Alaska Bear Viewing Trips

Brown Bears

Alaska Bear Viewing Trips

Daily Alaska Bear Viewing Trips from Kenai to the West Side of Cook Inlet

Sow and cub.The opportunity to view wild brown and black bears in their natural environment is one of the most alluring aspects of visiting the Last Frontier. Alaska and Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula remain the world’s last bastions for these enormous and spectacular land mammals.

The Kenai Peninsula holds strong populations of both black and brown bears and although some do catch and glimpse of these wild creatures while visiting the Kenai, seeing a bear is actually quite rare. Most sightings will normally be from the car as one crosses the road or perhaps from the boat along the river. Since many Alaska Bears (particularly those in areas inhabited by humans) are nocturnal, seeing one during the day unlikely. Early morning, evenings and “the middle of the night” are all more likely times to catch “Yogi” on the prowl.  Fall is also a more likely time to see bears along the river as dead salmon pile up on shore.

Brown Bears

Alaska Brown Bears viewed from a flightseeing tour.

One very popular way to increase your chances of seeing a bear in Alaska is to take a fly out fishing trip or a flight seeing tour. By getting up in the air and visiting more remote areas, one increases their odds considerably of seeing a bear.

Perhaps the most consistent place to view brown bears in Alaska, rather than Brooks Falls on the McNeil River, is Wolverine Creek where it flows into Big River Lake. This is on the west side of Cook Inlet and a short 20-minute flight. This is definitely our most popular full-day fly out fishing trip.

Additional Information on Wolverine Creek Salmon Fishing and Bear Viewing

Another likely way to see a bear during your stay is to take a 1-hour flight seeing tour on the Kenai Peninsula or the West Side of Cook Inlet. We can arrange custom flight seeing tours for minimum parties of two to large groups.

“Bear” in mind that although bears are wild animals and potentially dangerous, when treated with the proper amount of respect and common sense, they pose little or no threat to humans. Great measures and concerns are taken not to disturb bears in their natural environment and all of our bear viewing is done with the utmost professionalism and safety.

Mark Glassmaker is the Lodge Owner Representative of the Wolverine Creek Management Committee and has been proud to contribute toward ensuring one of the Alaska’s most unique bear viewing and fishing destinations remains safe for both visitors and bears.

Also see our articles: