Klahoose Wilderness Resort Grizzly Bear Photo Tour Review with Chase Teron and Tyler Cave
Grizzly Bear Photo Tour · Toba Inlet, BC · September 2025 A personal review
On Place and Respect
This photography tour took place on the traditional land of the Klahoose First Nation, at Klahoose Wilderness Resort, which the Klahoose people own and operate. The resort is on the oceanfront, surrounded by rainforest, mountains, and waters that have been home to Coast Salish peoples for countless generations.
As a visitor and photographer, I was mindful that I was on active tribal land shaped by generations of care and connection. Being here, and spending time watching grizzly bears, reinforced the responsibility to move respectfully, remain observant, and approach the land and water with an understanding that their history extends far beyond my short visit.
Quick Note Before We Start
This review is based on my personal experience. Someone else’s experience may look completely different. I review workshops and tours using a specific framework and set of criteria, which you can read more about here:
If you’re curious why I attend workshops and why I write these reviews, you can read that here:
👉 https://www.mywildlifechronicles.com/journal/why-i-do-photography-workshops-and-review-them
At a Glance
Location: Klahoose Wilderness Resort
Hosted by: Chase Teron and Tyler Cave
Type: Photography tour
Primary subject: Grizzly bears
Accommodations included: Yes
Food included: Yes
Group size: 8
Shooting schedule: Approximately 8:30 AM–3:30 PM (varies by day)
Physical demands: Low. Very little walking. One-hour boat ride each way to viewing locations.
Overall feel: Quietly immersive, well-paced, and focused on ethical, respectful grizzly bear encounters in a remote setting
Best fit for: Photographers of all experience levels
What This Was
This photography tour took place at Klahoose Wilderness Resort and was hosted by Chase Teron and Tyler Cave. The resort is located on the Homfray Channel, between Desolation Sound to the south and Toba Inlet to the north. The area is remote, and the only way to access the resort is by boat.
Because the resort is owned and operated by the Klahoose people, we were accompanied by Klahoose guides throughout the entire tour. Alongside Chase and Tyler, each leader was trained in bear safety and in maintaining appropriate practices for both the bears and the group. Safety, for people and wildlife, was clearly a priority and consistently reinforced.
Getting to the lodge from Spokane was manageable, but it was a full day of travel. The route included a flight from Spokane to Vancouver, followed by a small regional flight to Lund, BC, on the north end of the Sunshine Coast. At the Lund marina, we met Chase and Tyler, along with Ivan, our Klahoose guide, and boarded the boat to the resort. The boat ride took about an hour and moved through Desolation Sound, which was beautiful and surprisingly quiet.
As we entered the Homfray Channel and the resort came into view, it felt very real in the sense that we were truly far from everything else. That was the first moment it fully sank in that I was about to spend several days in a place that was both remote and intentionally preserved.
And then there were the grizzly bears, the reason I came in the first place.
This was my first time ever seeing a grizzly bear in real life. Being able to observe them in a controlled and respectful way felt surreal at times. The tour included three full days of shooting and four nights at the resort, which allowed for plenty of time in the field. Bear activity was slow on the first day, which tested everyone’s patience a bit, but days two and three brought frequent sightings and many opportunities to photograph bears going about their normal behavior.
By the end of the tour, it felt like we had truly been given time, time to watch, photograph, and settle into the rhythm of the place.
Why I Chose This Tour
I came across this tour while researching a bald eagle photography trip I had planned for July 2025. Klahoose Wilderness Resort offers several experience packages, and a few of them are centered around wildlife photography, including one focused on bald eagles and another on grizzly bears. The grizzly bear experience immediately caught my attention.
At the time, I was still very early in my wildlife photography journey. I had only been shooting wildlife for a few months and had just started to realize that workshops and tours could be a way to learn photography in the field. The idea of pairing photography with a fully immersive experience was appealing. An all‑inclusive, remote resort combined with grizzly bear photography felt like a big leap, but also an exciting one.
I didn’t know anything about Chase Teron or Tyler Cave, so I did some research before I decided to pull the trigger on the tour. Chase has a limited online presence, which made it a little harder to get a sense of what he would be like as a host, but it was clear that he is a very accomplished wildlife photographer and is closely involved in conservation work in Canada. Tyler had a bit more of an online footprint, and it was easy to see that he brought strong skills as both a photographer and videographer. Together, the pairing felt thoughtful and well balanced.
Ultimately, I decided to go for it. I also saw this tour as a good complement to the bald eagle workshop I already had planned. Between the two experiences, I felt I would come away with a much better understanding of whether learning photography this way truly suited me.
Workshop vs. Tour, and How That Shaped the Experience
I draw a clear distinction between workshops and tours. In my mind, workshops include intentional instruction alongside access to a location or species, while tours tend to focus primarily on access. Neither is inherently better, but the distinction matters to me because it shapes expectations around teaching, support, and learning.
Chase (left) and Tyler on location.
As stated in the title of Klahoose Wilderness Resort’s experience listings, this was a photography tour, not a workshop. Chase and Tyler spent a few minutes with each of us on the first morning, making sure our cameras were set correctly, which was helpful and confidence-building. Beyond that, time in the field was lightly guided, with an emphasis on identifying shot opportunities, which was very valuable. There was one evening set aside for some Lightroom instruction, but it took place late at night (too far past my bedtime!) and felt secondary to the overall flow of the trip. In general, this experience was much more about time in the field than structured instruction.
With Chase and Tyler, not only do you get the experience of hanging out with these great human beings, but you also get undeniable access. The relationships they have with the resort staff and, more importantly, with our Klahoose guides put the tour in a unique position to access areas others may not. You could see how much our guides trusted Chase and Tyler to lead the group appropriately and ensure participants' safety and that the bears were not disturbed. From what I was told, Chase and Tyler have partnered with Klahoose Wilderness Resort for several years and have earned that trust.
Ethics
There was absolutely no baiting, chasing, or blocking the paths of grizzly bears or any other animals we encountered. There were viewing towers at all the locations we visited, and the group was reminded frequently to remain quiet and move slowly so as not to disturb the bears.
The bears seemed unbothered by our presence and continued on about their activity, whether they were just passing through, fishing, or a mama bear eating with her cubs.
Time of Day and Light
All of the shooting occurred between about 8:30 AM and 3:30 PM, though finish times varied based on wildlife availability. One day, we didn’t finish until 4:00, and another day, we wrapped up around 2:30. It was very much up to the bears.
The bear-viewing locations were not near the resort, and we took a 1-hour boat ride each morning to reach them. Because we had to wait for daylight before boarding the boat, there was no opportunity for early-morning golden-hour shooting. There was also no evening shooting on this tour.
The viewing locations are fairly remote, surrounded by mountains and lush forest, so the first sunlight appears only after it clears the mountains and filters through the trees.
If you are looking to photograph grizzly bears in consistent morning golden-hour or evening light, you will likely find this tour challenging.
The Resort
Klahoose Wilderness Resort was hard to leave.
I stayed in a private room and, after long days of shooting, having a quiet space to myself made it easier to decompress. The room was spacious, well lit, and cozy. The layout worked. The large window overlooking the Homfray Channel brought in a lot of natural light and made the space feel calm and grounded. The bed and linens were very comfortable, so I slept well there.
The shared spaces were where people naturally gathered. The great room and dining room were easy places to sit and talk. There was also a sauna, a dock, and a large deck that I used whenever I needed space or air. The resort moved at a slow pace. Once you arrived, it was very clear how far away from everyday life you were, and that feeling stayed constant.
The food was excellent and the onsite chef, Jefferson, elevated the experience. The presentation was thoughtful, and the flavors were bold. Breakfasts and lunches were served at a communal table, which led to a lot of conversation and laughter. Those meals became part of the rhythm of the days.
Each evening, Chef introduced the dinner menu. It sounds small, but it mattered. It made you feel cared for.
The staff were warm, calm, attentive, upbeat, and quietly efficient. Nothing felt forced. Emma was incredible! She magically appeared whenever you needed something. How does she do that? Maciej, the resort manager, ensured that everything ran like clockwork, and you could just feel how proud he was of the resort. I loved that. LeAnne handled all pre-trip communication and did a fantastic job ensuring I felt well-organized and prepared for the journey.
I want to specifically acknowledge our Klahoose guides, Ivan and Jerry. They were with us throughout the days and often in the evenings. They shared stories, guided us through traditions, and kept both people and bears safe. Their presence added depth to the experience that went far beyond photography.
What made the resort special, beyond the bears and the people, was how peaceful it was. Everything slowed down.
The great room.
The deck overlooking Homfrey Channel.
Ivan our Klahoose guide.
Jerry our Klahoose guide.
Group Size and How It Affected the Experience
There were eight participants on this tour, not including our Klahoose guides or Chase and Tyler. I did hear that the group size can be larger, but I suspect it caps out at around ten.
Eight already felt like a lot, so I’m not sure I would have loved ten. While it was possible to move around the viewing towers, things felt crowded at times, especially with participants and guides packed in together. When bear activity was concentrated on one side of a tower, space became tight, and you had to figure out how to position your long lens without getting in the way.
Chase and Tyler were mindful of this and reminded us to get our shots before stepping aside so others could move in.
From one of the many viewing towers on the grizzly bear tour.
Tour Culture and Group Dynamics
While eight participants may have felt a little too many in the viewing towers, it definitely made for a fun experience for the rest of the day. People from different parts of the world, different age groups, and different backgrounds made for great conversations and plenty of laughs. It was truly a great group of people.
Two of the evenings were dedicated to Klahoose traditions, which felt both inclusive and immersive. It was a meaningful and memorable part of the experience.
Communication and Logistics
The bulk of the logistics was handled by the resort, and everything ran smoothly. Pre‑tour communication was delayed a few times, but cell service can be spotty in that area, and the team clearly operates in a very hands‑on, all‑hands‑on‑deck way. This isn’t the kind of place where someone is sitting at a desk waiting to take phone calls. I found email to be the most effective method of communication.
Chase hosted a pre‑tour call about three weeks before departure, and I found that extremely helpful. It gave me the opportunity to ask questions and feel prepared for the trip. Chase fielded questions with ease, and if you decide to book this tour, I would strongly recommend attending the pre‑trip Zoom call.
When Things Didn’t Go as Planned
To be honest, the first day was rough for bear viewing. We got out there around 8:30–9:00, and we didn’t see our first bear until well into the afternoon. It was disheartening every time we left a viewing tower empty‑handed. It’s hard not to start thinking, what if it’s like this for the entire three days?
We had our first sighting about an hour before we wrapped up for the day, and everyone was very relieved. That immediately lifted spirits. At the same time, we all understood that wildlife sightings are never a guarantee.
Chase, Tyler, and Ivan did a great job on that first day, keeping everyone’s spirits up and reminding us that we still had plenty of time for potential grizzly bear encounters.
Reflection
Overall, my experience on Klahoose Wilderness Resort’s grizzly bear photo tour was incredible. The accommodations were top shelf, the food was superb, and the staff were attentive. Tyler and Chase were fantastic shooting guides! I truly felt cared for during my stay.
Would I go back? Yes. My husband, Trevor, and I have already talked about returning after we retire. He wasn’t with me on this trip, and I would love for him to experience the hospitality of the resort as well as the stunning scenery.
Would I make photography my primary goal? Probably not. Of course, I would bring my camera because it comes with me on all of our trips, but I wouldn’t make the experience about the camera. I would go back to spend time truley observing the bears, taking in the beauty of the area, relaxing on the dock, and enjoying the sauna in the evenings. I didn’t relax much on this trip. I was so focused on getting strong images of these awe‑inspiring apex predators that, frankly, I forgot to slow down and take it all in.
My recommendation to you: book this tour. See the grizzly bears. Take time to breathe in the clean air and look up at the bright stars, free from city lights. Spend time learning about the culture. Ask questions. Take walks. Be grateful.
Thanks for reading.
Read my workshop review framework: https://www.mywildlifechronicles.com/journal/how-i-review-photography-workshops-and-the-framework-i-use
Read why I do workshops and why I review them: https://www.mywildlifechronicles.com/journal/why-i-do-photography-workshops-and-review-them
