Disclosure: Writer received a discount.
Whether you head to Juneau by air or by sea, if you have a day to choose your own adventure, definitely reserve a spot on a seaplane into the wilderness to view coastal brown bears with Above and Beyond Alaska! I recently took a flight to experience this bucket-list day trip for my 40th birthday, and I was so blown away by the magnitude of nature there.
- You have to be able to sit for hours at a time, on the ground. This trip isn’t for children under 12. Older adults may also be uncomfortable.
- Overall, the trip is easy to moderately strenuous. A short walk is required from the plane to the creek.
- Sighting bears is not guaranteed. However, we saw a bear as soon as we arrived. More fish mean more bears.
- Weather can impact plans. Having a day or two is ideal, but this is a popular day excursion for cruisers.
SheBuysTravel Expert Tip: For your best opportunity to see the bears, book during peak salmon run, toward the end of July.
Starting the Day
Above and Beyond Alaska has you covered from start to finish, making this a fuss-free excursion from Juneau.
- Transportation is covered. Get picked up at one of the main local hotels by passenger van in the morning
- Gear is provided. We got boots, pants, and a jacket, all in the size that was most comfortable.
- Short introductory business. We watched a little briefing of the area and got some information from our guide.
- Last civilized bathroom break. Make sure to pee before you head out!
- Waterproofing your things. A dry bag is provided to keep things sealed up and dry.
- Pack light! You’re your own sherpa.
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Flightseeing to the Wilderness
The entire day is an adventure and the flight is no exception.
- The trip is about $989 per person. This includes the flight, food, a guide, and with just a little luck, bears! For Pack Creek, it includes a non-refundable permit.
- The plane holds seven in total, including the pilot. This means no big groups to deal with.
- These planes are a really smooth ride. If you’re apprehensive about flying, I’ve had better flights in Beavers than 737s.
- Watch for whales, moose, and other wildlife from the air. You never know what you’ll see! One passenger saw a whale breach while we flew over.
- The flight is about 30 minutes. Each way is about a half hour. It’s the perfect combination of flightseeing and efficient travel mode!
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A True Wilderness Experience
You’re going into a true wilderness, but you might see other people. Waterfall Creek is on Chicagof Island, one of the “ABC” islands – (Admiralty, Baranof, and Chicagof)– where coastal brown bears are heavily populated.
- Waterfall Creek is not a managed site. This means anyone can use it, they just have to get there. When we arrived by plane, we were greeted by yachts.
- Your guide and the wild is all there is. Our guide was super thorough in showing us all of her gear. This is a true wilderness experience!
- We arrived and left with the tide. At first, low tide greeted us with rocks and tide pools and seaweed. Upon leaving, we experienced high tide, an entirely different vibe!
More than “Just Bears”
Sure, you’re here for the bears! I was too – initially. But once I sat quietly for hours, literally grounded by having my bum on the gravel, I found it so peaceful and serene. I mean – hello! There is a waterfall (which is gorgeous, but the way) just yards away. Talk about ambiance!
- For birders, it’s a hoot! We saw eagles, ravens, heron, and kingfishers while hoping for bears.
- Our guide was knowledgeable and fun. Abby was able to relate bear biology, local plants and features, and bear spray blooper stories. We were never bored.
- The time flew by and we were delighted by bears. Well, we think it was likely the same bear. But she was a joy to behold while fishing and being a bear!
The Bear Necessities
I loved this tour so much. It was definitely bucket list fun for me and well worth the price tag. Nothing was staged. The bears aren’t tame and I definitely felt it was a perfect soft adventure in the wild. I felt safe the entire time and also felt a wildness of spirit being secluded in the rainforest. To make your trip great:
- Do dress in layers. Weather is only a factor for the plane, not the people. So be ready for it all.
- Don’t be noisy and disruptive. Everyone has different hopes for the day, but being quiet is key to this trip.
- Do tip your guide! They are protecting you, reading cues from the wild animal, schlepping your lunch and snacks, and generally keeping you entertained. They earned it.
- Don’t have expectations of sightings! It’s never a guarantee. Go in to enjoy a flight into a place few ever see. Be THRILLED if you see a bear or two or three.
- Do savor the moment outside your lens, too! Pictures are fabulous, but remember to take in the moment. Seeing a beautiful creature fishing, or hearing the rushing waterfalls, or the raucous ravens.
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