Bear Viewing Tours in Katmai National Park, Alaska

From Homer to Katmai  |   What to Bring  |  Bear Tours Leaving From Anchorage 

Bear Tours Leaving From Anchorage

Redoubt Bay Bear Viewing

$560/person (6 hours)
Additional taxes and fees currently totaling $6.65 apply to this tour.

Enjoy a guided day tour with the opportunity to view Alaska's brown bears in their natural habitat. Fly 70 miles southwest of Anchorage to the entrance of Lake Clark Wilderness Preserve, site of Redoubt Bay Lodge and incredible bear viewing.

Become enchanted with the bears at the world-famous Redoubt Bay 
Lodge. Guests who visit Redoubt Bay  have the opportunity to view 
resident brown bears up close from one of the lodge’s covered pontoon boats. Your naturalist guide will lead you to the bears as you spend time exploring the Redoubt Bay area to watch the bears in their natural habitat at Redoubt Bay.  The bears follow the salmon so best bear viewing is from June through August.

The half day tour offers a morning and afternoon daily float plane departures from Lake Hood in Anchorage with the tour lasting approximately 6 hours.   Guests receive a Redoubt Bay Field Guide that provides interesting facts about bears and a checklist of flora and fauna specific to this region. Relax and enjoy a homemade lunch in the cozy lodge before your return to Anchorage.

Booking Information:

Please check in at the Lake Hood Office 30 minutes prior to departure.

There is free although limited parking at Lake Hood. You will need to leave your car keys with the office.  We can also picks up from major hotels.  You are welcome to leave baggage at the our office at no additional charge.

Please dress comfortably and in layers; the weather at Redoubt Bay can be quite different from that of Anchorage.  Be prepared for rain and for taking lots of photos.  For safety of weight and balance of the plane, we will need accurate weights of individuals or of the entire group.  Also, please plan to only take a light day pack with you to Redoubt Bay Lodge.

Katmai National Park Bear Viewing

$750/person (10 hours)
Additional taxes and fees currently totaling $14.00 apply to this tour.

Take off by seaplane for an all day bear viewing expedition past glaciers and volcanoes to the brown bear country of southwest Alaska.  Visit world famous Katmai National Park, Land of 10,000 smokes and home of the famous Alaska brown bear viewing at Brooks Falls.   National Park rangers are available to provide information and answer questions.  Bear viewing is on foot.

Trip Specifics:
This day trip departs from Anchorage at 8:00 am, travels to Katmai and return to Anchorage within 10 to 12 hours after departure.  The flight time is approximately 2 to 3 hours each way.  The pilot will point out sites of interest on the flight to Katmai.

The Katmai Brown Bear tour includes a box lunch, eaten usually at the beach on arrival at Katmai National Park.  The trip is self guided and National Park Rangers give an initial briefing on arrival and are available for questions.

Please check in at 7:30 am, 30 minutes before trip departure.

In the park, there are three viewing platforms located in Brooks Camp along the south side of Brooks River: (1) the Falls Platform located immediately adjacent to Brooks Falls, (2) the Riffles Platform located around 100 meters south of Brooks Falls, and (3) the Lower River Platform located adjacent to the floating bridge near Brooks Lodge. The Falls and Riffles Platforms are connected to a central covered platform by elevated boardwalks. Although bears may be seen from the Falls and Riffles Platforms at any time, more bears focus their activities near these platforms during the primary salmon migratory period of late June through July. Capacity at the Falls Platform is actively managed for a maximum of 40 people using an on-site waiting list. When the Falls Platform is at maximum capacity and there is a waiting list, visiting time on the Falls Platform is limited to one hour. Visitors waiting to access the Falls Platform are able to wait at the Riffles Platform or the covered platform.

Other information:
Please be prepared to take lots of pictures, charge up the batteries, have extra film and/or storage space on your camera.  You may bring a light daypack with you. There is free although limited parking at Lake Hood in Anchorage. You will need to leave your car keys with the office.  We also picks up from most major hotels.  You are welcome to leave baggage at the office at no additional charge.

On the Katmai trip, there is some walking/hiking.  Depending on where the plane lands, there can be a 15 minute walk to the viewing platform.  By ADA standards, none of our trips are accessible. We can often accommodate people depending on the nature of their disability. Our vans do not have wheelchair lifts.

Alaska’s weather can change dramatically.  A sunny and warm day in Anchorage can turn windy, rainy and cold in the National Park. Please dress appropriately.  This includes layering your clothing, wearing comfortable shoes, and bringing rain gear.  The lodge is in a remote area accessible only by plane so many of the common comforts such as flush toilets and running water are not available.  Please be aware that medical care is not readily available. Views of pristine wilderness compensate for leaving “civilization” behind.

Prices and taxes may change without notice; trip length may vary depending on weather conditions and type of plane.  Please do not plan for tight airline connections after your trip.

Lake Clark National Park Bear Viewing

$750/person (11 hours)

After a scenic flight from Anchorage, a knowledgeable guide takes visitors to where the bears fish for spawning salmon. Viewing from an open boat (capacity 6 persons) allows for excellent photo opportunities. During the midday break, guests enjoy a hot lunch at the lodge or a shoreside lunch. Kayaking at the lake, soaking in the hot tub, or relaxing in the lodge are also included options.

The logistics:
• 8:00 a.m. Leave Lake Hood in Anchorage
• 9:30 a.m. arrive at Lake Clark Lodge
• Depart for bear viewing
• 1:30 p.m. (approximately) lunch break
• Afternoon, resume bear viewing or alternate activities
• 5:00 p.m. depart Crescent Lake
• 7:00 p.m. arrive at Lake Hood
• Times are approximate and will be confirmed at booking.

Alaska weather can change dramatically. A sunny and warm day in Anchorage
can turn windy, rainy, and cool in the National Park. Please dress appropriately. This includes layering your clothing, wearing comfortable shoes, and bringing rain gear. The lodge is in a remote area accessible only by plane so many of the common comforts such as flush toilets and running water are not available. Views of pristine wilderness and the glacier at the end of the lake compensate for leaving “civilization” behind.

From Homer to Katmai  |   What to Bring  |  Bear Tours Leaving From Anchorage