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Grizzly bear viewing
Renowned viewing locations like Knight Inlet, Bond Sound and Thompson Sound, watched from a safe and respectful distance.
Sea Wolf Adventures · Day tour
Grizzly Bears of the Wild
A full day out of Port McNeill into the Great Bear Rainforest — grizzlies at the river mouths, humpbacks in Blackfish Sound, and the history of these waters told by the people who live here.
8 to 9 hours
Departs Port McNeill
May 17 – October 13
Twelve guests maximum
The information below is for our day tour. For our all-inclusive Wilderness Lodge Packages, click here.
Discover the awe-inspiring wilderness of British Columbia while immersing yourself in First Nations culture, ecological stewardship and Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas.
Departing from Port McNeill, this full-day adventure takes you through coastal landscapes frequented by orcas, humpback whales and other marine life. You venture into the heart of the Great Bear Rainforest, where pristine waterways and ancient forests are the backdrop for grizzly bear viewing.
The day combines meaningful wildlife viewing with rich Indigenous history, and the chance to contribute directly to the preservation of vital ecosystems and cultural heritage.
Tour highlights
What the day holds
Eight to nine hours. Times shift with weather, tides and where the bears are — from September 25 the day starts 30 minutes later, with a 7:30 am departure.
02
Whales and marine life
Blackfish Sound and the Broughton Archipelago — humpback whales, Pacific white-sided dolphins, bald eagles and more.
03
Indigenous Protected Areas
How IPCAs established by First Nations safeguard biodiversity, restore ecosystems and uphold cultural practices tied to the land.
04
Kwakwaka’wakw culture
Cultural teachings and the deep connection between these peoples and this coast, shared by your guides through the day.
05
Salmon restoration
The role of salmon in this ecosystem, and the stewardship work that keeps wild stocks vital to grizzlies, marine life and Indigenous traditions.
06
Your fees at work
Cultural and salmon stewardship fees from every seat support ongoing conservation and community programs, including the protection of IPCAs.
On the water
What will we see?
Travelling to the bear viewing areas is an important part of the day. Pacific white-sided dolphins often dance alongside the bow, eagles soar overhead, and animals roam the shell-strewn beaches where ancient villages once stood.
We share the cultural significance and histories behind the scenery as we make our way through waters favoured by migrating orcas. Staying a safe and respectful distance, we visit grizzly bears in their home and give them space to roam as nature intended.
A locally sourced lunch comes before the journey back through the Broughton Archipelago and Blackfish Sound, where a humpback sighting often ends the day.
Bears, whales and an opportunity to hear stories — what more could you want!
OJTHarris · Tripadvisor, June 2024
Your hosts
Guided by the people who live here
Sea Wolf Adventures is owned and run by Mike Willie, Musgamagw Dzawada’enuxw, who grew up on these waters. Our guides are Indigenous Knowledge Keepers, and each day and season offers something new.
You are not visiting a viewpoint. You are a guest in someone’s territory, hearing its history from the family that has travelled it for generations.
Mike Willie
Reserve
Book the day tour
Two ticket types, or the whole boat for your group. Every guest signs the activity waiver before boarding.
Quick facts
- Tour length
- 8 to 9 hours
- Group size
- Three guests minimum, twelve maximum. Or charter the whole boat for your group.
- Minimum age
- 10 years old on the day tour; no minimum on the family charter. Guests 18 and under must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
- Departs
- 1514 Broughton Blvd, Port McNeill — arrive 30 minutes before departure. Click here for directions
- Season
- May 17 to September 24, daily at 7:00 am · September 25 to October 13, daily at 7:30 am. Charters June to August.
Non-refundable ticket
CA$530
Per person. Full payment at time of booking. No transfers to other dates. Youth aged 10 to 16 receive a 10% discount.
Flexible ticket
CA$595
Per person. Full refund with 14 or more days notice; cancellations by email only. Youth aged 10 to 16 receive a 10% discount.
Family charter · entire vessel
CA$6,500
For the whole boat, plus 5% GST and a $35 per person salmon stewardship fee. June, July and August, by request.
Have the boat to yourselves. Any group size, and no minimum age, so families with younger children can see the grizzlies together. It’s also the way in when a date you want is sold out on our scheduled tours.
Grizzly Bears of the Wild Day Tour
Book online today to reserve your seat. Choose a ticket type — flexible, non-refundable, or the family charter.
Don’t see your preferred date? Join the waitlist and we will let you know when a seat opens — or take the whole boat for your group with the .
What’s included
- ✓Boat transportation
- ✓Naturalist Indigenous guides
- ✓Breakfast, lunch, snacks and drinks
- ✓Binoculars
- ✓Rain ponchos
What to bring
We provide everything you need to enjoy the day. Darker clothing is preferred, and warm layers matter more than you would think on the water.
- Sunscreen
- Insect repellent
- Medication, if needed
- Hats — toques and sun hats
- Sunglasses
- Camera
- Breathable, non-cotton layers
- Sturdy footwear
Good to know
- Waiver
- All guests sign the activity waiver on arrival. Preview it before booking.
- Photography
- Plenty of wildlife photography opportunities, but please do not bring tripods on board.
- Bear viewing
- Locations may change without notice, to give you the best opportunity to see grizzlies.
- Weather
- Dress warmly and wear sturdy footwear. The tour runs rain or shine.
Guest reviews
What guests say
Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice Awards, 2025.
★★★★★
A brilliant day with this crew. Julie collected us from our hotel and then we went on a full day boat ride to see grizzly bears with two knowledgeable Indigenous guides who educated us about both wildlife and the worlds of the First Nation peoples. We saw bears, sea otters, humpback whales, eagles, dolphins and right at the end orcas!
OJTHarris · June 2024
★★★★★
Clarissa gave us a wonderful insight into the indigenous peoples of the area … We saw black bears feeding on the sea shore then travelled on to one of the indigenous sites to see the grizzlies. … We were rewarded with not just one but two grizzlies coming downstream, catching salmon and eating them less than 50 feet away.
RayandJuliaB · October 2023
Twelve guests a day, May to October.
Departures daily from Port McNeill. Book online, or send us a note with your questions — we answer every one ourselves.
Private charter · entire vessel
Family grizzly bear viewing charter
CA$6,500
For the entire vessel, plus 5% GST and a $35 per person salmon stewardship fee.
An exclusive private charter aboard the Eleni Jane, a custom-built 33-foot Titan rigid-hull inflatable boat. Your personal guide is Mike Willie, owner of Sea Wolf Adventures and Indigenous Knowledge Keeper of the Kwakwaka’wakw peoples.
Our regular Grizzly Bears of the Wild tour has a minimum age of 10. The family charter is for families with younger children who want to see the grizzlies together — the whole boat travels at the pace of your youngest adventurers, in a safe, private setting. It suits any group that wants a day to themselves, including on a date where seats are sold out.
What’s included
- ✓Full-day private grizzly bear viewing, 8 to 9 hours
- ✓Mike Willie as your personal guide
- ✓No minimum age — young children welcome
- ✓Breakfast, lunch, snacks and drinks
- ✓All safety equipment and flotation suits
Good to know
- Vessel
- Eleni Jane, 33-foot Titan rigid-hull inflatable
- Season
- June, July and August only
- Booking
- By request — choose the family charter in the CheckFront calendar and we confirm the date with you
- Departure
- 1514 Broughton Blvd, Port McNeill, BC
Waitlist
Tell us the dates you want
Departures fill through the summer. Leave your dates and we will email you the moment a seat opens on a day that works — no deposit, no obligation.