Which port best to see bears? Juneau, Ketchikan or skagway?

[cbowls30]

Hi all,

Doing princess cruise next July. After much research we think we have whale spotting sorted in Juneau, where best should we try our luck to see some bears? Can't seem to see many bear specific tours. Thanks 

[Coral]

When in July?

 

Ketchikan has some bear tours. It is best to go when salmon are running. I have gone 2x over July 4th holiday and it has been too soon.

 

Technically bears can be seen in all 3 ports but bear excursions are mostly in Ketchikan.

[SightCRR]

When and how much to spend is most important to bear tours. If not flying you could just luck out. in either case. There is a chance on the road to Carcross via rental car for black bear from Skagway or herring cove rain forest trail from Ketch. 

[Coral]

59 minutes ago, SightCRR said:

When and how much to spend is most important to bear tours. If not flying you could just luck out. in either case. There is a chance on the road to Carcross via rental car for black bear from Skagway or herring cove rain forest trail from Ketch. 

I would agree. I have only done one bear watching excursion (which was in May and included 3 bears so off season). I have seen more bears unexpectedly on other excursions - driving to the Yukon is a great example.

[wolfie11]

Hands down, it’s Wildlife Safari & Bear Viewing for around $150 from Chilkat Guides in Haines if the salmon are running.  For second place, I would pick a bear tour at Icy Strait Point.  These are both brown bear tours.

[jean-lynd]

This may help

[SingingPixie]

On 1/28/2024 at 11:00 AM, wolfie11 said:

Hands down, it’s Wildlife Safari & Bear Viewing for around $150 from Chilkat Guides in Haines if the salmon are running.  For second place, I would pick a bear tour at Icy Strait Point.  These are both brown bear tours.

 

This is what I'm planning to do in September! That said, I don't think the salmon start running till the second half of July, so it might take a little bit of extra luck earlier in the season. 

[SoloAlaska]

In September one year I saw a bear maybe 300m from the ship in Ketchikan while on a pub crawl. The people who took the bear tour that day did not see any. 

[LAX]

On 1/28/2024 at 11:00 AM, wolfie11 said:

Hands down, it’s Wildlife Safari & Bear Viewing for around $150 from Chilkat Guides in Haines if the salmon are running.  For second place, I would pick a bear tour at Icy Strait Point.  These are both brown bear tours.

Any independent operator you would recommend? Is mid to late June too early? My first choice is whale watching at ISP. If that's not available because of our timing in port, then I would love to see some bears in action!

 

LAX

 

[wolfie11]

The Haines trip is through the ship and only when the salmon are running.  I think there are a couple of private vendors for tours in Hoonah.

[Coral]

4 hours ago, LAX said:

Any independent operator you would recommend? Is mid to late June too early? My first choice is whale watching at ISP. If that's not available because of our timing in port, then I would love to see some bears in action!

 

LAX

 

This is who I used in Hoonah: http://geestahuntours.com

 

He was very determined to find me bears in May (I was skeptical as I know we are off season). We found 3.

[Kat915]

I have been on bear search in Hoonah twice. No bears.  

 

Haines is mentioned often to see bears at certain time of year.

[karatemom2]

Depending on how late in July you are traveling. If the salmon are running you can often spot black bears feeding at Herring Cove on the outskirts of Ketchikan. We have very good luck there. 

[Kat915]

Another place to potentially see bears is at Mendenhall. 

[cattman]

On 4/19/2024 at 2:02 AM, Kat915 said:

Another place to potentially see bears is at Mendenhall. 

Another vote for Mendenhall. We have seen bears there the last three times we visited, especially on the East Glacier Trail

[sonoma03]

On my last Alaska trip in June 2018, we saw a bear along the side of the road (within 6 feet) while riding the public bus back to town from Mendenhall Glacier.  We also took a jet boat adventure tour to the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve in Haines from our port of Skagway (took a ferry from Skagway to Haines), and we saw 8 bears foraging on the banks along the river, including a mother with 2 cubs.  That was an unexpected surprise.

[jcathers1]

When do bears typically awaken from hibernation? We will be in Alaska in late may/early June, so wondering if they will even have emerged yet.

[Northern Aurora]

4 hours ago, jcathers1 said:

When do bears typically awaken from hibernation? We will be in Alaska in late may/early June, so wondering if they will even have emerged yet.

 

 

Males tend to emerge earlier than females, but by late April they are out and about.  

[Focacta]

I live in Ketchikan and bears are hit and miss, unless you leave you trash out... If you want to guarantee bears here go on a Taquan Air flight to Anan Creek where you land and walk up to a bear viewing. Otherwise the big spot is Herring Cove at the Alaska Rainforest Sanctuary. July is the start of better bear viewing but if you don’t see bears this company gives half your money back through the cruise line bookings. If you don’t see bears their site is awesome and you’ll enjoy it there regardless as they have wild birds, a large walkway and viewing platform, totems and gift shop. Good luck!

[Focacta]

On 5/13/2024 at 8:20 AM, jcathers1 said:

When do bears typically awaken from hibernation? We will be in Alaska in late may/early June, so wondering if they will even have emerged yet.

Bears come out March/April but for viewing they don’t start bear tours until late June/early July because that’s when salmon are coming in heavier so they are walking during the day more. Best of luck because you can definitely see them then but it may end up being in some random spot and not on a tour!