tweedsmuir provincial park

We visited this platform which is situated about 40 minutes drive from Hagensborg four times September 19th to 22nd. From that direction it is situated about 1 mile on the right after the turn for Tweedsmuir Lodge.The platform is open during peak Grizzly Bear season in September, between 7am - 7pm. It is quite safe as it is staffed by Parks staff who know about bears, there is a discreet electric fence around, and finally the bears are too busy feeding on the glut of Salmon to want to bother you.This is also the starting point for river drift trips.We saw bears every time we came, we saw many sightings and many different bears. Sometimes the views are 800m away, onetime we had a family within 2m of the perimeter!Bring binoculars if you have them as they will very much add to your enjoyment. If you love wildlife, plan a few periods here. Also saw a few good birds, the huge Pileated Woodpecker, majestic Bald Eagles, Merganser ducks. The Salmon were also a feature, leaping, spawning and dying...all part of the circle of life that sees baby bears being fattened up for the winter by their diligent mothers.Bring some bug spray as insects can be a slight nuisance. Remember this is wildlife, animals behaviour will vary, however if you are prepared to put a few hours in, ideally on more than one day, you should come away, like us, with some remarkable sights and memories to cherish.

We spent 8 wonderful days riding and camping in the Tweedsmuir Park and Rainbow Mountain Range without seeing any sign of civilization. Thanks to 'Rainbow Mountain Outfitting' and Leslie Dorsey and the Jorgenson sisters Aileen, Maria and Ida we had an unforgettable experience. It was a family holiday and our 10 and 12-year-old children enjoyed it as much as the adults (including some very fit grandmothers in their seventies). We rode trough ever changing breath-taking landscapes, setting up camp in three different locations which allowed us to see a great variety of scenery - from the beautiful Rainbow Mountains to lava rock formations and alpine meadows with meandering brooks and lakes, every day was special! We spotted bear and wolf droppings but luckily never encountered any up close. The ride was very well thought trough and organized to the last detail. In the mornings Maria made sure the campfire was lit and coffee and a delicious breakfast would be waiting for us, and at night we had the most delicious campfire meals. The children were thrilled to fill their water bottles from the stream running next to our camp – and are still raving about ‘Maria’s five star cooking! Who would have thought that we would enjoy gourmet dinners in the middle of the wilderness! Maria and Ida treated us like family and our guides Patrick and Edward patiently answered all my son’s questions about grizzlies, wolfs and other wildlife…. To be repeated!

Although our River Float was a little short on bears (we only saw 2), the experience was wonerful. Our guide, Les, was knowledgeable and experienced. His story telling ability made the day interesting and educational.

absolutly stuning. good hikes, but recent flooding has taken out several trails along the river valley. saw an owl and a black bear, but no grizzlies. grizzly veiwing is in the fall and we were here in the spring. watch out for washots on the roads. there were several washouts flowing over the highway. no problem with a truck. tricky with a smaller car.

Tweedsmuir Provincial Park is one of the largest parks at 980,000 hectares between the Southern and Northern Portions of the Park.It is a park that can be enjoyed by all for most recreational activities like hiking, picnicking, vehicle and wilderness camping, and fishing. We took advantage of the park for the purposes of fishing and exploring for wildlife, which we didn't see much wildlife, but we were fortunate to see one black bear, one deer, and also a couple of robins. For keeping the wildlife enjoyable for everyone, keep in mind these few simple points: DO NOT approach or feed any wildlife, DO NOT cook near your campground or in your tent, DO NOT rub your hands of fish or food on your pants, instead, wash your hands in the fast moving water, as well as cleaning your fish in the fast moving water. Also make sure that your food is securely locked in your vehicle, or suspended from a tree at least 4ft or higher with a good solid rope or knot or both. Also, please pay attention to any closuresAt the campgrounds, and on some of the trailheads there are pit toilets for your convenience. Both of the campsites which are the Atnarko and the Fisheries Pools have bear warnings to make sure that you comply with them, and to make sure that you understand them. A couple of the trails of note or popularity are the Alexander MacKenzie Grease Trail and the Hunlen/Turner Lake Trail. Keep in mind that both of these go through really active bear areas. The best time to hike a lot of these stretches, especially the Hunlen Turner Lake trail is later in the morning and in the early afternoon. The two times to avoid are early in the morning, or very late at night, as this is when the bears are most active. Also keep in mind that you cannot camp or park in the parking lots or the road area of Hunlen/Turner Lake Trail.Some of the other popular trails include the Odegaard Falls trail and the Rainbow Range Trail as well as the Octopus Trail. These are fairly moderate to advanced trails as well. There is also the Valley Loop and the Kettle Pond Trail, which are fairly easy in difficultiness.The bottom line, is you are in th wilderness without many supplies and amenities. Make sure that you have good strong hiking boots, a well made and structured backpack, a good topographical map, lots of drinking water (purification tablets are always needed), and lots of bear spray and other survival tools that you may need. You should bring a good strong sleeping bag, and a small tent that would be used for backcountry travel, as sleeping under the stars is not recommended with high wildlife concentrations. Enjoy your time in Tweedsmuir Park, and hope that you're able to provide some good suggestions about the Park as well.