Alaska Bear Viewing

Brown Bears in Alaska: Alaska Bear Viewing

Wolverine Creek Brown Bear

An adult brown bear surfaces aside the boat as it dives for salmon near Wolverine Creek.

Alaska remains one of the last true strongholds for Brown Bears worldwide. The vast untamed wilderness of America’s Last Frontier supports both inland Grizzly Bears and Coastal Brown Bears. Grizzly Bears are relatively smaller than their coastal cousins and are found mostly in Alaska’s interior region where there are no salmon. Denali National Park is a very likely place to see a Grizzly Bear in the wild. Brown Bears are considerably larger than the Grizzly and are found throughout Southeast and South-Central Alaska with the largest bears living on the main Alaska Peninsula and Kodiak Island.

The Kenai Peninsula supports a healthy population of Brown Bears and visitors should always use caution and respect when fishing or hiking in bear country. Even though there are a number of brown bears in the area, your chances of actually seeing one remains quite slim. Kenai Peninsula Brown Bears, especially those that live near more populated areas, have developed nocturnal feeding habits, and are most active at night when there are fewer people around.

Although we do occasionally see bears on the Kenai, especially in the Wildlife Refuge below Skilak Lake, it is usually just a quick glimpse as they disappear into the thick forest. There are some places where visitors have a good chance to view brown bears close up. A fly out fishing trip to Wolverine Creek on the West Side of Cook Inlet offers a unique and almost guaranteed opportunity to watch and photograph wild Alaska Brown Bears in their natural habitat. The abundance of sockeye that gather where Wolverine Creek flows into Big River Lake, attracts both anglers and bears alike and from the boats we can witness bears close up as they take their turn fishing the shallow bay. Fishing is prohibited when bears are present and all fish are stored in bear proof containers. Responsible human behavior has helped to preserve this unique proximity of people and bears and despite thousands of visitors to this location annually, no serious human-bear conflicts have ever been reported.

West forelands brown bears.

Two brown bears in the grass flats known as the West Forelands on the West Side of Cook Inlet.

Another excellent way to increase your odds of seeing a brown bear in Alaska is to take a flight seeing tour. Getting up in the air and flying over prime bear habitat will allow you a unique perspective. Along with both brown and black bear you can expect to see a wide variety of Alaska wildlife on a flight seeing tour including Moose, Dall Sheep, Bald Eagles, and many other wild creatures.

For more information on Alaska Brown Bear Viewing in the wild please click the links below:

Alaska Bear Viewing

Alaska Fly Out Fishing

•Please visit our bear photo gallery for a quick view of these creatures.

More Information:

What about Bear Protection?

Bear poster