Summer in the Great Bear Rainforest - Focused on WOLVES!
OVERVIEW OF THIS GREAT BEAR RAINFOREST PHOTO TOUR:
This one is it! My first ever photo expedition into the spectacular Great Bear Rainforest of British Columbia focused primarily on finding and photographing coastal Gray Wolves! Like Grizzly Bears and the rare white Spirit Bear, coastal Gray Wolves are an iconic species that symbolize pristine wilderness. And, the elusive coastal Gray Wolf is an absolutely fascinating photographic subject. Photographing them on white-sand beaches, on rocky shorelines, and on the edge of a thick and spectacular temperate rainforest is a wildlife photographer's dream come true!
The wilderness of the Great Bear Rainforest has a strong population of coastal Gray Wolves but, like other places where wolves are actively hunted and persecuted, they are very elusive animals and a real challenge to photograph. In the Great Bear Rainforest the wolves are as wild as they get, which means photographing them is very challenging, but at the same time both immensely exciting and very satisfying! Come join me on this thrilling wildlife photography experience!
This photo tour will include some hiking on uneven (and slippery!) terrain, so those considering coming on this trip should have good mobility, a moderate-to-high fitness level, and a good sense of balance.
This photo tour is boat-based. During our time in the Great Bear we will be traveling with and staying aboard a 70' classic wooden schooner.
What's Included? This is an all-inclusive trip that includes most everything after your arrival in Bella Bella on Day 1 of the trip. So that means meals, accommodation, all travel during the trip, wildlife guides, photography guides, and all First Nation, Conservation and Stewardship fees. Of course great camaraderie and tons of great photo ops are included as well!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)
1. Am I guaranteed of seeing and photographing coastal Gray Wolves if I come on this photo tour?
Nope! In fact, it is entirely possible that we'll get skunked on this trip and not even SEE a single coastal Gray Wolf. These are fully wild wolves living largely outside the influence of human society - and living how they've lived for time immemorial. The Great Bear Rainforest is a vast wilderness chock full of wildlife, including a strong population of coastal Gray Wolves. However, these wolves exist in a province that allows (and even encourages) their slaughter - and thus they are very, very wary. The wolves in the Great Bear are not "habituated" wolves like you can find in national parks. On most week-long trips to the Great Bear you are quite unlikely to see a Gray Wolf.
However, over the past 5 years we have ventured into more remote and rarely-visited regions of the Great Bear Rainforest to seek out wolves. And, we've had good success in finding them and photographing them - so much so that I am finally keen on running a Great Bear Rainforest photo tour focused on wolves as our primary subject matter!
2. Are you saying I may go on this photo tour and come back without even a single image?
Well...if you are only willing to point your camera at a wolf and ONLY a wolf (and NOT at any of the other great subject matter we'll encounter)...then I guess the answer is "Yes...you may come back with nothing!" But the portions of the Great Bear Rainforest we are going to explore on this trip have TONS of other cool wildlife in them, including Black Bears, Northern River Otters, Pacific Marten, Sea Otters, Humpback Whales, Fin Whales, Killer Whales, Steller Sea Lions, Harbour Seals, Bald Eagles, Great Blue Herons, Sandhill Cranes, and many, many species of shorebirds and sea birds. With a LOT of luck we may even see/photograph a wolverine! And, of course, the sea- and landscapes offer great photographic potential. As any wildlife photographer worth their salt knows, it's ALWAYS about opportunity recognition and having the skill to take advantage of those opportunities.
3. What about Grizzly Bears and the white Spirit Bear?
Both are possible subjects, but with the route we'll take to maximize our chances of finding wolves we'll be minimizing our chances of seeing Grizzly or Spirit Bears (i.e., <50% chance of seeing/photographing these). That's the honest reality!
4. Most of your photo tours to the Great Bear Rainforest take place a little later in the year - often late September or early October. Is this trip a little too early in the season to take advantage of the strong salmon runs?
No, not at all. It's true that Grizzly Bear, Black Bear, and Spirit Bear photography is often best when the salmon are running in mid-to-late September. But the annual cycle of coastal Gray Wolves in the Great Bear Rainforest is such that in August and early September the pups are not yet traveling with the adult family members and are thus more "tied" to specific sites (often referred to as "rendezvous sites"). At this time the adults often work the shorelines in search of food and are more visible than at other times of the year. Based on our past experience in the area mid-to-late August is the optimal time to run a wolf-focused photo tour!
ABOUT THE GREAT BEAR RAINFOREST:
At over 64,000 square kilometers (25,000 sq. mi.) the Great Bear Rainforest is the largest tract of temperate coastal rainforest left on Planet Earth. Here the coastal mountains meet the Pacific Ocean - the area is cut by hundreds of steep-sided inlets/fjords and there are countless islands. This true wilderness is rarely visited by humans and is stunningly beautiful in itself. And, it is literally teeming with wildlife - including Grizzly Bears, Black (and Spirit) Bears, coastal Gray Wolves, Wolverines, Sea Otters, Northern River Otters, Pacific Martens, Bald Eagles, Humpback Whales, Killer Whales, Sea Otters, Harbour Seals, Steller Sea Lions, many species of waterfowl and seabirds, and more! The ENTIRE Great Bear Rainforest is a nature and wildlife photographer's dream come true.
OTHER Great Bear Rainforest Photo Tours Offered in 2026:
• Spring in the Southern Great Bear Instructional Photo Tour
• Autumn in the Great Bear Rainforest Exploratory Photo Op Tour - details available soon!
ALL THE CRITICAL DETAILS:
• PHOTO TOUR TYPE: Photo Op Photo Tour AND Exploratory Photo Adventure! (go here for a description of the types of photo tours I offer).
• SCHEDULED PHOTO TOUR LEADER: Brad Hill
• DURATION: 10 NIGHTS/11 DAYS (including arrival and departure days) with 9 NIGHTS/10 DAYS in the Great Bear Rainforest aboard the Passing Cloud (a classic 70-foot wooden schooner).
• PROVISIONAL DATES: August 14-24, 2026 including arrival and departure days. August 15-24 in the Great Bear Rainforest aboard the Passing Cloud.
• TRIP START AND END POINT: Bella Bella, BC, Canada
• NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS: Limited to 6.
• CURRENT NUMBER OF AVAILABLE SPOTS: 0 (sold out). But note that when trips sell out this early cancellations can occur. Please contact me at seminars@naturalart.ca if you'd like to be placed on a waiting list for this amazing photo tour.
• COST: $11,699 CAD plus 5% GST. Currency converter available here.
• PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS FOR THIS TRIP: This photo tour requires a moderate-to-high level of physical fitness and good mobility. We will be walking/hiking on trails or beaches a number of times on this trip and we will be shooting images from the deck of the sailboat, from within a Zodiac, and on shore. To participate in this trip you should be able to perform the following tasks:
• Be able to hike up to 5 km on uneven, slanted and potentially slippery terrain and/or over some obstacles that could be up to a meter or slightly more high (e.g., large fallen logs) - all while carrying your own camera gear.
• Be able to easily move between the sailboat and the Zodiac. This involves climbing up or down a 5' vertical ladder.
• Be able to easily move from the Zodiac and a beach and/or rocky shoreline. This involves being able to climb over an obstacle (the side of the Zodiac!) approximately 1 meter high to or from a surface that may be unstable or slippery. This requires some balance and mobility.
• Be able to deal with rolling seas and their repercussions! To access some possible shooting sites we may have to cross open, rolling water in our 70' schooner. Those who suffer from motion- or seasickness are forewarned! 😉
• Be able to shoot your camera from within a Zodiac. This ultimately involves multiple tasks that are dependent on a degree of mobility and flexibility. The specific tasks including shooting your camera while sitting on the pontoon of the Zodiac or, at times, while sitting on the floor of the Zodiac. In some cases you may find that the most convenient way to shoot will be while kneeling (on your knees) on the bottom of the Zodiac. Note that tripods can NOT be used within the Zodiac and while it is theoretically possible to use a monopod in the Zodiac, few photographers find it practical. This means you must be able to hand-hold the camera/lens combinations you choose to bring on this trip.
Note that on some occasions it WILL be possible to stand in the Zodiac when shooting, but you will be shooting while sitting or kneeling far more frequently. A degree of flexibility and/or suppleness can make your time in the Zodiac far more productive and enjoyable!
• REGISTRATION: Contact me at seminars@naturalart.ca to reserve your spot!
• MORE INFORMATION? Brochure available in autumn 2025 - or contact me at seminars@naturalart.ca