As part of a trip to Canada in June 2023, I visited the Khutzeymateen Wilderness Lodge in British Columbia for three nights. The lodge was accessed by boat from Prince Rupert, and a short distance from the border with Alaska. It's an absolutely gorgeous valley, and bear viewing is by boat, spotting grizzly bears on the shore eating sedge grass and feeding on clams. This is actually my second visit to the Khutzeymateen; the first in 2016 was unsuccessful from a wildlife viewing point of view. This time, my luck was greater, and the Lodge was respectful and low impact towards the bears. My main frustration, from a photography point of view (given the expense of this trip) was that the viewing times were scheduled around the fixed meal times. Given the long days in June, and the prevalence of sun, this meant the light was harsh most of the time we were out in the field. There was no chance to take advantage of the more subtle light early in the morning and in the evening. If you're a keen photographer, I'd therefore advise against booking a stay directly with the lodge. If using a tour guide, be sure to ask questions about the flexibility of the schedule, or consider one of the small boat tours which visit this area. If your objectives are simply to enjoy pristine wilderness and view bears and you have the budget, the Lodge may suit you well.
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