Best Bear Viewing in Alaska Beyond Brooks Falls from an Alaska Guide

Posted On April 25, 2026

I’m a guide in Alaska and have been lucky enough to have had many bear viewing experiences to alter my brain chemistry – and it never gets old our routine to see bears living their best life in their environment!

Everyone has heard of Brooks Falls in Katmai National Park, but if you’re open to new ideas let me introduce you to some places for even better bear viewing experiences. You may not have the same waterfall picture everyone else has, but you’ll have a unique experience and have more time and solitude during your bear experience.

bear splashing in the water of a lake
A bear splashes into the water to catch a fish in Lake Clark National Park

This article only covers day trip tours – though there are many incredible remote lodges to stay for multiple days to focus on bear viewing like my personal favorite, Snug Harbor Outpost.

This article contains affiliate links which means if you book with my link I receive a small commission at no cost to you – in fact you even save money using my booking codes below. Thank you for supporting my ad free site!

Why is bear viewing so expensive?

Bear viewing tours involve flying to a remote location and any tour involving a plane is expensive – well maintained planes, experienced pilots, fuel and insurance along with a small group size and limited permits make bear viewing one of the most expensive tours you can do in Alaska – but also one of the most unforgettable!

Expect to pay between $1000 – $2000 per person for a day of bear viewing, depending on the location.

Types of Bears

Brown bears – also known as Coastal Brown Bears, Kodiak Bears are the bears most often seen on bear viewing trips. Grizzly bears are the same species, but live inland.

Black bears are also common in Alaska and are the mostly likely bear you will see at Anan Bear Observatory. Black bears are not always black – confusingly they can also be brown or reddish brown.

Bear Habitats – why bear viewing happens in certain locations

Bear viewing tours who want an extended time to observe bears require more or less a sure thing. While there are no guarantees when it comes to wildlife, any bear viewing tour operator will take you to places where bears are known to congregate around food sources including –

  • Rivers where salmon are running – bears come to rivers when the fish run to feast on salmon. Bear viewing will only be available for that location when the fish are running in that particular river which can be any time between June and September depending on the location
  • Coastal areas where bears are eating shellfish such as the Katmai Coast
  • Coastal and marshy areas where bears are eating sedge grass such as Lake Clark National Park
Two brown bears, a mom and a cub, at the edge of the water in the grass on a sunny day in Lake Clark National Park

Alternatives to Bear Viewing Tours – less of a sure thing but still really cool

If you’re eager to see bears in Alaska but don’t want to book a bear viewing tour, you still have an excellent chance of seeing a bear. I’ve seen bears all over Alaska while driving or out in boats. Keep your eyes out for bears anytime.

A couple of suggestions for specific locations –

  • Denali National Park Tundra Wilderness Tour or East Fork Transit bus – you’ll have an excellent chance of seeing grizzly bears on any bus trip deep into Denali National Park. Drivers stop for wildlife viewing and on the tour buses they have zoom in cameras. I recommend bringing binoculars as you may see some bears that are somewhat far away.
  • Any river where salmon are running – you’ll know by asking locals or observing that there are lots of fishermen along the sides of the river. If you see that anywhere in Alaska there is an excellent chance of bears.

Make sure to keep your distance from bears and brush up on bear safety if you’re going to be out of a vehicle in bear country.

What to expect on a day of bear viewing

Bear viewing is an incredible experience but a bit different from other tour and visitor experiences. Make the most of your time by preparing to not have access to toilets (use the bushes – your guide will help you navigate this), spending a lot of time observing bears and being outside in whatever the weather brings for many hours.

Some bear viewing trips involve having lunch and basing out of a remote lodge in pontoon boats, while others will be entirely in the wilderness and involve a bit more walking after getting off the plane.

Listen to me share about a day of bear viewing in Lake Clark on the Alaska Uncovered Podcast

Pack Creek or Waterfall Creek from Juneau

  • Where it is: Pack Creek is on Admiralty Island and Waterfall Creek is on Chichagof Island, both are in the Tongass National Forest near Juneau
  • Where the tour starts: Wild Coast Excursions and Above and Beyond Alaska offer bear viewing tours from Juneau
  • Months offered: Mid May through Mid June, Late August through Mid September (Pack Creek) Late July through early September (Waterfall Creek)
  • Save 10% on trips with Above and Beyond Alaska with my code: alaskauncovered

Listen to Peter from Wild Coast Excursions in Juneau talk about bear viewing at Pack Creek and Waterfall Creek on the Alaska Uncovered Podcast

Anan Bear Observatory

  • Where it is: Anan Bear Observatory is located 35 miles south of Wrangell in the Tongass National Forest
  • Where the tour starts: Wrangell or Ketchikan (list of guide services here)
  • Months offered: June through September – peak bear viewing mid July through early August

Lake Clark National Park

bear with two cubs at the head of a lake by mountains
  • Where it is: Lake Clark National Park is located 100 miles southwest of Anchorage and 65 miles northwest of Homer
  • Where the tour starts: Anchorage, Homer or Kodiak
  • Months offered: June through mid September (different locations in the park in different months)
  • Save 10% on your bear viewing trip with Rust’s Flying Service from Anchorage with my code – alaskauncovered

Katmai Coast in Katmai National Park (this is not Brooks Falls!)

  • Where it is: The Katmai Coast is the coastal area of Katmai National Park – west of Kodiak and southwest of Homer
  • Where the tour starts: Homer or Kodiak
  • Months offered: June through mid August (different locations in different months)

McNeil River

Wolverine Creek/Redoubt Bay

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Jennie Flaming
Hi! I'm Jennie. I’m a fourth generation Seattleite. I lived in Alaska for many years and I still spend lots of time there every year visiting friends and working as a tour director. I've been a guide for many years in both Alaska and Washington and host the Alaska Uncovered Podcast as well as the Washington State Hiking Podcast. I love to share the places I love with visitors, newcomers and my fellow locals. I’m so glad to have you here!