Bear Tour Recommendations Needed

Can anyone share some bear tour recommendations??

I have a choice of:

-Anan Bear Observatory (Wrangell)

-Neets Bay (Ketch.)

-Alaskan Bear Adventure (Ketch.)

Any preferences and hints would be appreciated about actual bear viewing and comments about the jet-boat vs. floatplane!

We selected Neats Bay for a couple of reasons: (1) it's a tour booked through Princess with lots of bears according this message board (2) the Bear Adventure doesn't state where it goes. I didn't want to book this excursion out of the Princess "dome" in the event that something goes wrong. But all remains to be seen for us - we sail on the Sun, August 1st.

Can anyone share some bear tour recommendations??

I have a choice of:

-Anan Bear Observatory (Wrangell)

-Neets Bay (Ketch.)

-Alaskan Bear Adventure (Ketch.)

 

Any preferences and hints would be appreciated about actual bear viewing and comments about the jet-boat vs. floatplane!

We have only been on the Neet's Bay Bear Watching excursion, but it was fantastic. There was beautiful flightseeing there and back. At the site there were 2 dozen black bears feasting on salmon. What a sight!

Highly recommended.

The top choice of your list is definately Anan.

I have also been to Neets Bay, when is your arrival?

We are on NCL Sun leaving Aug. 14th.

The description of the Anan sounds great but you get to the site by boat and in the others there is a floatplane involved and we thought that might be worth the experience. We definitely want to see bears but thought the scenery from the plane might be a nice addition.

Is mid-August good for bear-sightings?

Appreciate all the advise! We can't waiit to get to Alaska!!

Yes, mid August is peak. I would make the priority on time bear watching. But it sounds like your priority is a flight and bears, go with that then. :)

I was at Anan Creek bear observatory a week ago today. It is a fantastic place to see and photograph bears. I saw 3 Alaska Brown bears and 5 black bears. I didn't need my telephoto lens to get some great bear photos. The observation platform is above the creek looking down into the falls. There is a photo blind that puts you at almost eye level with the bears. It is quite and experience being only 30 feet from brown bear while it has a salmon feast. Even close on a black bear.

There is an outhouse close to the observation deck. We had someone watch the surrounding area whenever anyone went to use it. It had a peep hole for looking out to make sure there were no bears around. The lookout person would wave an all clear. At the time I was there, a black bear with cubs would use the tree behind the outhouse for her cubs while she went fishing. One person had to spend a few extra minutes in the outhouse waiting for mom to pick up her cubs.

Anan Creek had thousands of pink salmon in the river. If you plan a trip there, make sure the salmon are still in the creek. When the salmon are gone, the bears go back into the hills.

Also, Anan Bear Observatory is a great place to watch bald eagles. The eagles wait for the bears to finish their meal and then they clean up. I got some great pictures of eagles as well as the bears. It is a beautifu location.

I have been to Pack Creek last year. In my opinion, Anan creek is by far the best of the two.

wildlifeart

Good luck.

We are going to Anan via Island Air on 8/15/05, so it was nice to have a first-hand perspective. Is there an armed escort with you, just in case? Do the bears react to your close presence and camera sounds? I'm really looking forward to this, but gotta admit it sounds scary!

You do not need an armed escort to get from the plane off loading area to

the bear viewing platform. Some of the tour operators will send an armed

quide if you request it. The trail is well used and the Forest Service guys do

make periodic patrols. And some of them carry shotguns. The bears do not

seem skitish at all. But the Rangers will either tell you to turn your camera flash

off or offer you black tape to put over it. In Southeast Alaska this is probably

the #1 bear viewing location.

As for Alaska Bear Adventures, do not go on one of these tours if they can't tell

you where you are going upfront. If they take you to Polk Inlet on Prince of Wales Island you will be throwing your money away. A very poor bear viewing

area.....:eek: