it so much. It is true that September has not been peak season for bear-viewing for a while, but of course is great for rafting and heading up into the sub-alpine. From 2025 we have decided that we will probably start our season a little later, at the beginning of October, when the grizzly bears come down to the valley. After a decade of relatively poor fish returns we have had a great turnout this year with 180,000 salmon in the river. It hasn't translated into huge amounts of bears down in the valley this year because the huckleberries - their alternative food source - have also been present in record numbers. Of course nature always has the last word, but with lots of new cubs being born this winter - thanks to the hugely abundant food sources - and the fish numbers on the up, the fundamentals look great for a bountiful bear-viewing season in 2025. So, please, do come again! All my best, Julius
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
An opportunity to spend time with wonderful, knowledgeable people in a special part of the world. Julius, Kim (1), and Paul were perfect hosts during our 3 day stay and wonderful guides whilst in the field. Kim (2) and Bree kept us all well fed and watered with an amazing selection of fare that I will now have to work off when I get home. Experiencing the salmon run during the fall, & and its integral connection to supporting both flora and fauna of B.C.'s temperate rainforest was personally a bucket list experience. We saw grizzly, moose, deer, and a wide variety of bird life. Signs of beaver, wolf, and puma were also encountered whilst out trekking. The opportunity to track and photograph these majestic animals both from the forest floor and traversing downstream in a raft is something those with a love of our biodiversity should experience. I would highly recommend making the time to visit, and all that is on offer. The accommodation is great for couples with individual private cabins. Lodgings are extremely comfortable and well set up both as a base, or just kicking back in either by your own fireplace, or sitting on your own verandah choosing to read a book (from a wide supplied selection) or just enjoying the wonderful view. Don't put off a visit.
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Date of stay: October 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:A good camera is a must for capturing images of wildlife.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
So our 4th visit to The Wild Bear Lodge did not disappoint! Each visit has been unique (even though our last 3 visits have all been in late October). There’s just something completely magical about this valley that draws us back - maybe it’s the way the low clouds drift lazily along the valley, or the regal bald eagles perched in the trees around every bend? Or is it the superb home cooking provided by Bree ensuring you will never feel hungry? Or the convivial company of other like minded adventurous guests, not to mention the hilarious anecdotes proffered by the most generous of hosts? The cosy log cabins, the smell of wood burning stoves, the so welcome sauna, hot tub (& slightly less welcome but invigorating cold plunge tub)? And I haven’t even mentioned the bears…. Yes, we were lucky. Under the expert guidance of both Julius and Sage we did see Grizzlies & I can report they are truly magnificent! We didn’t see them on every outing but there’s so much else to enjoy- the varied trails, the plants, trees, birds, fish ( the colour of the Kokanee salmon has to be seen to be believed!) - the Landeau river itself and just simply being outside for the greater part of the day in beautiful surroundings. Thank you so much Julius, Sage, Bree, the rest of the team behind the scenes & the other guests whose stay coincided with ours. We absolutely loved it!
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Date of stay: October 2024
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Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I loved my stay at Wild Bear Lodge, the whole off grid wilderness experience suited me perfectly. Our cabin was comfy and cosy, equipped with a woodburner, flushing toilet and warm shower. The beds were comfortable, and crocs and slippers provided. I also enjoyed my first night in the Kaslo hotel, both for food and accommodation. Kaslo is a quaint little town, well worth a visit. As a veggie, I was well catered for at the Lodge and enjoyed all my delicious meals. We hiked in small groups on indistinct trails, negotiating fallen tree trunks, slopes and uneven stones. We saw bears, bald eagles, dippers, a moose, a beaver dam and mountain lion paw prints. Rafting on a river unused by others is a magical experience, and Julius a clear and competent raft helmsman. Evening discussions were interesting and informative. A hot tub and sauna by the river are an added treat. All the guests, (knowledgeable) guides, staff and Julius the owner were a pleasure to be with. Would I return ? In a heartbeat. In fact I already have it semi planned in my head to go in a spring season and venture into the sub alpine, and I have only been home 24 hours.
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Date of stay: October 2024
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Trip type: Travelled with friends
Room Tip:Pay attention to the suggested clothes list. Bright clothes are not a good idea when wildlife...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This is the second visit to Wild Bear Lodge for us, so must be great. We went in 2019 and loved it so much that we decided to return as soon as the world was open again after the pandemic.
It did not disappoint. Julius and Paul were fantastic as our guides on this visit. So knowledgeable and entertaining. The food was superb again. Thank you to Kim for the delicious meals. We were very fortunate to see some grizzlies. Loved the cabins, we went at a different time of year this time and thoroughly enjoyed the whitewater rafting experience for the first time. Thank you to Pat, one of the other guests who took the amazing photo below.
We will definitely be back but will book a double trip this time to enjoy it for longer. Thank you to everyone at Wild Bear Lodge and see you next time.
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Date of stay: October 2022Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We also went in October and the rafting was pretty gentle but heaps of fun. Ollie was fantastic and looked after everyone (he did most of the hard work of paddling too!). You get a full safety brief beforehand. At that time of the year there are not many rapids. If you're really uncomfortable you are welcome to sit out the activity but it was an incredible experience and we would highly recommend it!
Hi Dan and Liv,
Thank you for your email. I'm afraid we do have a minimum age restriction of 14 for our guests. Occasionally we have guests with a 12 or 13 year old, but seven is still a little young for the kind of holidays we offer. Sorry!
Best Regards,
Julius
There are more places to choose from in the Kaslo area.
ALSO KNOWN AS
grizzly bear ranch hotel kaslo
FORMERLY KNOWN AS
Grizzly Bear Ranch
LOCATION
CanadaBritish ColumbiaKootenay RockiesKaslo
NUMBER OF ROOMS
6
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