The Search for Grizzlies: Early Season Tour

TOUR AT A GLANCE

• Experience the rugged beauty of Bute Inlet during a time of seasonal change
• On this tour, your Indigenous guide will educate you on the subtle signs left by grizzlies as they begin to move through the territory, anticipating the return of the salmon run
• Potential to witness the first grizzlies of the season
• Available August 10th to August 20th, 2026
• Full-day (8-hour) guided tour on both land and water
• Depart from Campbell River in the morning
• Heated boat with indoor and outdoor seating and toilet facilities
• Lunch, snacks and beverages included
• Appropriate for ages 8 and up
• By taking this tour, you’re supporting an Indigenous-owned and operated social enterprise dedicated to community and environmental stewardship.

Begin your day with a scenic journey through the Salish Sea aboard our comfortable tour vessel, with potential to spot orca, humpbacks, seals, and other coastal wildlife along the way. Upon arrival in Bute Inlet, Homalco guides will welcome you to their ancestral territory and share their knowledge of the land, the inlet, and the relationships between people, animals, and place.

Because this tour takes place before typical peak grizzly season, bear activity can be more unpredictable. Some days may offer exclusive encounters, while others reveal subtle hints of bear presence. Either way, your experienced guides will show you the inlet through a deeper lens; one shaped by Indigenous stewardship, natural rhythms, and the interconnectedness of the ecosystem.

This is an opportunity to explore a spectacular landscape, learn from Homalco hosts, and embrace a more open-ended style of wildlife viewing, where every sighting is earned, every moment in the inlet feels meaningful, and the search itself becomes part of the adventure.

WHAT TO EXPECT

The following information offers what to expect in a TYPICAL year (note that climate change significantly impacts weather and bear behaviour, which is our best interpretation in constantly changing conditions).

• August has the hottest, most pleasant days, and grizzlies are moving from up high into the area.
• Until the end of August, bears mostly forage for grasses, berries, and shellfish as they wait for the salmon to begin moving from the mouth of Orford Bay and up the rivers to spawn.
• There are frequent sightings of whale activity along the route to Orford Bay. This tour allocates extra time on the water to observe potential whales and other marine wildlife.

For similar tours, please see our THE GREAT BEARS OF BUTE TOUR, THE DELUXE GRIZZLIES & CULTURE TOUR or PEOPLE WATER LAND TOUR.