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Submission
East of Rock Creek, this campground is located in the Ranch Creek drainage. Several campsites border the creek.
20 miles east of Missoula on Interstate 90, take Rock Creek exit #126 onto Rock Creek road. Drive 11.5 miles south along Rock Creek Road #102, then 1 mile east on Ranch Creek Road. Trailers, motorhomes and tow vehicles not recommended due to the narrow and rough road.
They were 3 bear, but they only came out 1 at a time.I understood why, but it was good to see them in their space. Was not too bad. There was also an attendant who was very informative with any question you threw at her.
We used the reservation feature although not necessary. We arrived at 10:30 on a Sunday (nice that they’re open on Sunday). With it being only 15 minutes outside of Bozeman this is a really good roadside attraction. They only had 3 bears at the time that we went and only 1 bear, Max,was out at a time, but he was super cute and entertaining! They have a gift shop, but no bathrooms (only porter pottys) really nice and knowledgeable staff! Fairly priced, only $12.50 for adults.
We visited the Grizzly Encounter today based on other reviews and recommendations from social media. We were not disappointed! First and foremost, this is a rescue sanctuary for grizzlies - NOT a roadside attraction. These bears have either been abandoned/orphaned or raised in captivity at other locations and have made it here for a chance at survival.
Today, we met Max, who seemed happy and extremely well taken care of! We enjoyed watching him play in the snow and rooted for him to get a huge chunk of ice out of one of the ponds in his enclosure. Fun fact we learned at the sanctuary today: bears have no reason to hibernate if they have a food source and are not pregnant, so any time of year is good to visit! You can get pretty close to the grizzly bears while still feeling completely safe, and there is an employee outside at all times to answer all your questions.
I truly feel like the people who work at the Grizzly Encounter love their jobs and love and care for the grizzly bears. I would highly recommend this experience for people of all ages!
Incredible grizzly bear encounter! The staff was friendly and informative, providing a fascinating history of the bears and answering all questions. The bears were beautiful, and I got some up-close shots as one came surprisingly close.
There are 3 bears in total, at least when I went. They don't always get along with each other so they're brought out individually at different times lol. You won't miss anything, though. If one bear doesn't feel like coming out, there is always at least 1 willing and able to come out as long as snacks are provided for them in the enclosure.
Ample parking and a charming gift shop add to the overall experience. A must-visit for wildlife enthusiasts!
