7 Day Grizzly and Black Bear Tracking on Horseback in South Chilcotin Mountains, British Columbia
Canada Conservation Horse Based Pack Trip
All trips organized by Wilderness Trails are based on six principles: nature conservation, nature connection, personal development, self-sufficiency, consciousness and awareness, and empowerment. These six principles are designed to help you create positive change—for yourself, for others, and for your environment. Embark on a transformational self-development journey with the Wilderness Trails community, discovering who you are and who you want to be. Connect with nature and experience its restorative benefits. Engage in nature conservation and make a real-world difference. Become more self-sufficient as you learn new skills and mindsets. Experience true empowerment as you accomplish things you never thought possible. Gain a heightened sense of consciousness and awareness as you learn to see the natural environment and every aspect of life from a new perspective.
Highlights
- Seven days of horseback riding
- Explore majestic mountains teeming with wildlife
- Hone your tracking skills and learn to spot signs of bear activity
- Learn about the differences and similarities between Grizzly and Black Bears
- Explore quiet valleys and wildflower meadows frequented by bears and their cubs
- Ride horseback along mountain trails that early pioneers and explorers once used
- Learn about conservation and land stewardship to help preserve wildlife
- Discover the power of a true encounter with nature
- 6 nights accommodation
Skill level
- Beginner
- Intermediate
- Advanced
Accommodation
During this vacation, you will stay two nights in our ranch accommodation and four nights at the alpine camp.
The ranch house
The historic ranch house lodge is the perfect place to meet our horses, discover our library of inspirational books and connect with other guests and our ranch community. This is where your wilderness experience starts!
The camps
Chilcotin Holidays mountain camps, many located at tree line are the ideal base for your wilderness experience. Wilderness cabins, prospector tents, a camp fire and horse corral allow you to get back to basics. Splitting wood, making a fire and packing water are all ways to reconnect to nature. From your camp, journey into the wilderness on day rides.
Program
Wilderness Trails will guide you on your journey, offering the opportunity to reach your full potential and achieve your goals. You will be challenged physically, mentally, and emotionally, succeeding in ways you may not have believed possible. Keep an open mind, step out of your comfort zone, and you will be rewarded with a unique experience that has the power to transform your life.
Day 1
- Early morning departure from Vancouver with Wilderness Trails' shuttle or from home with your own transportation.
- Midday arrival and lunch at the ranch.
- Horse riding orientation – Riders will be matched to horses, saddles will be fitted, and horsemanship skills will be practiced. You will learn how to saddle your own horse so you can be self-sufficient throughout the whole trip, increasing your sense of empowerment and independence.
- Introductory trail ride to get to know your horse's capabilities and the terrain you will be riding.
- Dinner and reflection on your day's successes, appreciations, and challenges in the evening review.
- Map orientation highlighting the uniqueness of the Chilcotin Ark, the conservation efforts you will get involved in, and the trails and terrain to be explored throughout the journey. Learn more about bears and their habitats.
- Duffel routine – Repack your personal gear into mountain duffel bags that will be packed on the horse.
- Overnight in ranch accommodations.
Day 2
- Saddle your own horse and learn from the guides how to pack the pack horses with a hands-on orientation before riding out to camp.
- Breakfast at the ranch and set your intentions in the morning review.
- Journey through Douglas fir and lodgepole pine forests, climb stunning mountain passes, and ride through tranquil valleys with a break for lunch in a meadow of wildflowers. Connect to nature by collecting grizzly bear hair from rub trees, drinking water from the creeks, scouting for bears along the way, and learning tracking techniques.
- Arrive at the rustic mountain camp and settle in by contributing to camp chores such as carrying water from the creek, learning how to split firewood and make a fire, and unpacking the horses.
- Ride the horses to their grazing meadows and enjoy a hike back to camp through untouched wilderness. Meadows are 15-20 minutes from camp, where you will learn how to stake and hobble your horse for the night. Get involved in conservation with the Range Record Grazing Sheet by identifying different grazes and wildflowers.
- Help cook dinner at camp, cook on the campfire, and roast marshmallows. Review your day's successes, challenges, and appreciations in the evening review.
- Overnight in rustic prospector wall tents, listening to the sounds of nature and counting the stars.
Days 3-5
- At sunrise, hike out with the guides to retrieve your horses from the staking meadows, saddle your own horse, and ride back to camp.
- Help prepare breakfast and pack lunches at camp, enjoying breakfast while setting your intentions in the morning review.
- Day ride from camp to prime locations for tracking bears, enjoying lunch with breathtaking views along the way.
- Play your part in conservation while scouting for wildlife. Record every animal seen in the Wildlife Sightings Form, learn about endangered whitebark pine trees and assess the health of their population, and collect grizzly bear hair from rub trees for DNA analysis.
- Connect to nature by drinking from the creek, learning about different plants, and bonding with your horse.
- Return to camp, bring horses to the staking meadows, stake and hobble the horses, and enjoy the evening hike back to camp.
- Help cook dinner at camp, cook on the campfire, and roast marshmallows. Review your day's successes and appreciations in the evening review.
- Overnight in rustic prospector wall tents, listening to the sounds of nature and counting the stars.
Day 6
- At sunrise, hike out with the guides to retrieve your horses from the staking meadows, saddle your own horse, and ride back to camp.
- Help cook breakfast and pack lunches at camp, enjoying breakfast while setting your intentions in the morning review.
- Pack up camp and help pack the horses before heading out.
- Explore striking landscapes, like valleys and towering ridge-lines, while riding back to the ranch.
- Enjoy lunch on a mountain top or in an alpine meadow.
- Arrival and dinner at the ranch. Review your day's successes and appreciations in the evening review.
- Relax around the fireplace or step onto the deck for spectacular star-gazing.
- Overnight in ranch accommodations.
Day 7
- Breakfast at the ranch and set your intentions in the morning review.
- Bareback horse riding lessons.
- Target shooting instruction and practice.
- Fill in the Wilderness Journal to reflect on your journey, how it impacted you, and what learnings you will implement in your daily life.
- Farewell lunch at the ranch with a review of the Wilderness Journal and certificate presentation to reflect on your transformations during the trip.
- Depart for home or Vancouver, arriving in the evening.
Important Information:
- For every day: Depending on the trail, you may need to walk downhill on steep terrain for at least 30 minutes and up to 2 hours, as you descend the mountains you climbed on our horses.
- Each trip is a hands-on experience where you will participate in all activities, including horse care, camp chores, conservation projects, daily reflections on your experiences, and more.
- Please note: The trips are subject to unpredictable weather and terrain conditions that come with a mountainous environment. While they do their best to follow the itinerary, there may be times when the current conditions or needs of the group require adjustments to schedules, campsites, and other aspects of the trip. This is part of any true wilderness experience, and we are well-equipped to adapt the adventure to changing conditions.
Location
The bear tracking activities will take place around South Chilcotin Mountains area, British Columbia.
Food
You will be served 19 meals included in the price.
The following meals are included:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:
- Vegetarian
- Regular (typically includes meat and fish)
Things to do (optional)
- Archery (50 CAD per hour)
- Gold mine shaft exploration (based on a group of four with one guide, 400 CAD per truck)
- Horse logging (100 CAD per person)
- Shoeing horses (100 CAD per person)
What's included
- 6 nights accommodation
- 19 meals
- Seven days of horseback riding
What's not included
- Chilcotin Express shuttle ground transport between Vancouver and the ranch (600 CAD per person on regular dates and 750 CAD per person on irregular dates and 1200 CAD round trip per group of four or more) + tax per person
- Private group (extra 200 CAD per day per group - subject to availability)
- Extra charge for horse riders over 230 pounds and restrictions may apply for horse riders over 260 pounds
- Tax
How to get there
Recommended Airports
Vancouver International Airport
193 km
Transfer not provided
Cancellation Policy
- A reservation requires a deposit of 50% of the total price.
- The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
- The rest of the payment should be paid 30 days before arrival.
For this organizer you can guarantee your booking through Tripaneer.com. All major credit cards supported.