Alaska Bear Viewing Essentials

If you are coming to Alaska for a vacation in the summertime bear viewing is one of the most popular tours to add to your itinerary. It is a chance to view bears at safe distance as they go about their day in their natural environment. There are some bear viewing essentials that you need to consider to make sure this tour is one of the highlights of any of ouralaska wildlife vacation packages. Of all of the trips we offer at Silvertip Alaska, it is one of our client’s favorite sightseeing tours typically.

Knowing what bear viewing trip you are signing up for is essential to have the day you were hoping for. Make sure you know what location you are going to, how you are accessing the remote bear viewing area, and how the actual bear viewing will go. Are the dates you want to go on the tour good dates to view bears? Some tours have elevated platforms, some view bears from a boat once you get there, some use the airplane to fly over and view bears, and some trips you are actually on the beach viewing bears. The different tours all have different length of the trip. There is travel time to the bear viewing, the viewing itself, and then travel back to where you started. All can impact your time and travel budget planning in Alaska.

Most of the bear viewing tours available in Alaska use a float plane to access the remote area where the tour takes place. Some companies use helicopters as well. Typically it’s a 20 minute to 1 hour ride to get to your destination, typically with amazing mountain and glacier views. Most Alaska bear viewing tours have a guide with you at all times, which is essential in my opinion to have a safe, fun, and productive day. Once at your destination you could transfer into a boat for the bear viewing, like at Big River Lakes / Wolverine Creek (located in Redoubt Bay Critical Habitat Area), where you move around to see bears, view salmon, and other wildlife and birds. You could get dropped off on a lake beach and then do the bear viewing from shore as well, like at Crescent Lake in Lake Clark National park where bears stroll around between the lake along the beach.

On your Alaska bear viewing tour make sure that you have all the necessary items with you for the day. I like to have a small backpack to carry any supplies for the day. First off you are going to want to have layers of clothing, appropriate footwear, good rain gear, a camera (your phone works if you don’t have a big camera), insect repellant, sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat, possibly binoculars, and any personal items you may need. If you are taking medications have an extra round with you incase your trip is extended for a few hours due to any transportation delays. Packing snacks & water but know the companies rules before you go!

Coming back with good photos from your day is something that is important to many people. Now a days most people have great cameras on their phones and these can work for shots you take at a closer distance but the photos can get blurry if the wildlife is farther way. People have started taking pictures thru spotting scopes with phones to get great shots at a distance. Bringing a high end camera you could leave with some of the most vivid wildlife photos you have ever taken. Make sure to check with your tour operator to make sure you know how much room you have for gear per person as there is typically space and weight restrictions in the float plane you will be using to access the bear tour. Make sure you have extra batteries and enough storage on your camera or device for the day of filming to maximize your day.

When it comes to bear safety the company taking you out typically has this part covered and they should do a safety briefing before you depart for the trip. Because you are entering the bear’s habitat there are strict rules that will keep you safe and can vary depending on location, type of trip, the proximity you will get to the bears, and other factors. For this reason I will note to follow your guides instructions carefully. A few simple notes are never try to approach ANY wildlife, maintain a safe distance, and never feed any wildlife at any time. Always stay with your group. Listen to your guide and the safety briefing. You will be in good hands.

Enjoying an Alaska bear viewing trip can be a wonderful day if you do your homework, have all the essential items with you, and know what to expect. Following instructions on a tour like this helps make it a productive and safe day. The memories from a tour like this will last a lifetime!

silvertip

We are Andrea and Jeremy Anderson.  The summer of 2026 marks our 23rd year in the tourism industry helping people plan the best fishing and sightseeing vacations on the Kenai Peninsula,  and our 11th season operating Alaska Silvertip Lodge and Cabins. In the spring of 2016, we purchased Silvertip Lodge and Cabins from Dean and Mary Talley, who built the first cabin in 1999.

Andrea grew up in California but fell in love with Alaska after visiting her grandparents in Cooper Landing. After graduating college in 2004, she moved up to Cooper Landing and worked in nearby Moose Pass. Jeremy grew up in Wisconsin, and in 2001 he spent his first summer in Alaska working at the Russian River Campground. Jeremy spent the next few years working as a rafting guide on the Upper Kenai River. In July 2004, Andrea and Jeremy met and began a great adventure on the Kenai Peninsula.

Over the past 23 years, Andrea and Jeremy have developed a diverse set of skills in the Alaskan tourism industry and have spent countless hours recreating outdoors. Andrea has worked as a guide for several rafting companies, ran a fishing lodge, and currently manages reservations, logistics, and accounting for Alaska Drift Away Fishing. Jeremy is co-owner of Alaska Drift Away Fishing and guides on the river for trout and salmon.