Join us for an unforgettable brown bear viewing adventure at the renowned Pack Creek Bear Sanctuary. Take a breathtaking 25-minute floatplane flight to Admiralty Island, known as the "Fortress of the Bears," with an impressive brown bear population of approximately 1,800. Upon arrival, you'll be warmly welcomed by the dedicated rangers of Pack Creek and explore the same paths as the bears, leading to prime viewing spots along the shoreline and forest trails. From the banks of Pack Creek, you'll have the incredible opportunity to observe bears in their natural habitat, whether they're fishing for salmon or enjoying a peaceful nap in the tall grass. Don't miss the chance to witness the brown bears' most active moments during mating season and annual salmon runs. With certified guides, all necessary equipment, and round-trip transportation provided, this adventure promises an immersive and unforgettable experience in the heart of nature.
About this experience
Free Cancellation
For a full refund cancel at least before the start of your booking
Admission Included
8
hours
Suitable for
1-5
Participants
Private Tour, Small Group Tour
Guided Experience
Certified guide
National Park fees
All necessary equipment
Rain gear, jackets and rubber boots provided - please advise supplier of sizing
Lunch, Hearty Snacks, and water
Round-trip transportation via van and floatplane
Gratuities
Popular Hotels Closeby
More about this experience
Introduction
Fortress of the Bears Pack Creek offers an unforgettable brown bear viewing adventure at the renowned Pack Creek Bear Sanctuary. This tour takes you to Admiralty Island, known as the "Fortress of the Bears," where you can witness the impressive brown bear population in their natural habitat. With approximately 1,800 brown bears, Admiralty Island is a haven for these majestic creatures.
What to expect?
During this tour, you can anticipate an up-close and personal encounter with brown bears. As you explore the shoreline and forest trails of Pack Creek, you'll have the incredible opportunity to observe bears engaged in salmon fishing or simply enjoying their surroundings. The best times to witness brown bears in action are during mating season (late May - June) and annual salmon runs (late July - August).
Who is this for?
This tour is perfect for nature enthusiasts, wildlife lovers, and photographers looking to witness the beauty of brown bears in their natural habitat. Whether you're a seasoned traveler or a first-time adventurer, this experience will leave you in awe of the incredible biodiversity found on Admiralty Island.
Why book this?
By booking the Fortress of the Bears Pack Creek tour, you'll have the opportunity to witness one of nature's most remarkable spectacles. The dedicated rangers of Pack Creek will ensure your safety and provide insightful information about the bears and their habitat. This tour also includes a 25-minute floatplane flight, adding an element of excitement and adventure to the experience.
Good to know
Certified guides will accompany you throughout the tour, providing valuable information about the bears and the surrounding ecosystem. All necessary equipment, including rain gear, jackets, and rubber boots, will be provided. Lunch and hearty snacks will also be included, ensuring you stay energized throughout the day. Please make sure to advise the supplier of your sizing for the gear provided. Transportation to and from the site will be arranged via van and floatplane.
Reviews
Previous participants of the Fortress of the Bears Pack Creek tour have raved about the incredible encounters they had with brown bears. They praised the knowledgeable and friendly rangers, who made the experience both educational and enjoyable. The stunning beauty of Admiralty Island and the mesmerizing behavior of the bears left a lasting impression on visitors, making this tour a must-do for wildlife enthusiasts.
How long before the event do I need to book?
You can book at any time before the event
Vouchers accepted in the following formats
Mobile
The “C” Sign, located near the cruise ship docks directly between Mt. Roberts Tramway and the green Taku Smokeries building, is our centralized downtown meeting location for all clients in the downtown area, including the majority of cruise ship passengers.
490 S Franklin St,
490 S Franklin St, Juneau, AK 99801,
US
Your Itinerary
Above & Beyond Alaska
Our warehouse location is available for luggage storage, bathrooms, and resources.
Pack Creek
The Pack Creek Bear Sanctuary on Admiralty Island is home to the densest concentration of brown bears in the world. Come join us for exploring this "Fortress of the Bears" in remote wild Alaska.
Admission Included
Reviews
(17)
4.8(17)
cmelet1957
From beginning to end, the trip was top notch! The float plane was great, couldn’t wait to experience it! Seeing the bears up close was a dream come true and the best birthday present a girl could wish for! My guide, Miles, was the best ever! I highly recommend this wonderful company, every contact I had with ABAK was friendly and professional! Hope to return for whale watching some day!
Dream46137176511
We went to a different island due to weather. We hiked on a trail that past bear beds. We saw bear scat and fish heads along the trail. When we arrived at the waterfall it was about 30 minutes before the bears arrived. We were 100 yards away 98% of the time. One bear came within 50 yards for a short period. That bear sat down with it's back to us. Because of the educational info the guide provided about bear behavior I felt comfortable sitting there on the ground. It was the experience of a lifetime. It was the last day for viewing bears so it was just my husband, myself, the guide and an employee who wanted to see the bears. I was anxious walking along the trail since one side was the beach and the other was the forest which you couldn't see past, but again our guide walked slowly and would in a lowered voice say hey brother hey sister to let the bears know we were there but not a threat. On the float plane over to the island we saw 9 humpback whales together including a baby whale. I highly recommend this company and would go again. The float plane was amazing and my new favorite plane. The entire experience was magical. We were given rain boots, pants & jacket along with a dry pack for our cameras, cushioned pads to sit on that had backs attached.
brianu631
Fun float plane ride with stunning views (including hump backs bubble net feeding). Our guide, Brooke, was upbeat, engaging, and incredibly knowledgeable about the area and wildlife. We got some amazing photos of multiple bears and even had a close up encounter with a sow and her two cubs. We would definitely recommend this day trip and ask for Brooke!
sambY2755CB
Absolutely the best day ever! The views from the plane were gorgeous and of course the bears eating salmon stole the show. Really appreciate our guide Brooke, she was so friendly and knew so much about the bears we saw.
Robbyne L
When in Juneau this is an absolute highlight. The sea plane flight was exquisite and the bear viewing an incredible opportunity to experience wildlife. Arthur our guide, was both incredibly knowledgable of the bears, but also as a professional photographer, he was a huge help in sharing his wisdom to capture the most amazing images. We had a mother and her cubs quietly walk by and were able to capture her feeding her cubs. This was a truly heart warming day. Small and intimate with plenty of time for bear and eagle viewing. We will definitely return. The entire staff was amazing.
mlpbjm
NOT the Pack creek trip. we traveled with this company on the Waterfall Creek bear viewing trip booked through Alaska Seaplane Adventures out of Juneau. sorry not sure how else to review this trip. this company did a wonderful job for my wife and this week on our Waterfall Creek bear viewing trip from Juneau. starting even before our arrival in Alaska, they were very responsive to my questions and concerns through email, text, and by phone. we were informed with plenty of notice that we may experience a need to reschedule our trip due to weather (which we had prepared for by having a free day both before and after our scheduled trip) and this did occur.
fortunately for us our rescheduled day broke with high clouds and warm temps. slightly unfortunately, this brings about low fog, which is a problem for float planes. but our guide, Myles, who also picked us up from our hotel, was right upfront about this issue. so our original delay of thirty minutes eventually became about 3 hours while the fog lifted. they kindly drove us back to the hotel with a plan to repick up for our later departure. then it was finally time to load into the plane. we were provided with rubber boots due to our having to step from the plane into water at the shore on arrival, a place to leave anything we didn't want to have at the viewing site, a nice souvenir water bottle, and hearty snacks/lunch to enjoy in the wild. and rain gear was made available should we want or need-which we didn't. the seaplane is quite an experience especially if you've never had it before. but it provides some really spectacular views of the Alaska wilderness around Juneau, including of Mendenhall Glacier, and the island and waterways on our travel path.
We were even able to see a few humpback whales from the air. after about 30 minutes we descended to a beautiful calm bay and disembarked for a 15 minute or so walk (after some snacks) into the viewing site along a river near the base of the falls. the company had a group onsite before we arrived so all total there were about 11 folks with our arrival. before we even set up at the site-where folding seat cushions with backs were provide as we sat on the ground-i was able to see two juvenile (2 yrs old?) brown bears moving after fish in the river. paying us no mind as it was food they were interested in. Myles gave us all the details on how to handle our time at the site and answered all our questions easily and comfortably. a great asset to the company. over the next 4 hours or so we watched the two juveniles, a mom with last years cub, a large solo male(?), and another mother with twin cubs from this year. we were never without a bear to watch the entire time we enjoyed at the site.
in my opinion, from start to finish, Above and Beyond Alaska was a first-class operation. we booked far in advance and our highest expectations were truly met. weather can't be controlled but these guys handled working around is beautifully so our trip was still a total success. don't hesitate to book with them if bear viewing is on your Juneau area adventure.
GlobeTrotting769951
We love this company! We had a once in a lifetime experience bear watching with Brooke. We sighted several bears grazing, cooling off in the water pools and had the privilege and honor to witness 2 bears courting and making a love connection! ;) Brooke among the best guides we've had, always coming from a place of reverence, appreciation and illumination for these incredible creatures. The staff from the floatplane to the HQ are all around top notch. They all played a role in our magical day.
Grumbly
Booked twice with Above and Beyond Alaska. Company is excellent: organized, prompt, friendly, and professional.
My first trip was kayaking with whales, which was AMAZING!!! (I left a review.)
This bear trip was Ok. That is based on my expectations, and how the day played out. Of course, animals are unpredictable.
This was a kayak trip, too, but I learned when I artived that day that kayaking was cancelled. Heard a couple reasons why, though still unsure. I conveyed that such info should have been provided much sooner.
Met at their location, geared up, and headed to the float plane. Kristan, pleasant, personable and knowledgeable, was our fearless leader, another member, Mallory, joining us.
First time on a tiny float plane, the ride was pretty cool. Flight about 25 minutes. Arrived on Admiralty Island. As everywhere in Alaska the scenery is stunning. A short hike to Pack Creek. There is a viewing area, with some logs to sit. Either a park ranger or someone from fish and wildlife there to make sure humans behave, and not lure the bears closer with peanut butter.
Across the way, bears. No fence or barrier. We saw a mom and 2 cubs, each initially napping. An older female also arrived and caught a salmon, so saw her in action. The other 3 bears ultimately awoke, stirring a bit. Possibly a fifth bear far down the creek, but by then it could have been the older female, as grass is high and she could have made her way there. (Some thought it a male. Dunno.)
We returned to the beach to lunch, then a 3 mile roundtrip, ankle-breaking (lots of rocks, roots, branches) moderate hike to another creek with a twenty foot viewing platform. Great view. No bears.
My expectations were different and probably unrealistic, expecting to see active bears fairly up close, and maybe wrestling one :-) At Pack Creek the mother and cubs were at least 100 yards away, the older female a bit closer when fishing for salmon. At the other creek with the tower, if Yogi and Boo Boo strolled by they would be closer. Unfortunately, they were prowling another area for picnic baskets that day.
At other places such as Brooks Falls and Lake Clark, bears can stroll right by folks (insert frightened emoji). That is more of what I expected.
Depending upon what is important for guests, many may find this trip a treat overall. Wasn’t quite the adventure for me, and of course it is very pricey.
Melissa S
I get wildlife is unpredictable and you can’t guarantee bears but let’s face it, it’s an expensive tour and when you get off the plane and one of the first thing the ranger says to you is “none of the groups have had any bear citing the past few days, maybe you guys will have better luck today,” it kind of makes you wonder. The sea plane ride was about the best part of the day. Admiralty island was scenic like much of Alaska. We did not see any wildlife except a bald Eagle and a deer. No bears all day. The guide was okay. At the end of the day, even if I had seen 1 or 2 bears, I don’t think it was worth the money. You fly on a plane, sit on a bunch of logs and wait for bears … if you’re lucky, maybe you see a couple. I actually saw bears and wildlife on my day trip to Tracy Arm with another tour company - a lot less money and much more wildlife. The company also says they offer no transportation to pick up guests. I took trip with this company the day prior and had to shell out $70 bucks just to get a taxi to and from their office. I was annoyed when the guide of this trip offered to drop off some of the other group members and pick them up for a tour the next day when my group was left to find a taxi - unprofessional in my opinion. Would overall not recommend this tour based on my experience.
nomadic_nil
Pack creek tour was the highlight of our Alaska trip. We had an amazing time on the island. We saw 7 bears. We saw a mama bear with two of her cubs from ten feet distance- what an amazing experience. Crew was awesome- they took great care of us. We never felt unsafe given the number of bears in the area. If you can, I will highly recommend this tour for any Juneau bound travelers.
Collected by Evendo, Tripadvisor & Viator
2024-05-23 18:45
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