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Juneau: Pack Creek Brown Bear Viewing & Floatplane

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1/11

Duration7h

GroupUp to 5

LanguagesEN

PickupAt your hotel

The Sound of Salmon Draws Bears to Pack Creek

You fly 25 minutes to a remote bear sanctuary, hike forest and shoreline trails with a certified guide, and watch brown bears fish or rest in their natural habitat. The tour includes floatplane transport, all gear and rain clothing, lunch, and ranger expertise. You'll need moderate fitness for 1–2 miles of hiking and must be at least 12 years old; pregnant travelers and those with certain health conditions aren't able to participate.

Step-by-step itinerary

Store luggage at warehouse
Take 25-minute floatplane to Pack Creek
Meet Pack Creek rangers
Explore shoreline and forest trails
Observe brown bears fishing and resting

The Experience

The floatplane's pontoons touch down on the water with a soft slap, and the engine cuts to silence. You step onto the beach at Pack Creek on Admiralty Island—called Kootznoowoo by the Tlingit, meaning "Fortress of the Bears"—and that name stops sounding like marketing. The island holds roughly 1,800 brown bears, the densest concentration on earth, and you're about to spend the day watching them do what they do when nobody's looking. A certified ranger meets you on the shore and walks you through the basics: stay with the group, move quietly, keep your distance. Then you start hiking the forest and shoreline trails that lead to the viewing spots.

The bears here aren't performing. You might see them fishing in the shallows during the salmon runs in late July and August, or lounging in the tall grass during mating season in late May and June. Some days they're everywhere; some days you search for hours and find only tracks. The ranger knows the patterns and the safe angles, and they'll position the group where the light and the wind work in your favor. If you're there between June 20th and July 20th when bear activity drops, kayaking replaces some of the hiking—it's a different way to move through the same water the bears use. Either way, you're moving through their world on their terms, not the other way around.

The day starts early from Juneau with van transport to the floatplane dock, then that 25-minute flight over the Inside Passage to Pack Creek. The return trip follows the same route, so you're back in town by evening. The tour runs in all weather—rain gear and boots are provided, sized to fit—and the ranger carries lunch and snacks for the group. There's a warehouse in Juneau for luggage storage if you need it before heading out. One thing to know: the tour requires a minimum of four people to operate, and there's a 250-pound weight limit per person due to aircraft restrictions, so you'll need to confirm your weight at booking. Bear sightings aren't guaranteed—this is wild Alaska, and the bears don't perform on schedule.

What’s included

Your day includes round-trip van transport to the floatplane dock in Juneau and a 25-minute floatplane flight to Pack Creek on Admiralty Island.
Once there, a certified ranger leads you on forest and shoreline hikes (1–2 miles) to prime bear viewing spots.
The tour covers all National Park fees, provides rain gear, jackets, and rubber boots sized to fit, and includes a hearty lunch, snacks, and water.
A warehouse in Juneau is available for luggage storage before departure.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Above and Beyond Alaska

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see brown bears in their natural habitat without arranging your own floatplane charter or guide—the certified ranger and fixed itinerary handle the logistics and safety. You'll need moderate fitness for hiking and must meet the weight and age requirements; this isn't a casual sightseeing trip, and bear sightings are never guaranteed.