Churchill and the Polar Bears
Churchill Wildlife Management Area · Churchill, Manitoba
Churchill is a small town on the western shore of Hudson Bay in northern Manitoba, and it is the best-known place in the world to see wild polar bears. Each autumn the bears gather on the coast waiting for the bay to freeze so they can hunt seals, and visitors watch them from tundra buggies, high wheeled vehicles run by several operators. The bear season is roughly mid-October to mid-November. In July and August belugas fill the Churchill River estuary and you can see them from a boat or kayak, and in winter the northern lights are strong. There is no road in: you arrive by VIA Rail from Winnipeg, a trip of about two days, or by air, and you should confirm current rail service. It suits wildlife lovers who can afford a costly trip and accept weather delays. Allow three to six days. The bear tours sell out a year ahead, and the town is small, cold, plain and very expensive to reach, so plan well.
Churchill Wildlife Management Area, Churchill, Manitoba, R0B 0E0, Canada
Churchill has no single opening time. The town is reachable all year by air, and by rail when the line is running; the line was closed for a period after flood damage and later reopened, so check current service and schedules before you book anything. The polar bear season is roughly mid-October to mid-November, with tundra buggy tours running in daylight, usually a full day from morning to late afternoon. Beluga boat and kayak trips run in July and August, and aurora viewing is best on clear winter nights. Operators set their own dates and departure times, and they change by year, so confirm with the operator. Out of season many tours, shops and cafes are closed, and the town is very quiet. Bears can appear in or near town in autumn at any hour.
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