Boo Grizzly Bear - Kicking Horse Mountain Resort

Grizzly Bear Interpretive Centre

Meet Boo the Bear

Grizzly Bear Refuge

One thing that sets Kicking Horse Mountain Resort apart from all other ski resorts is the Kicking Horse Grizzly Bear Refuge. This is the largest enclosed and protected grizzly bear habitat in the world. The 20-acre area is the home of our resident grizzly bear, Boo. Within this natural mountainside habitat, Boo hunts, plays, forages, and explores just like his wild cousins.

The interpretive centre is open daily during the summer and provides guests the opportunity to observe an adult grizzly bear going about his daily routine. Everyone who comes to visit Boo is fascinated by his strength, agility, intelligence, and personality.

If you don’t see Boo during your initial visit you can return for another FREE* tour. All of our visitors agree that sighting Boo the Grizzly Bear in his natural habitat is a truly unique experience and one they will never forget!

PHOTO GALLERY

REFUGE REPORT

REFUGE HISTORY

INTERPRETIVE TOURS

Public education about grizzly bears is the primary mission of the Kicking Horse Grizzly Bear Refuge. Interpretive tours are conducted by knowledgeable guides and focus on grizzly bear behavior and natural history.

As a blue-listed species, grizzly bears are sensitive to human activity and threatened by habitat loss and other factors. By observing Boo in his natural habitat, guests have the opportunity to see firsthand how beautiful and majestic grizzly bears really are. Raising awareness of these secretive and noble creatures helps to improve the plight of this embattled species.

In the early season, tours are held every hour on the hour, Monday through Thursday from 10am to 2pm and Friday through Sunday 10am to 4pm. There is no tour at 1pm because Boo is often out of sight, napping through the mid-day heat. Grizzly bears are more active during the cooler morning hours. For that reason, the 10am tour is highly recommended, providing a greater likelihood of seeing Boo active and up close. When he’s awake, Boo is rarely out of sight for more than a few minutes at a time and your patience will be rewarded once he reappears.

Tours follow where Boo goes, so be sure to wear comfortable walking shoes and don’t forget your camera, bug spray, and a light parka since mountain weather can change quickly. To avoid tempting Boo, please do not bring food during your visit. With his keen sense of smell you might get more attention than you’d like. The interpretive tours do not follow a script and each one is unique depending upon Boo’s activity. Guests are welcome to stay at the refuge as long as they wish and return to the village plaza via chairlift whenever they want.

View Summer Hours of Operation

RANGER ASSIST PROGRAM

Go behind the scene during this two-hour adventure and get an incredible close-up of Boo

The Ranger Assist Program (RAP) is a unique experience offered to those who wish to have a more personal encounter with Boo and for bear enthusiasts alike. Our Ranger Assist Program has a maximum of 5 individuals & is offered at 9am and 4pm. 9am tours are met at the Adventure Centre by one of our knowledgeable guides. There you may assist with the preparation of Boo’s morning supplements. From there you will be driven to the refuge where you will encounter Boo in his home & observe how Boo’s supplements are delivered to him & why it’s done in the manner performed. The first hour of this program is without public guests present, RAP guests will also observe our opening procedures. At 10am the public will arrive to the refuge & the final hour of the program is delivered during the first public tour of the day. RAP guests are not obliged to remain for the entire 10am public tour & can egress via the catamount chair at their leisure.

During the afternoon RAP tour, guests will arrive to the refuge for the final public tour of the day via the catamount chair. RAP guests will present their tickets to one of the Ranger’s present & once the final public tour ends, the RAP guests will remain at the refuge with their ranger for their final hour of their program. Guests will have the opportunity to observe closing procedures, assist with the retrieval of Boo’s PM supplements & observe how his supplements are delivered & why it’s done in the manner performed. Once your program is complete, you will be driven down the mountain by your guide & dropped off outside the Adventure Centre.

Don’t forget to bring a camera, bug spray & a light jacket as mountain weather can quickly change

See our complete summer pricing list HERE.

Ranger Assist tours are limited to a maximum of five guests and must be booked at least one day in advance. Call 1.866.SKI.KICK (754-5425) or visit Guest Services in the Day Lodge to make a reservation.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Eligibility upon participation in a full tour (starting every hour on the hour, except at 1pm).
Guests to be qualified by refuge guides.
Grizzly Bear Refuge voucher to be allocated by refuge guides and redeemed at Guest Services within summer operating dates. No cash value. No refund. Voucher is valid for Grizzly Bear Refuge products only and not transferable.

PARTNERS

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OVERNIGHT	48 HOURS
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24 HOURS	7 DAY


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