Brown bears, coastal forests, rocky spires. Nearly 100 miles long and 20 miles wide, it … Alaska’s Admiralty Island is home to an estimated 1800 brown bears, the largest concentration of bears in the world. For more information about bears and where to view them, visit the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Which one is right for you? Please try again. Pack rain gear, snacks and extra clothing. More than 1,600 Alaskan brown bears inherit the island within this protected area. We are committed to giving you the very best sport fishing experience in Southeast Alaska. Self-drive vacations. Brown bears taken square from 8 1/2 to upper nine feet. Here’s an island that can be difficult to reach, and it’s a somewhat dangerous place to visit, but it offers solitude and beauty. Stops include Seward (Kenai Fjords), Girdwood, Whittier & Spencer Glacier, Stops include Wasilla, Talkeetna, Denali National Park & Fairbanks, It’s a 30-minute floatplane flight from Juneau. Bear viewing on Admiralty Island, part of Admiralty Island National Monument, a federally protected wilderness area administered by the Tongass National Forest, allows visitors to experience bears at home in the forests of the Kootznoowoo Wilderness. Alaska Railroad: Adventure Class or Goldstar Dome Car Service? Visit the Alaska Department of Fish and Game for a complete list of viewing locations. Trips available from Whittier, Homer, Seward, Juneau, and Sitka. Juneau is bear country. You can pick up a permit in Juneau, but they could all be taken. Always leave the bear an escape route. Overwhelmed by choices? 10. Read on to learn more about our bears and find out the best place to spot one (or several). Shoulder season is June 1–July 4 and Aug. 26–Sept. Boutique, small ship adventure cruises in Alaska's Inside Passage, Cruises depart from Whittier, a 1 hr drive from Anchorage. Be aware of your surroundings, even in town. What's more, we have so many bears here, you're bound to see one at some point. Our estuaries, avalanche chutes and salmon streams provide brown and black bears with all the things they need to flourish. Admiralty Island bear viewing is a great experience for the whole family, as you … To make things easier, go with a guide - they source permits, arrange travel and provide expert knowledge about bear country. View these magnificent creatures in their natural setting eating sedge and clams, playing with siblings, sleeping and fishing for salmon in mid- … It is one of the ABC islands in Alaska. A 30-minute floatplane ride provides the quickest and most direct method of transport from Juneau (versus a 3.5-hour boat ride). Travel on a set itinerary with lodging and tours booked in advance. This is a great day trip option from Alaskas capital city of Juneau, as a short floatplane ride will get you here in about 30 minutes. Sign-up for any of the following email series to help plan your Alaska trip. Car, train, or group tour. Sept. 15 - Sept. 25 2 Hunters only, Unit 4 Admiralty Island All spring and fall hunts are 11-12 hunting days. More than 5,000 eagles live on Admiralty Island and average a nest every mile along the coastline of Seymour Canal. Bonus Black Bear. It’s a one-mile walk to the viewing tower, on a trail through the forest. Fall Brown Bear. If you know you want to visit Pack Creek, apply for a permit ahead of time. With Admiralty Island's human population at about 650, that means the bears outnumber the people 3 to 1. The area is also known by the native Tlingít people as "Kootznoowoo," which translates to "fortress of the bears." After that you are on your own, unless you come with a guided group. Bear researcher LaVern Beier had handled hundreds of brown bears, many from Admiralty Island and many from the Southeast Mainland. Campgrounds, RV Parks & Public Use Cabins. Peak season is July 5–Aug. Never feed a bear, it's illegal. The brown bear is larger than the black bear, with a noticeable shoulder hump and longer claws. Pack Creek on Admiralty Island is one of Alaska’s premiere bear viewing areas. The classic Alaska Cruise, offered by such companies as Holland America, Princess, and Royal Caribbean. Your floatplane will drop you in the shallow waters near the mouth of Pack Creek (bring rubber boots and raingear). At times, 6-10 bears can be spotted in close proximity in the estuary. 7-10 days is the most common. The most intimate multi-day cruise option. 2-5 day small ship explorations. Call us at (907)-978-8292. These islands have the colloquial name of the ABC Islands and are a part of the Alexander Archipelago. Bring binoculars, a telescope or a camera with long telephoto lens. There are two main bear observation areas, a 15-foot tall viewing tower or the sand spit at the estuary of Pack Creek. For more information about Admiralty Island/Pack Creek, visit the U.S. Forest Service. Discover the optimal month due to daylight, temperature, and rain. Wear rubber boots, you might be unloading in eight to 12 inches of water. Its habitat exists within the Tongass National Forest, which is par… Focus on Denali & Kenai Fjords. Females with cubs, adolescents and even adult males can be spotted here. Book entire boat for your family or group, or opt to bunk with other guests. Let us simplify it for you, How much does an Alaska summer vacation cost? A successful hunt is based on opportunity, and more bears equals more opportunity. The ABC Islands bear or Sitka brown bear (Ursus arctos sitkensis) is a subspecies or population of brown bear that resides in Southeast Alaska and is found on Admiralty Island, Baranof Island, and Chichagof Island of Alaska. Your must-have activity guide + map while in Alaska. Visitors watch in amazement as they observe large gr… Most of Admiralty Island—more than 955,000 acres (3,860 km )… The mouth of Pack Creek is part of the Stan Price State Wildlife Sanctuary. It’s been protected for 80 years, and has been a popular bear viewing area for even longer. We'll match you with a local itinerary expert to help you plan your trip. Located in the heart of SE Alaska coastal inside passage, Admiralty and Chichagof Islands claim the most brown bears per square mile of anywhere in the world. Store food in bear-proof containers away from camp. The booklet describes Stan’s longstanding relationship with wild Admiralty Island Alaska brown bears (coastal grizzlies). Bear Man of Admiralty Island is the life story of a rugged loner and self-taught naturalist who came to southeastern Alaska in 1901 to seek his fortune in the awe-inspiring wilderness but found his destiny instead. A female grizzly bear exits Pelican Creek in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. Popular Alaska Itineraries Using In-State Airlines, Anchorage to Denali National Park Driving Map, Tongass National Forest Bear Viewing Tours. It has one of … There is a lighthouse on the island. After a beau­ti­ful 20 - or 25-minute float­plane ride, you’ll land on a remote beach.Take a short walk to the bear-view­ing area, where you can watch these mag­nif­i­cent crea­tures for hours in their nat­ur­al environment. The coastal-dwelling, salmon-feeding brown bear also happens to be the same species of brown bear as the smaller grizzly living in Interior and northern Alaska. The remote wilderness area of Admiralty Island lies just 15 miles off the coast of Juneau. 25, but the sanctuary is open from June 1–Sept. 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