Grizzly bears of Bute Inlet
Each fall, grizzlies gather to feed on salmon in the rivers of Bute Inlet on the mainland coast, a boat ride from Campbell River.
There are no grizzly bears on Vancouver Island, but they live just across the water on the mainland. Bute Inlet, a deep fjord north-east of Campbell River, is one of the best places in BC to watch them.
The tours
Full-day trips leave Campbell River by boat, cruising through the Discovery Islands and up the inlet. Homalco Wildlife and Cultural Tours, owned by the Homalco First Nation, takes guests into their territory at the Orford River, where bears fish the salmon runs from viewing stands.
The prime season is late summer into fall, when salmon return. Spots fill early, so book well ahead.
On the way
The boat ride is part of the adventure: expect eagles, seals, dolphins and sometimes whales on the run up the inlet.