TRAIL RIDE
4 days | 3 nights

ALL YEAR ROUND

ALL INCLUSIVE

NOT SUITABLE FOR BEGINNERS

Overview

Riding horses provides a unique way of observing the bears.
You can quietly approach the grizzlies, and safely observe them from horseback. This unobtrusive approach to grizzly bear viewing allows you to watch these majestic creatures without disturbing their natural behavior. Learn to know everything about the differences and similarities between black bears and grizzlies, from their anatomy, behavior, diet and habitat.

A better way to see the bears.

The South Chilcotin Mountains are home to a thriving population of grizzly bears. Throughout the spring breeding season, the grizzly bears graze in the low meadow, providing us with a rare opportunity to observe these creatures for great lengths of time. As the seasons change, you will follow the movement of the bears as they seek different feeding grounds. Grizzly bear territory marker trees and massive bear tracks create an exciting opportunity to follow the movement of the bears from the alpine meadows to the sub-alpine terrain. Your hosts actually collect the grizzly hair left behind on these rub trees as part of a larger grizzly study, which allows them to track their movements and study their family structures. We’ve learned that grizzly bears in the South Chilcotin Mountains thrive on protein-packed pine cones, which allows this population to produce more cubs than average. In these mountains, it’s not uncommon to witness a grizzly bear with 3 or even 4 cubs grazing in the meadows.

Black bears populate all of British Columbia, with five subspecies recognized for the province, three of which are endemic. In contrast to grizzly bears, the black bear populations of British Colombia is considered to be stable. In the spring when grizzly and black bears leave the den, they move to valley bottoms or south-facing slopes where snow melt is fastest, providing great opportunities for sighting at the beginning of the season. During the summer and fall the Bears move with the berries as they riper at changing elevations.

You’ll ride through the same mountain trails that early pioneers and explorers once used and will camp under the stars at night.

On this eXperience you will have the chance to observe the bears for long time intervals. Wildlife photography enthusiasts often have the opportunity to capture stunning images. Each trail ride and bear sighting provides the chance to discover something new about nature, and yourself.
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This eXperience brings the exhilarating opportunity to view these Canadian treasures.

Itinerary

Learn about conservation and land stewardship to help preserve wildlife. Explore majestic mountains teeming with wildlife. Hone your tracking skills and learn to spot signs of bear activity.
Learn about difference and similarities between Grizzly and Black Bears. Explore quiet valleys and wildflower meadows frequented by bears and their cubs.
Ride along the same mountain trails that early pioneers and explorers once used. Discover the power of a true encounter with nature and help us protect it.


Day 1
Arrive at noon for lunch with your own vehicle (shuttle bus service is not available for this eXperience). Lunch at the farm.
Horse Riding Orientation - Meet you horse, fit saddles, and practice horsemanship skills. Introductory trail ride along Gun Creek.
Dinner and review of trip details with your guides. Map orientation highlighting the trails and terrain you’ll explore throughout your journey. Repack your personal gear into mountain duffel bags. Overnight in farm's accommodations.

Day 2
Breakfast at the farm. Watch your guides pack and saddle your horse, or get an hands-on orientation before you ride out to camp.
Grizzly and Black bear tracking and wildlife viewing throughout today's ride.
Break for lunch in a wildflower meadow. Stop at territorial grizzly rub trees to learn about the farm's grizzly bear study and look for grizzly tracks on your way to camp. Arrive at camp. Relax or join your guides in leading the horses to their grazing meadows. Dinner and overnight at camp.

Day 3
Join your guides getting the horses in from their grazing meadows. A good opportunity to spot grizzly bears who can be found in the same meadows as the horses. Breakfast at camp.
Ride out to explore new trails and wildlife viewing locations. Break for lunch at a mountain pass. Watch for bears and their cubs as you ride through new valleys and meadows. Arrive at camp.
Relax or join your guides in leading the horses to their grazing meadows. Dinner and overnight at camp.

Day 4
Leisurely breakfast at the camp. Ride back to the farm through bear habitat.
Lunch on a mountain pass or alpine meadow. Arrive at the farm and pack up.
Depart from the farm in the afternoon.

Additional information

Transfers unavailable | Airport Gateway YVR | Vancouver

Please note, this eXperience is subject to the unpredictable weather and terrain conditions that come with a mountainous environment. And while we do our best to stick to the itinerary, there are times when the current conditions and needs of the group require us to adjust schedules, campsites, etc. This is part of any true wilderness eXperience, however, and we are well equipped to adapt the adventure to changing conditions.

5% GST applies, 5% Wilderness Stewardship Contribution Surcharge applies

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Grizzly Bear Research

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