Bear Camp at Chilko Lake

Situated at the north end of Chilko Lake and the headwaters of the Chilko River, Bear Camp offers the only facilities adjacent to Ts’yl-os Provincial Park. This unique lodge offers deluxe camping (if you can call it camping!) on raised wildlife viewing platforms. 

Accommodations are spacious and deluxe safari tents are on the water’s edge and feature a king bed or two double beds, indoor and outdoor lounging areas, spacious decks, and all the adventure opportunities one could imagine. Down duvets, hot showers, and catered dining take “camping” to new levels of comfort. 

MEALS

Treat your palette to fresh gourmet cuisine starting with wholesome breakfasts, picnic lunches, indulgent hors d’oeuvres, and a glass of wine before your sumptuous family-style meal in the spectacular dining cabin. The food is created from some of the finest local seafood, fresh organic produce, and perfectly prepared wild game. Throughout your stay, and in part because we have only 16 guests at once, you will have the thoughtful attention and service that you deserve.

We need to know as soon as possible about any dietary restrictions we must consider in planning your trip. If you have food allergies or necessary restrictions, we will do our best to accommodate your needs.

ACTIVITIES

The following activities are available at Bear Camp and included as part of your trip cost:

• Lake paddling: Sea kayaks, canoes, and stand-up paddle boards (SUPs) are available for exploring Chilko Lake.
• Hiking: There are wonderful hiking opportunities from our base at Bear Camp into Ts’yl-os Provincial Park. Choose from strenuous hikes with rewarding views, or mellow walks along the lake to secluded beaches and nearby Green Lake. Heli-hiking can also be arranged at additional expense (but is worth every penny) and visits a number of valleys and nearby glaciers.
• River running: From camp, we offer the upper 21 miles of the Chilko River. This Class II+ section allows participants to inflatable kayak, raft or enjoy our comfortable, custom-designed drift boat. The drift boat ride is high and dry, ideal for soaking up scenery instead of waves. For the more adventurous, the inflatable kayaks put you right in the action. Choose from a half-day (10 miles) or an entire day (21 miles with a picnic lunch) and navigate some fun and scenic water that is still appropriate for any kiddos.
• Wildlife viewing: There is a variety of wildlife in our neck of the Chilcotin region, but come late August and September as many as 2 million salmon come to spawn at the headwaters of Chilko Lake. By mid-September, more than 80 grizzlies and hundreds of bald eagles come to the mouth of the river to feed on nature’s bounty. By boat, kayak, and bike we can witness this amazing spectacle. In our drift boats and kayaks, we safely and silently float past bears often less than 50 feet away.
• Biking: Flowing double track, winding dirt roads, coasting along the river’s edge, or gliding through pine-scented forests, we’ve got it all. Our fleet of Kona mountain bikes comes with vehicle support and a knowledgeable guide. What more could you want? Eliminate the hills? We can do that too!
• Bushcraft: Meet survivalist expert, Mike Yates, a.k.a. “Grizz.” Mike ran a survival school for decades and was better known as the Marlboro Man for the cigarette manufacturer’s advertising series in Europe and abroad. Participants will see how to live off-the-grid, learn about plants and wildflowers as well as learn about constructing traditional log homes. By the day’s end you will be ready to face even the worst zombie apocalypse…or at least light a fire and build a shelter!
• Fishing: For fishing enthusiasts, Chilko Lake and the upper section of the Chilko River are truly world-class. You can fish from shore, in waders, or by boat (paddle, drift, or power). The river is “fly fish only, catch & release” and we have jon and drift boats and all the necessary gear to wade and fish this pristine waterway. 

A half-day of guided fishing is included. Additional guided fishing may incur an additional cost and can utilize deluxe flat bottom river boats that have forward and aft fishing platforms with stanchions for stable casting. Float-plane or heli-fishing trips are also available at an additional cost. 

OPTIONAL ADD-ONS

Several activities are offered for an additional cost and subject to availability/minimum number of participants. Inquire with one of our Adventure Consultants if you’re interested.

• Heli-hiking or biking: With two Bell (6 passenger) helicopters servicing the area, the heli-access opportunities are endless. Here you’ll hike or ride at 7,000-9,000 feet elevation. Surrounded by mountaintops and wildflowers, grizzly sightings are common and the scenery second to none. 
• Rafting Lava Canyon: Paddle the longest, most continuous stretch of commercially navigable Class IV whitewater in North America on this 2-day adventure. The 2-day Lava Canyon add-on is available with any Bear Camp program. The last day of your scheduled Bear Camp program is day 1 of the Lava Canyon section, so adds one day total to your trip.

The weather is one of the few details we can’t control. During late June through early August, the Chilko-Chilcotin region tends to be dry in climate and warmer than the coast. In mid-summer, daytime highs in the interior can reach the high 80’s° F, while temperatures can drop significantly overnight. Rain is always a possibility in British Columbia. Be sure to follow our recommended equipment list, as our experience suggests a multi-layering approach with a range of temperatures and conditions in mind.

Late-season trips, from late August through October, can experience wild swings in temperature and weather.

Average Air Temperatures at Chilko Lake

Reservations and Deposits

A $1000/person deposit is required at the time of booking with final payment due 90 days before departure. Accounts on which final payment has not been received 80 days before the departure date will be canceled.

Payments can be made by check, money order, eCheck, wire transfer, Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover. Prices are in US Dollars, and all payments must be made in US Dollars. Payment of the deposit establishes your acceptance of our complete Terms and Conditions. Individual departures and trip capacity are strictly limited by the managing agency. Your payment is fully refundable for 7 days, less a 3% processing fee, after making a reservation when you reserve a trip 7 days or more prior to the final payment due date.

Cancellations and Refunds

Canceling your trip after your deposit is processed will incur cancellation fees because OARS has absorbed costs on your behalf and will turn others away who would like to book the spaces we’re holding for you. If you must cancel your reservation after the rescission period described above, your cancellation fee will be determined according to the schedule below.

Requests to transfer a date will be treated as a cancellation, per the terms above.

We regret we cannot make exceptions to the cancellation policy for any reason, including foul weather, poor air quality, wildfire activity, acts of terrorism, civil unrest, or personal emergencies. For these reasons, we strongly urge you to consider purchasing a travel protection plan.

Canceled Trips

OARS International and the outfitter R.O.A.M. Adventures, Inc. reserve the right to cancel any trip due to insufficient registration or other factors that make the trip impractical to operate. In such instances, we will inform you at least 30 days prior to departure. Do not make non-refundable travel arrangements until you have verified with OARS that your trip is confirmed.

If a trip must be canceled or postponed due to force majeure (factors outside the control of OARS), OARS will provide full credit for payments made toward future travel, or a refund less the initial deposit amount and any non-refundable payments made on your behalf to 3rd-party suppliers. OARS will make good faith efforts to recover deposits made on your behalf to 3rd-party suppliers; however, we cannot guarantee recovery of any or all of the advance payments made. OARS is not responsible for expenses incurred by participants in preparation for a canceled trip.