Grizzly Bear Interpretive Centre — Attraction in Area A (Kicking Horse/Kinbasket Lake)

We never intended to visit this place on our trip but after 10 days in the area and no wild bear sightings we thought we'd visit Boo. The reviews of the resort say it's more of a winter place, and I'd agree, it was weirdly quiet and the gondola isn't running, however the chair lift is still running to the bear enclosure. Boo's story is very sad but he has a wonderful 20 acre enclosure half way up the very lovely mountain and everything he could need. A wild bear had apparently visited him just a few days before and the whole place had been closed while they tried to find it! We arrived around 10.30ish and took the chair lift up (worth noting that your online tickets have to be exchanged for paper tickets at reception. It didn't say this anywhere, and we had to trudge back to reception from the chair lift!). A talk had just finished and Boo had been visible but we were told he'd gone for a nap and could be sleeping for a couple of hours. Dissapointed, we looked at the info and asked a few questions before heading to the yurt to read his story. Then someone shouted "Boo's out!" Everyone scuttled out, cameras at the ready. He took his time, casually munching his way through some bushes before walking past. A few mins later he came right to the fence and showed off his amazing girth and claws before heading back into the trees. It was...

We did the 3pm tour on Aug 12th (Last tour of the day). The guide was great and gave the group interesting information on bears, re: behaviour, habitat, as well as Boo’s background story (the grizzly living on the mountain).

The reason for this rating is the price. This is way too expensive for what it is. It costs 35$ per person, and we were 4 adults so total of 140$. We got to see Boo for literally 2 min at the end of the 1h-tour (We did arrive 10 min late but the group did not see Boo for those 10 minutes neither). It is worth noting that they do offer another free tour if you don’t get to see Boo, but frankly, most people going there are probably tourists and don’t have the time to go back there another day.

I feel better thinking that they probably have those high rates to help feed and support Boo...

Overall, nice explanations, friendly staff, but too expensive. Probably very nice for your kids. Oh, and go on the first or last tour of the day for increased chances...

Fantastic experience - definitely listen to the centre and go early or late! We went for the 10am tour and had a full hour of seeing beautiful Boo up close before he went off for a nap. Ranger Nicole was amazing, there’s nothing she doesn’t know about Boo or bears in general, and she answered everyone’s questions and taught us so much. There’s also a great little info station where you can find out more about Boo’s story. A really brilliant experience and it’s clear to see how well Boo is cared for. You do have to take a chair lift up to the refuge so just bear in mind (pun intended) in case for you, like us, it’s something you haven’t done before and you’re a bit apprehensive about it! Really thoroughly recommend. The drive to Golden from Banff was...