Wild Bear Lodge (formerly Grizzly Bear Ranch)
Highway 31, Kaslo, British Columbia V0G 1M0 Canada
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#1 of 10 Specialty lodging in Kaslo
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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.
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Property amenities
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Wifi
Non-smoking hotel
Room features
Seating area
Flatscreen TV
Room types
Non-smoking rooms
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HOTEL STYLE
Charming
Location
Full view
75Somewhat walkable
Grade: 75 out of 100
9Restaurantswithin 10 km
9Attractionswithin 10 km
Contact
Highway 31, Kaslo, British Columbia V0G 1M0 Canada
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Rental CarsSee all Kaslo car hire
203Reviews4Q+A61Room tips
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We had a fabulous time with you and the team and really enjoyed the time at the lodge. We saw and learnt so much during our stay and the balance of activity and learning was perfect. Please thank Bree for the wonderful food and Sage and Paul for sharing their knowledge, insight and enthusiasm. Since we left we have put some of the knowledge we gained to good use and tracked dear, wolves and elk in the river bed where we are staying; 30 minutes out of Golden. We haven't seen the animals leaving the tracks yet but do have five resident bald eagles feeding on the salmon just below the house. We would definitely love to come again and would highly recommend the lodge as a place to sta yand see the real wild Canada.
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Date of stay: September 2022
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Room Tip: All lodges are superb with great views over the river and mountains
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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An inspirational few days From when you arrive the days are busy learning about the wild life of BC . All of the guides are passionate about finding bears to view in their natural habitat. Not all walks were successful but you still learn about the animals and plants . From reading tracks in the mud to creeping silently down wind of bears the whole experience was fascinating. We will be back.
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Date of stay: October 2022Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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A truly memorable & exciting experience. Learning about tracking, tracks, behaviour etc of the local wildlife from such lovely, knowledgeable & enthusiast people in a most beautiful spot in BC was so smiley. The cabin was cosy, food yum & company so interesting. The days well planned. Really looking forward to heading back. Thank you Julius, Sage, Kim x2 & Paul
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Date of stay: October 2022Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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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.
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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 2022Trip type: Travelled as a couple
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Wendy S wrote a review Nov. 1
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 2022Trip type: Travelled as a couple
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Room Tip: Hiking can be vigorous. Be honest about what you can do. Grizzlies were viewed from a...
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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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.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Shortly after the Wild Bear Lodge had opened again after two years, we stayed there for 3 days and had a wonderful time! Julius, Sage, Bree and Katya (Julius’ dog, a german shepherd) made us feel very welcome and did a great job to make these days unforgettable. With only another couple staying at the lodge during the same time, the whole atmosphere was very informal – just like being hosted by friends. We have been accommodated in a nice and cozy log cabin with a comfortable and tastefully furnished room that was only topped by a fantastic view over the river just in front of the lodge. Breakfast and dinner were served at main building – a larger two-storied wooden house – where Julius and the staff enjoyed the meals together with their guests. Bree did a fantastic job with cooking. Everything fresh, delicious and healthy, several vegetables even grown just behind the house. Julius and Sage guaranteed for a good conversation and told us a lot about their work at the lodge but also about their scientific wildlife research or their political engagement e.g., to stop grizzly bear hunting in British Columbia during and after dinner. Although being in the “wilderness” we missed no comfort at all. – enjoying a wood-fired sauna just next to the river was a fantastic experience and thanks to a satellite communication even the internet worked very well. Starting the day with a first wilderness walk even before breakfast the day was filled up with various excursions like hikes along the river or in the mountains or a rafting tour on the river with Julius or Sage as guides. Here we’ve learned a lot about the bears and other wildlife while Julius and Sage both gladly shared their enormous knowledge e.g., about bear behavior or reading tracks with us. After we had spotted our first black bear just at the beginning of our fist excursion our highlight was a hike in high elevation where we were able to watch grizzly bears feeding on berries. We approached the place using an open all-terrain-vehicle and started the hike just after we’d let the tree line behind us. After a short walk Julius led us to a place with a good view where we discovered several grizzly bears on the opposite slope. In an exciting moment at the end of the trip we suddenly spotted two younger bears approaching us – but Julius kept us safe by drawing the bears’ attention to ourselves so that they turned away again. Being in such a remote place just with a small group and Katya, the dog, watching bears that probably have never seen human beings before, certainly was one of our greatest experiences in our lives. Thank you to all of you for this great experience and keep up with what you are doing! One day we will come back. And – even when we are happy to be reunited with our own dog after our vacation – we miss Katya!…
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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.
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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.
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+1
We'd unreservedly recommend Wild Bear Lodge to anyone wanting to immerse themselves in learning 'first hand' about wildlife in natural, stunning surroundings. A wonderful experience where Kristin and Julius lead by example. The result? - very highly qualified staff who are knowledgeable, patient and good humoured. Every one of them! - accommodation which reflects the thoughtfulness of the owners, in its style, setting and small touches - each day full to the brim with appropriate, differentiated activity where accommodation is not just about where you sleep. It's about accommodating everyone's abilities and interest. - take a bow Kim and Kristin, the food was as plentiful, enticing and as fresh as the surroundings The list is endless. For me, personally I appreciated the understanding of everyone at Wild Bear Lodge that this is a significant commitment for those visiting. Every moment was well thought out, brilliantly delivered and most importantly, enjoyable and fun from start to finish. Glyn & Paula…
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Date of stay: October 2019
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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ALSO KNOWN AS
grizzly bear ranch hotel kaslo
LOCATION
CanadaBritish ColumbiaKootenay RockiesKaslo
NUMBER OF ROOMS
6
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Claim Your ListingWild Bear Lodge (formerly Grizzly Bear Ranch) - UPDATED 2022 Reviews & Photos (Kaslo, Kootenay Rockies) - Tripadvisor
Frequently Asked Questions about Wild Bear Lodge (formerly Grizzly Bear Ranch)
Which popular attractions are close to Wild Bear Lodge (formerly Grizzly Bear Ranch)?
Nearby attractions include The SS Moyie National Historic Site (0.2 km), Fletcher Falls (0.00 km), and Kaslo River Trail (0.4 km).
What are some restaurants close to Wild Bear Lodge (formerly Grizzly Bear Ranch)?
Conveniently located restaurants include Bluebelle Bistro, Treehouse, and Kaslo Hotel Pub & Restaurant.
Is Wild Bear Lodge (formerly Grizzly Bear Ranch) located near the city centre?
Yes, it is 0.5 km away from the centre of Kaslo.
Are there any historical sites close to Wild Bear Lodge (formerly Grizzly Bear Ranch)?
Many travellers enjoy visiting The SS Moyie National Historic Site (0.2 km).