While I had seen some bears on my first trip to Alaska last year, I specifically went bear viewing in Alaska on my most recent trip and I can easily say it was one of my most memorable travel experiences to date.
Seeing these magnificent, seemingly placid animals in their natural environment is absolutely moving, and while bear viewing expeditions aren’t exactly cheap, they are totally worth the money – not to mention, there are options to see bears on a budget too.
As I have been to Alaska twice, and each time I made it a point to see bears. So I thought I’d share my tips on the best places for bear viewing in Alaska, and some other tips that will help you plan your experience.
Are you planning your first trip to Alaska? My post What To Know Before Traveling To Alaska will help you get started.
Why You Should Go Bear Viewing In Alaska
Bear viewing in Alaska is, quite simply, an unforgettable experience. There’s something special about seeing brown bears in their natural habitat, and up close (though at a safe distance); whether you are there to capture the perfect photo or to learn about their lives, social habits, eating habits and more.
Many are lucky enough to see bears (either brown bears and grizzlies, or black bears) while hiking in Alaska. I have been on many hikes – for example the Harding Icefield hike near Seward – where I met other hikers who warned me they had just seen bears by the trail, but I was never so lucky.
Last year, I got to see one bear along the Russian River (and lots of bear poo), but my bear viewing flight to Brooks Falls from Homer was cancelled due to bad weather, and the last-minute cancellation left me yearning for it.
So, for my second trip to Alaska I made it a point to sign up for a bear viewing tour from Anchorage. And it was an unforgettable experience.
Now, let’s look at the best places for bear viewing in Alaska.
Where To Go Bear Viewing In Alaska
There are many places where you can see bears in Alaska. The selection below is by no means exhaustive – it’s just based on my experience.
Lake Clark National Park
Lake Clark National Park is a prime area to sear bears in Alaska. Lake Clark National Park and Preserve is located in the headwaters of Bristol Bay. Its landscape is impressive: mountains and volcanoes (the most famous is Mount Redoubt), glaciers and lakes, wild rivers, waterfalls and of course lots of wildlife.
The best way get to Lake Clark is by plane – there are departures from Homer and from Anchorage; though there are spots in the national park that can also be accessed by boat.
Once you get to Lake Clark National Park, you can join a guided tour where you will be taken to the best spots from where to admire bears safely. On a lucky day, you’ll be able to see up to 15 bears. When I visited, we actually lost count because we saw so many – someone in my group counted 20.
Bears in Lake Clark National Clark mostly eat salmon. Depending on when you visit, you may see they feed on either freshly caught salmon; salmon that has spawned and is about to die – so it swims a bit slower and is easier to catch; and salmon that has already died and floats on the water. When I visited, I saw bears feeding on salmon that had already spawned and there was lots of dead salmon on the shore (and a rather strong smell of rotten fish coming with it!).
There’s actually more than one place in Lake Clark National Park where you get to see brown bears, typically when they are feeding or resting along the shore, preparing for the winter.
Here’s a quick overview of the best locations to see bears in Lake Clark National Park.
My post How To Visit Lake Clark National Park shares more details that will help you plan your visit.
Redoubt Bay Lodge, Crescent Lake
Redoubt Mountain Lodge is the exact place where I went bear viewing. It’s located on the shores of the pristine Crescent Lake, in Lake Clark National Park, nestled in the Chigmit Mountains and it is completely isolated – there are no roads to get there and the only access is via floatplane (from Homer or Anchorage) or helicopter.
While some people enjoy kayaking on the lake, most explore it on pontoon boat tours which provide lots of opportunities for bear viewing.
When I visited, it was the very end of the spawning season for Alaska salmon, and since it was the end of September bears were already feeding in preparation for the long winter months – which meant we got to see lots of them right on the shore – including several females with cubs either resting, walking on the shore, feeding or even swimming.
You can overnight at the Redoubt Mountain Lodge if you want. I wish I could have, it is so peaceful there. If you wish to do that, be warned it is very expensive – though the rates are inclusive of transportation by floatplane from Anchorage, national park fees, all activities and meals (including drinks).
Chinitna Bay
Another fantastic spot for bear viewing in Alaska, Chinitna Bay offers a bit of a different experience. It’s located at the very southern tip of the Cook Inlet, and contrary to Crescent Lake, bear viewing here is done on foot.
However, some lodges offer to take their guests around by car and there are some operators that run boat tours with boats that are designed to get into very shallow water, so walking is minimal.
The terrain in Chinitna Bay may be consists of tidal flats and it can be very sandy, which means walking may be a bit tricky.
You can get to Chinitna Bay from Homer or Anchorage either by small plane operating on wheels – it lands on the beach, or by boat from Homer. It’s honestly better to opt for the plane, as the sea in this area can be very rough making the boat trip unpleasant.
Silver Salmon Creek
Also part of Lake Clark National Park, Silver Salmon Creek is found about midway along the coast of Cook Inlet into the park. It is a prime destination for sport fishing and bear viewing, which here is usually done on ATVs-pulled trailers (but there are also walking tours). It’s worth noting that here you can spot lots of other wildlife too, including moose, wolves and foxes.
You can get to Silver Salmon Creek by small plane operating on wheels, and there are some companies that also travel there by boat from either Homer or Anchor Point (but the sea can be quite rough).
I should also mention Shelter Creek and Tuxedni Bay in Lake Clark National Park, which do offer bear viewing opportunities but are so difficult to access that not many people venture out there. Spotting bears in the area is also a bit more difficult: the difficulty of accessing this location is such that bears are completely unaccustomed to the presence of humans, and hide when they hear noise and voices.
Brooks Falls, Katmai National Park
Brooks Falls, in Katmai National Park and Preserve, is easily one of the best places for bear viewing in Alaska, as well as the most popular one – because there are so many bears there. What makes it so famous is the fact that here you can see coastal brown bears fishing for salmon, often their mouths open mid air.
The bear viewing experience in Brooks Falls is different from that of other places in Alaska.
Once you get off the plane, you will get to meet a local ranger who will guide you through some safety measures and but then the bear viewing will be self guided (though there are rangers around in case you want to ask questions).
You can use the boardwalks which span for about 5 miles (around 8 km) to reach the three viewing platforms (which means it’s also wheelchair accessible), and explore at your own pace.
Much like Lake Clark National Park, Katmai National Park can only be reached by plane – there are flights from Homer and Anchorage too.
Other places to sea bears in Katmai National Park include Moraine Creek, Geographic Harbor and Hallo Bay. However, these areas are a bit more secluded so seeing bears may be a bit harder.
Russian River
For the best bear viewing in Alaska on a budget, go to Russian River. This 12-mile (little over 19 km) river runs from Upper Russian Lake through Lower Russian Lake until it reaches the Kenai River. It’s a locals’ favorite spot for salmon fishing, and by now you should know that where there’s salmon, there’s also bear.
What’s great about Russian River is that it’s easy to get there by car. It’s only 110 miles (177 km) from Anchorage, and just 53 miles (85.2 km) from Seward, so fairly easy to reach even for a day trip.
Once you get there, you will have to get a ticket (it’s only a few USD) for the boat that takes you across the river where there’s a trail you can follow and several viewpoints from where you can try to see the bears, who usually hang out along the river.
Just beware that in this case you will be on your own in the forest, and there are bears around (I came across a big pile of fresh excrements when I visited), so you will want to make some noise (ie talk) and carry bear spray with you, just in case of a sudden close encounter.
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center
Another option to see bears in Alaska in a place that is as close as possible as their natural environment is the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. Don’t think of it as a zoo, because it isn’t – they rescue injured, wounded or endangered wildlife (including bears) and give them a chance to live in a safe environment.
What’s great about the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center is that it can be visited on day trips from Anchorage: it’s on the way to Whittier, so you can consider combining a cruise along Prince William Sound from Whittier with a visit to the rescue center.
You can get tickets to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center online. Once you get there, you can explore a bit by car to get to the various enclosures, and on foot – there are various viewing platforms from where you can see the rescued bears.
Alternatively, you could consider this guided tour that also goes to Chugach State Forest and includes transportation from Anchorage, a guide and snacks.
My posts The Best Places To Visit In Alaska highlights other unmissable places to visit in the country. You may also want to read my post 10-day Alaska Itinerary to better plan your trip.
When To Go Bear Viewing In Alaska
The best time to go bear viewing in Alaska is between late May and the beginning of September, with peak months being July and August during the salmon run. That’s when it should be easier to see bears, as they crowds the riverbanks to catch fish.
The flip-side is that July and August are also peak tourist season in Alaska, which means more crowds and skyrocketing prices for bear watching tours.
I have been to Alaska twice – once at the very end of summer, between the end of August and the beginning of September; and I once visited Alaska in the fall, at the very end of September.
While August is usually a better time to see bears, I must say my bear viewing experience was significantly better on my last trip, when I visited Crescent Lake at the very end of September.
This is to say that it’s not just a matter of season, but also of where you end up going. The weather also plays a role, as strong rains or winds may mean planes can’t depart.
Best Bear Viewing Tours
Unless you are lucky enough to see bears during a hike, you will have to sign up for a guided tour if you want to see the bears.
I am a big fan of guided tours, as they always offer a more in-depth experience compared to when you do things independently. On a bear viewing tour, your guide will be able to provide lots of insights into the way of life of the animals you are admiring and the surrounding environment too.
The best tours are usually a combination of a flight on a floatplane, which gets you to the actual area where it’s easier to see bears; and boat, which takes you to the exact spot where the bears are resting, eating, swimming or playing.
There are several options for bear viewing tours in Alaska – whether you are departing from Anchorage, Homer or elsewhere. Tours are not cheap (factor in a minimum of $1100 USD per person), but they are totally worth the price!
I joined a floatplane tour to Crescent Lake in Lake Clark National Park by Rust’s Flying Service, which also runs tours to Brooks Falls in Katmai National Park.
The tour lasts 6.5 hours and starts with a one hour and ten minutes flight to Crescent Lake. During the flight you will be able to see mountains, wild rivers, waterfalls and more. Depending on the season, you may also be able to see beluga whales.
Once you get to the lodge, you will enjoy a home cooked lunch of freshly caught salmon (the same salmon that the bears in the area like to eat!) before heading out on a boat to spot bears. You will spend roughly two hours looking for bears, with lots of opportunities to photograph them and observe their behavior in their natural habitat, completely undisturbed.
Once the tour ends, you will board the floatplane again and fly back to Anchorage, and get even more breathtaking views along the way.
Useful Tips For A Wonderful Bear Viewing Experience
Wear layers
Wherever you decide to go bear viewing, it’s important that you are dressed appropriately, and wear layers. It can rain a lot on Alaska, and it can get very cold too (even more so when it rains).
I was lucky enough to enjoy a beautiful sunny day when I went to Crescent Lake, but the moment the boat drove out of the sun it was freezing and I was thankful for my thick parka and multiple layers.
Make sure to wear a good rain jacket and rain pants, comfortable hiking boots (best if waterproof) and a beanie and scarf. You will also want to wear gloves, especially as you’ll have your hands out of your pocket all the time to click on the camera!
Bring your camera
Nowadays smartphones can take amazing photos, but honestly you will want a good camera with a zoom lens to capture the beauty of the bears. The photos in this post are a mix of iPhone pictures and camera pictures. I had a 300mm lens, but you could carry a longer one for even better photos.
Carry bear spray
Carrying bear spray isn’t really necessary if you are joining a guided bear viewing tour, as the guide will know where to stop for the best sightings without ever putting you in danger – besides, in some cases you will be seeing bears from the boat anyways.
However, if you go to Russian River or even on a hike where there are chances of seeing bears, it’s best to take bear spray with you. It’s easy to find in shops in Alaska, and you can also buy it online on Amazon.
Other precautions
If you are on a guided tour, you will be briefed on how to stay safe throughout your bear viewing experience. But just in case for some reason you get to see bear in their natural environment while you hike (or in Russian River), it’s worth stating a few safety precautions.
- NEVER GET CLOSE TO BEARS – Stay at a safe distance, as they can get quite aggressive when they feel threatened. This is especially the case for female bears with cubs.
- IF YOU ENCOUNTER A BEAR, DON’T RUN – In case you are out on a trail and you meet a bear, resist the temptation to run as this will make you appear as prey, or attract the bear’s curiosity. Stay calm and stand your group and back away slowly.
- JOIN A GUIDED TOUR – This will make your bear viewing experience much better! Guides know where to go to find bears, and will share lots of interesting information too.
Final Remarks
Seeing bears in their natural environment is one of my favorite things to do in Alaska, and if you are planning a trip to this wonderful country you really should not miss the opportunity to go.
While bear viewing tours can be very expensive, there are options to see bears without having to pay a fortune. Either way, I hope you get to see lots of bears during your Alaska adventures!
Legal Disclaimer: I was a guest of Travel Alaska during my latest trip to Alaska, and wish to thank them for the fantastic experiences. Regardless of that, the views expressed in this post remain my own.
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