Bear Viewing at Pack Creek
The Brown Bears at Pack Creek range in size from small cubs of the year to large males coming in over 1000lbs.
May to Mid-June is mating season and summer foraging. We see bears interact in a variety of ways and courtship behavior is common, we also often see bears digging for clams, or eating sedge grass. This is also a great time to watch sows playing with cubs, and the best time for encounters with large males.
Mid-July to the end of September are the various Salmon Runs, this is when the bears go to work. The bears focus is on fishing. The primary viewing location is about ten meters from the creek. This is when we often see the most bears in view at a given moment, and the only time to get a picture of a bear with a fish in its mouth.
Viewing distances at Pack Creek can be as close as 30ft away or as far as a 1,000yds out, depending on the individual bear and which food source they are using.
Options
Bear Viewing at Pack Creek
Pickup included
What's included in Bear Viewing at Pack Creek
(Subject to Option Inclusions)Itinerary
Pack Creek
Ursos Arctos Terriblis, sometimes called the North American Grizzly, though around here we refer to them as Brown Bears. Come see these amazing bruins in their natural habitat with some of the most experienced bear guides in SouthEast Alaska, each of our wildlife guides has over ten years watching successive generations of bears at Pack Creek. Our Pack Creek Adventure offers an opportunity to view bears at the Stan Price Bear Preserve on an estuary within the Admiralty Island Wilderness. We will pick you up in our van and outfit you at our office before you board a float plane for the 25 min scenic flight to Pack Creek, located 30 air miles outside of Juneau, on Admiralty Island National Monument. Once you have landed and made your way to the shore your guide will introduce you to the amazing wilderness location of the Pack Creek Bear Preserve.
The native Tlingit people call this impressive island “Kootznoowoo,” meaning “Fortress of the Bear.” Indeed, Admiralty Island is home to the highest concentration of brown bears in the world. Nearly 100 miles long, with 700 miles of saltwater shoreline that encompass its roughly 1 million acres, this verdant gem of old-growth rainforest graces the northern part of the Southeast Alaskan panhandle’s Inside Passage.
Inclusions
- Private transportation
- Bottled water
- Snacks
- Rain gear, waterproof footwear, individual binoculars, and group high-end spotting scope
- Certified Guide
- All Pack Creek Permits and Transportation fees are included
- Guide Gratuities not included - typically 5-10%
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Not recommended for small children
- Travelers need to be able to climb in and out of small float planes.
Meet
Pickup and Dropoff
You can choose to be picked up from a list of locations, or alternatively, have the choice to make your own way to the meeting points
Additional Information
We can pick up from any hotel, vacation rental, commercial business, or the Juneau Cruise Ship Terminal Area
Meeting / End Points
- Our office is located in the Ward Air Parking Lot between Ward Air and Coastal Helicopters
Redeem
Ticket Redemption
If you need to be picked up; please coordinate the pick up location ahead of time with our office: 907-723-2683
