Bear Creek Outfitters: Bear Viewing

Take a small-group excursion to see coastal brown bears and other wildlife in their natural habitat with Juneau-based Bear Creek Outfitters, a pioneer in fly-out bear viewing and fishing for more than 30 years.

You’ll travel by floatplane to the Tongass National Forest, the largest national forest in the country. Bear Creek Outfitters’ guides are among the most experienced in Southeast Alaska and are the region’s only guides independently certified in brown bear behavior and safety. Along the way, they’ll share their knowledge of the landscape, wildlife, and bear behavior.

Private guides are available for families with children and groups looking for a more customized experience. With options ranging from a few hours to a full day, the tours can also work well for cruise ship travelers.

The Tours

Waterfall Creek Bear Viewing

On this 5.5-hour expedition, which runs from mid-July to September, you’ll fly from Juneau by floatplane to a remote location on Chichagof Island where all of the bears you see will be brown bears, and they are often spotted fishing less than 75 yards from where we sit. For 3.5 hours, you’ll spend time with a professional guide, observing bear behaviors and learning about the flora and fauna around you. This is one of our guide's favorite locations.

Pack Creek Brown Bear Sanctuary

This 6-hour excursion, available May 5 through September 25, begins with a floatplane flight to Pack Creek Brown Bear Sanctuary on Admiralty Island. Part of the Tongass National Forest, the sanctuary lies within Admiralty Island National Monument and the Kootznoowoo Wilderness. The island is known in Tlingit as Kootznoowoo, or “Fortress of the Bears”—a fitting name for an island with a large population of brown bears. Access to Pack Creek is limited to just 24 permits per day, helping protect this special wilderness area and the bears that call it home. You’ll spend about 3.5 hours exploring the sanctuary with your guide and watching bears in their natural habitat.

Brown Bear & Wildlife Viewing Expedition

Offered May through September, these private, limited-availability excursions are customized around your group and what you want to see and experience. Bear Creek Outfitters has access to exclusive permit areas and zones where no other commercial operators are allowed on the days they visit, creating the opportunity to experience Alaska’s wilderness without other tour groups around. Work with your guide to plan anything from an extended photography trip or multi-day, boat-based wildlife safari to a fly-out adventure.