Ketchikan: Neets Bay Bear Observatory & Tongass Forest Tour

Black bears feeding in a salmon stream, thirty minutes from your boat

You ride a coach from the Ketchikan port to Clover Pass Lodge, then board an enclosed boat for a one-hour cruise through Tongass National Forest to Neets Bay. A guided walk brings you to the bear observatory, where you watch black bears feed in the salmon stream for thirty minutes. The boat and coach return you to port with a snack included. The whole experience takes your port hours into the wilderness and back.

Step-by-step itinerary

Bear viewing by land and sea

• Coach tour to Clover Pass Lodge
• Board boat and meet crew
• Boat tour through Tongass National Forest
• Walk to Neets Bay Bear Observatory
• Observe bears at salmon stream
• Boat tour back to Clover Pass Lodge
• Coach return to downtown Ketchikan

The experience

The coach picks you up at the Ketchikan port and heads inland toward Clover Pass Lodge, the oldest operating fishing lodge in Alaska. It's a narrated drive through the landscape, and you're already moving toward something most cruise passengers never get to do: the Neets Bay Bear Observatory sits behind a permit system that keeps visitor numbers down. Your operator holds the exclusive permit, which means the bears here aren't accustomed to crowds.

At Clover Pass you board an enclosed boat with the captain and crew, and then you're out on the water for an hour through the Tongass National Forest. The boat moves through the wilderness slowly enough that you can actually see what's around you, not rushed, not a blur. When you reach the mouth of the salmon spawning stream, you leave the boat and walk into the forest with a guide. The stream is where the bears come to feed, and the observatory is positioned so you can watch them work without being in their way. You'll spend thirty minutes there, quiet, watching. The operator sees bears ninety-nine percent of the time, though wildlife is never guaranteed. That's the honest part.

The return is the same route in reverse: boat back to Clover Pass, then the coach back down to downtown Ketchikan. The whole day runs from pickup to drop-off, and the snack is included along the way. It's not a long excursion, but it's built around one specific thing (standing in front of wild bears in their habitat), and everything else is designed to get you there and back without eating up your port time.

What’s included

Your day includes coach pickup from the Ketchikan port, a narrated drive to Clover Pass Lodge, an enclosed boat tour through Tongass National Forest, a guided walk to the Neets Bay Bear Observatory, thirty minutes of bear viewing at the stream, the return boat ride, coach return to port, and a snack.

Before you book

Days and timesNext departure: 20 Jul 2027

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (1 to 11 years)

GroupUp to 36

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48h

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical levelPets welcomeNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Adventure Ketchikan Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see wild bears without arranging your own permit or transport from the cruise port: the exclusive permit access and fixed schedule mean you get a rare wildlife experience that fits inside your port hours.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (1 to 11 years).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What are the chances of seeing bears at Neets Bay?

The operator reports bears are present ninety-nine percent of the time, but wildlife sightings are never guaranteed.

How long is the boat ride to Neets Bay?

The boat tour through Tongass National Forest takes about one hour each way.

Is the boat enclosed?

Yes, the boat is fully enclosed, so you're protected from weather while traveling.

How much time do you spend at the bear observatory?

You spend thirty minutes at the observatory watching bears in the stream.

Where does the coach pick up passengers?

Pickup is from downtown Ketchikan or Ward Cove, depending on your ship's location.

What is included in the tour?

The tour includes coach transportation, the boat ride, guide service at the observatory, and a snack.

Do I need to be very fit for this tour?

Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness. The tour is not recommended for those with spinal injuries or poor cardiovascular health.