Think about standing just some ft away from a large brown Grizzly bear, its highly effective type shifting gracefully by the plush Alaskan wilderness.
Bear viewing in Alaska isn’t just a visit; it’s an exhilarating journey that immerses you within the uncooked great thing about nature.
From the beautiful landscapes of Lake Clark Nationwide Park to among the best salmon I’ve ever eaten, this distinctive wildlife tour makes an unforgettable expertise.
Whether or not you’re planning a day journey from Anchorage or an extended tour, this information will allow you to uncover the very best spots for a detailed encounter with these majestic creatures.
Right here is an outline:
Why Bear Viewing in Alaska is a Should-Do
Experiencing bear viewing in Alaska is an journey that you just can’t miss. Whether or not you’re embarking on a tour from Anchorage or heading to Katmai Nationwide Park, the joys of seeing brown bears of their pure habitat is unmatched.
I went to Lake Clark, the place you may usually see bears fishing for salmon in the summertime months from late July until mid September. Excursions often final a day, providing ample alternatives for wildlife images and unforgettable moments.
Should you’re in Homer, don’t overlook to discover the close by creeks the place bears are incessantly noticed.
Simply be ready for the unpredictable climate—layers are a should! I needed to be taught this the ‘chilly’ means. 😉
Whereas the joy might be overwhelming, sustaining a secure distance is essential for each your security and the bears’.
This expertise not solely highlights Alaska’s beautiful landscapes but in addition deepens your appreciation for wildlife. So seize your digital camera and embrace the wild!
The Greatest Places for Bear Viewing in Alaska
Should you’re dreaming of an unforgettable encounter with bears, Alaska is the place to be.
Lake Clark Nationwide Park and Protect
Lake Clark Nationwide Park and Protect presents distinctive alternatives for bear watching alongside its shoreline, the place massive teams of brown bears collect to feed.
At Lake Clark Nationwide Park, guided excursions deliver you up shut to those magnificent animals whereas prioritizing your security.
The journey itself is a spotlight. A floatplane trip from Anchorage to the beautiful Lake Clark Nationwide Park and Protect takes about one hour and ten minutes.
Nestled on the headwaters of Bristol Bay, Lake Clark Nationwide Park and Protect encapsulates the genuine spirit of Alaska’s untamed wilderness. Spanning a powerful 4 million acres, this park boasts towering volcanoes, rugged mountain ranges, breathtaking glaciers, wild rivers, cascading waterfalls, and a vibrant array of wildlife. That is what you may count on to see from the aircraft already – merely beautiful!
There are a number of areas to look at bears:
Crescent Lake
Nestled within the coronary heart of the Chigmit Mountains, Crescent Lake is a paradise to identify bears and in addition for sport fishers.
That is the place I went (Redoubt Bay Lodge) and also you’ll discover a extra detailed description beneath.
Through the salmon run, each brown and black bears go to the shorelines in quest of considerable fish.
Crescent Lake lacks developed trails or roads. Most guests navigate the lake utilizing motorboats or kayaks offered by their guides or lodges. Whereas strolling round Crescent Lake is feasible, it’s not advisable because of thick vegetation that makes shore strolling tough and considerably dangerous; thus, most bear viewing happens from boats.
Brown bears usually frequent the shoreline throughout salmon runs, giving photographers in boats loads of probabilities to seize beautiful pictures.
Silver Salmon Creek
Situated halfway alongside the park’s Cook dinner Inlet coast, Silver Salmon Creek gives improbable sport fishing alongside top-notch brown bear viewing. Brown bears might be noticed grazing in sedge meadows from late spring to mid-summer, fishing within the creek throughout salmon runs in late summer time, or digging for clams on the seaside all year long. Moose, wolves, foxes, ermines, and marine mammals have additionally been seen at Silver Salmon.
Lodges within the space transport company utilizing trailers pulled by ATVs. Different guests should stroll between websites on foot. Be ready to traverse sandy terrain for a couple of hundred yards from the seaside to succeed in the closest sedge meadow or fishing space. You may end up strolling two miles or extra forwards and backwards throughout salt marshes or tidal flats and creeks whereas looking for bears or fish.
Shelter Creek and Tuxedni Bay
These two areas alongside the Cook dinner Inlet coast of the park provide wealthy habitats for bears however are tougher to entry and thus see fewer guests.
Bears which might be much less accustomed to human presence usually tend to shrink back from shut encounters. Should you resolve to go to these spots, proceed with excessive warning.
Chinitna Bay
Located on the southern finish of the park’s Cook dinner Inlet shoreline, Chinitna Bay is famend for its distinctive bear viewing. Guests might spot as many as twenty coastal brown bears from a single vantage level.
Touring between bear viewing spots in Chinitna Bay is usually carried out on foot, though some native lodges may present car transport alongside the seaside for his or her company. Be able to trek by sandy terrain for a couple of hundred yards from the seaside the place your aircraft lands to succeed in the closest bear viewing space. You could possibly end up strolling two miles or extra forwards and backwards between websites on the salt marsh or tidal flats in quest of bears.
Redoubt Bay Lodge – Lake Clark Nationwide Park
I took the floatplane with Rust’s to the Redoubt Bay Lodge, the place you may expertise the joys of observing Alaska’s black and brown bears of their pure setting.
The flight to get there’s already a spotlight in itself. It takes round one hour within the floatplane from Anchorage to the lake.
Enjoyable Truth: Anchorage is the capitol of floatplanes, as there are 500 based mostly there.
The flight is superb, because the view onto the lakes and mountains are merely beautiful.
Your expert pilot can be a information and can offer you numerous into throughout the flight. Be ready for some “dry” jokes as nicely.
You’ll then contact down on the Redoubt Mountain Lodge, nestled by the beautiful blue waters of Crescent Lake, the place you’ll spend your day immersed in nature.
When you arrive, you’ll be greeted by a educated bear viewing information who will take you on a lined pontoon boat to prime lakeside spots the place bears collect to feast on the spawning wild Alaska salmon.
There are three kinds of salmon they go for:
- contemporary caught salmon, which is the toughest to catch in a lake
- “zombie” salmon, which is simply in need of dying and which swims slower and is due to this fact simpler to catch
- “floaters”, that are those who already died and who float on the floor. Clearly it’s the only to catch, but in addition not of their highest quality anymore. So very often you see that the bears eat solely components of the floaters, until they’re nonetheless very hungry and so they want extra meals for his or her winter break
Redoubt Bay Lodge is a captivating handcrafted lodge nestled inside an enormous 171,000-acre crucial habitat space.
It’s conveniently located 70 miles southwest of Anchorage, proper on the beautiful entrance of Lake Clark Nationwide Park and Protect.
This space is famend for internet hosting one of many highest concentrations of bears which might be simply viewable in all of Alaska.
As your bear watching tour kicks off, you’ll be aboard a lined pontoon boat, guided by educated naturalists, navigating by the picturesque chain of Huge River Lakes, the place sockeye and Coho salmon thrive and appeal to the native bear inhabitants.
This prime bear viewing spot additionally attracts in quite a few fishermen alongside the bears.
The journey to view these magnificent creatures is an easy day journey from Anchorage to the Redoubt Bay Crucial Habitat Space.
You possibly can get pleasure from an attractive half-day expertise with departures out there within the morning or afternoon, lasting round 6 1/2 hours (with choices for prolonged and in a single day packages).
The climate modified whereas we had been there, so our journey needed to finish just a little early, nevertheless it was nonetheless a fantastic expertise. You probably have the chance to remain in a single day, do it. Staying in such a distant place is exclusive and a really particular expertise.
A scrumptious sizzling lunch served in the principle lodge is included in your package deal. We had been served baked salmon and it was among the best salmons I’ve ever had. The colour itself is one thing you don’t usually get, however then it was served with a honey and candy chili sauce. The photograph doesn’t do it justice. It was so scrumptious!
Katmai Nationwide Park
If you end up in Anchorage, think about day journeys (and finest keep for 2-3 nights) to locations like Homer, recognized for its beautiful landscapes and wealthy wildlife.
An awesome location for bear viewing is Katmai Nationwide Park, the place you may marvel on the iconic brown bears fishing for salmon at Brooks Falls. It’s a panoramic sight that by no means will get outdated.
The federally-protected Katmai Nationwide Park and Protect is famend for its distinctive alternatives to look at Alaska’s brown bears. A few of these beautiful wilderness spots can solely be reached by air, showcasing Alaska in its most unspoiled state.
This bear viewing tour at Katmai takes you to Brooks Falls, the place three viewing platforms linked by raised boardwalks present an up-close, unobstructed, and noteworthy expertise of watching bears of their pure habitat.
Throughout July, when the salmon are spawning, you may spot as many as fifty bears alongside the 1.5-mile stretch of Brooks River directly.
Though the bear viewing at Brooks Falls is self-guided, park rangers are available to present a complete briefing upon your arrival and can be found all through the park to reply any questions you’ll have.
When customer numbers peak, a waitlist for the Decrease River bear viewing platform could also be enforce to take care of a high quality viewing expertise. Because of this generally the areas can get a bit crowded, and the ranger may ask you to shift to a different platform. Nonetheless, there’s ample area in Katmai general to get pleasure from observing the bears.
Though Brooks Falls is probably the most famend location on this park for bear watching, it’s definitely not the only possibility; different locations akin to Hallo Bay, Geographic Harbor, and Moraine Creek present improbable viewing alternatives as nicely. These areas are merely extra secluded. You may must trek a couple of miles, and also you in all probability received’t encounter as many bears in a single space in comparison with Brooks. The upside? You’ll be distant from the throngs of individuals and have the prospect to look at bears of their pure habitat.
Every location gives distinctive viewing experiences, from tranquil creek settings to rugged wilderness. Whereas bear viewing might be crowded throughout peak season, the joys of seeing these magnificent animals of their pure habitat makes all of it worthwhile.
I went in mid September and would advocate this season. There have been much less individuals and to see Alaska in autumn was superior, with all the coloured leafs. And as you need to costume in a number of layers anyway, I didn’t thoughts the climate that a lot. There have been additionally much less mosquitoes than in different instances of the 12 months.
When to Plan Your Journey for Optimum Bear Sightings
Timing your journey for bear viewing in Alaska could make all of the distinction in experiencing these majestic creatures up shut.
The height season runs from late Might to early September, with the very best alternatives for recognizing brown bears round Katmai Nationwide Park and Lake Clark.
Should you’re planning a day tour from Anchorage, think about visiting throughout the salmon run in July and August when bears collect in droves alongside the creeks.
Understand that climate situations might be unpredictable, so have a versatile itinerary.
Should you miss the height months, go to in Might or September for fewer crowds and an opportunity to see bears throughout their energetic feeding instances.
Right here is an outline:
- Might: Chinitna Bay
- June: Chinitna Bay, Redoubt
- July: Chinitna Bay, Redoubt, Katmai, Lake Clark (finish of July)
- August: Chinitna Bay, Redoubt, Lake Clark
- until mid September: Chinitna Bay, Redoubt, Lake Clark
Suggestions for an Unforgettable Bear Viewing Expertise
For an unforgettable bear viewing expertise in Alaska, planning is essential.
Start your journey by deciding on the fitting tour to fit your pursuits—whether or not it’s an exhilarating day journey from Anchorage or a multi-day tour in Katmai Nationwide Park. I extremely advocate testing the guided excursions that take you to well-known spots like Brooks Falls, the place brown bears collect throughout the salmon run. Otherwise you hop on one of many pontoon boats, which will get you very shut.
Deliver a great digital camera with a zoom lens; the very last thing you need is to overlook capturing these majestic moments up shut!
I simply had my smartphone with me, so it’s best to have the ability to take higher images.
Costume in layers, as Alaska’s climate might be unpredictable, and don’t overlook waterproof gear. Throughout my go to, I encountered surprising rain and it was a lot colder than I assumed. However it didn’t dampen my spirits; the wildlife continued to amaze regardless of the drizzle.
Subsequent time I’ll pay attention when somebody recommends me to deliver alongside a hat and gloves.
The right way to get to the bears
From numerous areas and lodging, you will have the chance to journey by boat.
You possibly can go for a floatplane from Anchorage or Homer that can contact down on the water. That alone is a spotlight already.
Alternatively, there are wheeled planes that may land proper on the seaside, otherwise you may favor a helicopter that may choose a sandy shore or expansive grassy fields. Helicopters provide the additional benefit of panoramic 180-degree views by their massive entrance home windows, the aptitude to fly at decrease altitudes, and customarily present a extra comfy journey.
Security Precautions Whereas Bear Viewing in Alaska
When embarking in your bear viewing journey in Alaska, understanding security precautions is totally important.
There are a number of essential factors to recollect, whatever the circumstances.
At first, it’s best to by no means get shut to those creatures or attempt to make your self noticeable in any method, even when they seem pleasant or calm. Keep away from leaving meals unattended or making an attempt to feed them.
All the time preserve a respectful distance from these magnificent brown (Grizzly) bears; keep at the very least 100 yards to make sure each your security and theirs.
It’s essential to remain calm in case you encounter a bear—by no means run, as this may occasionally provoke curiosity or aggression. As a substitute, again away slowly whereas talking in soothing tones.
Becoming a member of guided excursions can improve your expertise, as educated guides will educate you about bear habits and guarantee secure viewing practices.
Areas like Katmai Nationwide Park and Lake Clark are famend for his or her wildlife encounters, nevertheless it’s clever to learn about seasonal patterns and bear exercise.
All the time carry bear spray simply in case—this small precaution could make a major distinction throughout surprising encounters. Whenever you do a guided tour, you received’t want the spray, as your information needs to be ready.
Different Actions to Improve Your Alaska Journey
Should you’re wanting to dive deeper into the Alaskan wilderness past bear viewing, there are many various actions that can improve your journey.
Take into account a day journey to Seward or Homer, the place you may discover beautiful coastal vistas or seize contemporary seafood from native eateries.
For a singular expertise, head to Katmai Nationwide Park, the place wildlife images fanatics will discover countless alternatives right here, so be sure that your digital camera is prepared!
Should you’re in search of one thing extra adrenaline-pumping, kayaking round one in all Alaska’s serene lakes gives each tranquility and the prospect to identify extra wildlife, together with seals and sea otters. I did a day cruise to the Aialik Glacier within the Kenai Fjords, which was one other beautiful and recommending expertise.
Every of those experiences provides one other layer to your Alaskan journey, guaranteeing that your journey is as memorable as it’s thrilling.
Don’t miss out on these alternate options that completely complement your bear viewing journey!
Individuals additionally ask
The place is the very best place to see the bears in Alaska?
Should you’re trying to see bears in Alaska, Katmai Nationwide Park is a high contender. The park is famend for its unbelievable brown bear inhabitants, particularly throughout the salmon runs in July and September.
Then there’s Lake Clark with its completely different spots. I had the prospect to go to this beautiful wilderness on the Redoubt Mountain Lodge, and it didn’t disappoint.
Certainly one of my favourite experiences was watching the bears from the pontoon boat, the place they acquired their salmon, additionally for his or her cubs.
For a extra distant expertise, think about heading to Kodiak Island. The Kodiak brown bears listed below are bigger and you’ll usually discover them of their pure habitat, foraging for meals.
I like to recommend reserving a guided tour, because the guides know the very best spots and might present precious insights into bear habits.
What’s the finest month to see bears in Alaska?
Should you’re wanting to catch a glimpse of bears in Alaska, the very best months to plan your journey are sometimes Might by September.
Throughout this era, bears emerge from hibernation, and their exercise peaks, particularly in late spring and summer time when meals sources are considerable.
In Might, brown bears are sometimes noticed foraging for early greens and rising salmon, making it a good time for wildlife viewing.
As you progress into June, the bears turn into extra energetic, with many moms and cubs seen alongside the coast and riverbanks. It is a improbable time to see these lovable cubs studying to navigate their setting.
July is peak season for salmon runs, notably in areas like Katmai Nationwide Park and Brooks Falls. Right here, you may witness bears fishing for salmon—a very unforgettable sight.
By August, the bears proceed to feed closely in preparation for hibernation, and also you’ll doubtless see them gathering in bigger numbers, additionally on the lakes.
Regardless of once you go, the expertise of observing these majestic creatures of their pure habitat is certain to be a spotlight of your Alaskan journey!
Nonetheless, take into account that the climate might be unpredictable, so it’s clever to pack accordingly.
How doubtless is it to see a bear in Alaska?
Seeing a bear in Alaska is kind of doubtless, particularly in sure areas and through particular seasons.
I anticipated to see perhaps 1-2 bears expectantly much more. Ultimately we noticed 9 bears, together with a number of cubs, and that in simply 1 ½ hours. If the climate wouldn’t have modified, we might have gone out for extra bear viewing within the afternoon, to see much more.
Alaska is house to a few species of bears: black bears, brown bears (together with grizzly bears), and polar bears. The possibilities of an encounter rely largely on the placement, time of 12 months, and your actions. In nationwide parks like Denali and Katmai, bear sightings are frequent, notably throughout the summer time months when bears are foraging for meals.
Keep alert in case you are mountaineering and instantly see a grizzly bear simply off the path, foraging for berries within the brush. The secret’s to remain alert and preserve your distance; bears will not be typically aggressive, however might be unpredictable if caught off guard.
Whereas driving alongside the Seward Freeway or in Kodiak, you may additionally catch glimpses of bears close to the roadside or alongside riverbanks.
It’s important to respect their area and observe from a secure distance to keep away from any harmful encounters.
Should you’re planning to go bear-watching, think about guided excursions, which regularly enhance the possibilities of sightings and supply security suggestions. Keep in mind, whereas the probability of seeing a bear is excessive, it’s essential to prioritize security and comply with native rules concerning wildlife encounters.
The right way to see bears in Alaska on a finances?
Seeing bears in Alaska is usually a thrilling expertise with out breaking the financial institution. One of the budget-friendly methods is to go to nationwide parks like Katmai or Denali, the place you may usually spot bears of their pure habitat.
Whereas guided excursions might be dear, think about mountaineering the paths in these parks—many have accessible paths the place bears are recognized to roam. Don’t overlook your bear spray! Tenting is one other economical possibility. By staying at campgrounds inside or close to the parks, you not solely save on lodging prices but in addition enhance your possibilities of bear sightings. Deliver your personal meals and equipment to chop down on bills.
Simply be mindful the particular “bear guidelines” once you go tenting. No meals within the tent!
Be sure to securely retailer all meals, food-related objects, cooking utensils, clothes, and every other aromatic private belongings in your automotive, RV, or cabin. Leaving objects outdoors can draw bears and different wildlife.
So lock it up within the automotive or dangle it excessive on a rope at a tree, finest a bit away out of your tent. Should you’re in search of a extra distinctive expertise, try native bear-viewing platforms or lodges that supply day passes. These might be extra reasonably priced than full-package excursions.
Moreover, touring throughout the shoulder season (late spring or early fall) can yield decrease costs on lodging and actions. I’m actually blissful that I’ve been to Alaska in autumn, the place the panorama became these superb fall colours.
