The wildlife show begins before you even leave the lodge: barn swallows zoom in and out of their mud nests in the roof; a family of common mergansers glides across the glassy water off the deck; two harbor seals—one named Bob, and the other Not Bob—sun themselves on a floating log nearby.

But the main attraction is the bears. Twice a day, wildlife biologists lead grizzly bear-viewing tours from Great Bear's base at the end of the Smith Inlet, an isolated corner of British

The wildlife show begins before you even leave the lodge: barn swallows zoom in and out of their mud nests in the roof; a family of common mergansers glides across the glassy water off the deck; two harbor seals—one named Bob, and the other Not Bob—sun themselves on a floating log nearby.

But the main attraction is the bears. Twice a day, wildlife biologists lead grizzly bear-viewing tours from Great Bear's base at the end of the Smith Inlet, an isolated corner of British Columbia's wild Central Coast that's 50 miles by floatplane from Vancouver Island.

In the spring and summer, explore the narrow waterways by motorboat, skirting the heavily wooded shorelines until your guide spots a bear, cuts the engine, and paddles in for a closer (but respectfully distant) look. This time of year, grizzlies spend much of their time attempting to fill their massive bellies with sedge grass, skunk cabbage, and salmonberries. In the fall, when the salmon come in, the tours move onto viewing platforms above the ursine fishing frenzy, which sometimes takes place just a few meters away.

Standing so close to a large, menacing carnivore is quite a thrill, but it's the guides that make the Great Bear experience exceptional. Their encyclopedic knowledge of the local flora and fauna means you'll never have to wonder, What's that? Their skill at spotting a patch of brown fur in a distant, overgrown meadow is pretty astounding—and naturally ups the odds of a bear sighting. More, their passion for the region's history and ecology is contagious.

This quality of service also extends to the lodge itself, where meals are lovingly prepared from mostly local ingredients (think wild salmon served on a hand-cut alder plank, moss still attached) and homey details like the lending library and well-worn sofas make the common spaces the perfect spot to relax. The lodge was built on floats to minimize its environmental impact, and much of its power comes from a wind turbine and solar panels.

Lodge rooms are small, with wood-paneled walls and half-baths (there are two shared showers downstairs), but there is plenty of room to lounge on the deck, watch bear-themed videos in the living room, or sip hot cocoa while skimming a bird book at the dining-room table.

With a maximum of ten guests, you'll never lack for personal attention. The guides are happy to lead midday hikes and kayak trips and offer up photography tips—all good ways to pass the time between bear-watching adventures.

The lodge is open from May through October.

Kimberly Lisagor is a freelance journalist who covers travel and the environment from her home base in San Luis Obispo, California. She is the co-author of the book Disappearing Destinations: 37 Places in Peril and What Can Be Done to Help Save Them and has written for publications including Outside, National Geographic Adventure, and Men's Journal.