Ranch Based Grizzly and Black Bear conservation and Tracking Adventure
Are you looking for a ranch-based grizzly and black bear tracking experience that allows you to disconnect from city life and reconnect to nature?
Experience the daily rhythm of a working wilderness ranch in the Chilcotin Ark of British Columbia, Canada while developing Western horse riding skills and learning about grizzly and black bears.
Rather than checking in as a guest and being served from the sidelines, you join a living learning environment. This is an active experience, not a horseback riding holiday. Participants learn by taking part in the daily realities of the wilderness: helping care for horses, feeding animals, ranch chores, getting involved in conservation of Canadian wildlife and the environment, preparing shared meals, learning tracking and observation skills, managing personal equipment and adapting to weather and trail conditions.
Our guides provide leadership, teaching, logistical support and a safe framework for travel. In return, we ask participants to bring curiosity, responsibility, flexibility and a willingness to contribute to the group.
Wildlife, changing mountain weather, long days in the saddle, simple ranch conditions and moments that get you out of your comfort zone are not inconveniences to be removed; they are part of the learning experience.
Accommodation and meals are simple, practical parts of ranch life. The value of the program lies in the knowledge shared and skills learned, the work you participate in, the relationships you build, and the confidence that comes from doing real things in a real place.
Come ready to get involved, ask questions, take responsibility, and leave a positive mark.
HERE ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF THE OPPORTUNITIES YOU’LL EXPERIENCE WHILE ON OUR BC GUEST RANCH-BASED GRIZZLY AND BLACK BEAR TRACKING ADVENTURE IN THE CHILCOTIN ARK:
- Learn the habitats and behaviour of black and grizzly bears in british columbia
- Track bears by horseback, hiking or truck
- learn the difference between black and grizzly bears
- Escape the distractions of daily life in our remote mountain setting AND GET INVOLVED IN RANCH LIFE SUCH AS ANIMAL CARE
- Connect with nature and yourself with grizzly and black bear viewing opportunities
- Join in real conservation projects that safeguard the local ecosystem
- Experience a 5 or 7 day grizzly and black bear tracking ADVENTURE from our bear viewing lodge
Ranch based grizzly and black bear tracking itinerary
On your ranch based grizzly and black bear tracking adventure, arrive at the ranch and enjoy lunch in our historic bear viewing lodge. Then meet your horse, learn how to saddle, take a short ride to prepare for the rest of the adventure and review the grizzly and black bear tracking itinerary with your guides.
Next morning bring in and saddle your horses then ride out on a morning ride to get to know the area. Scout for grizzly and black bears at prime spots along the way. After returning to the ranch for lunch, ride out again in the afternoon on a new trail, looking for bears in different locations.
Early morning and evening are the best grizzly and black bear viewing times. So head out at sunrise and sunset by horse, foot or truck to scout for grizzly and black bears. Along the way you might also see mountain goat, mule deer, moose and other animals in their natural habitat.
Learn about where to find grizzly and black bears and their different habitats and behaviours. Record every animal you see in our wildlife sightings form to contribute to habitat and population management. Remove invasive plant species and collect data along the way such as grizzly hair from rub trees for DNA analysis.
Get involved in ranch chores such as animal care and preparing your meals.
On the last full day, enjoy a full day ride to the mountain tops and learn more about the flora and fauna.
On your final morning, learn how to do bareback riding, archery or biathlon target shooting. Over lunch review the week’s adventure.