Knowledgeable Local Guide
Unique Alaskan Wildlife Experience
Observe Bears in Their Natural Environment
Watch Bears Up Close in Alaska’s Tongass National Forest
Join Muddy Water Adventures for an exciting and educational Tongass National Forest wildlife tour with an experienced Wrangell local guide!
Just a short distance by boat, the USFS established an observatory specifically for bear viewing at Anan Creek. Brown and black bears congregate at Anan Creek naturally for feeding and are easily viewed from multiple vantage points at the observatory. This is a unique opportunity as the bears sometimes come within an arm’s reach of the observatory deck.
On this fully-guided tour you can watch as these striking creatures feed on the massive run of pink salmon in the creek, alongside eagles, seals, and sea lions!
Why Take This Alaska Bear Viewing Experience Tour?
Safely witness brown and black bears up close as they feed in their natural environment
Observe other Alaskan wildlife, such as seals, eagles, ravens and more
Learn about these majestic creatures and the ecosystem they are a part of from your local expert guide
Click the tabs to find out more about our guided bear tours in alaska
Trip Details
Pricing & Details
Price
$360 per person
Departure time
Varies by day
Meeting point
City Dock, unless otherwise notified
Availability
This tour is offered from July through August
*Daily availability varies, please click the Book Now button to check availability for specific days
Duration
5-6 hours
Group size
1-20 guests
*We welcome individuals, however we do require a combined minimum of 4 guests for the tour to depart*
Note: A group maximum of 12 people at a time are allowed on the trail to the observatory. Parties larger than 12 are permitted, but must be split into 2 groups.
Included
- Bottled water
- Coffee
- Snacks
- Bathroom onboard vessel
Not included
Lunch
What to bring
- Camera
- Weather appropriate clothing
- Walking sticks if needed
- Food for before and after the observatory stop (food is not permitted on the trail or at the observatory)
Tour staff
Your staff is made up of all Wrangell locals! Including:
- Captain
- Deckhand
- Guide
Following the direction of your guides is paramount at the observatory. Your guides are armed with bear spray and high-powered rifles, and trained to get you safely from the boat to the observatory and back. Following their lead will ensure your safety AND wonderful day!
What You'll See and Do
This tour will depart from City Dock in Wrangell for a one-hour boat ride to the observatory down the Eastern Passage, known as “The Back Channel” to locals. Enjoy some coffee and the views from the boat as we cruise on our comfortable state of the art catamaran.
Upon arriving at the beachhead, we’ll unload from the boat, climb a short staircase, and then walk a 1/2 mile on the forest trail to get to the observatory. If you have mobility issues that don’t allow you to walk the trail, please let us know and we can adjust the tour slightly to accommodate your needs. The trail is compacted gravel and wooden bridges, with comparable difficulty to a paved sidewalk!
Once at the observatory, we will have approximately 3 hours to view brown and black bears and other wildlife up close in their natural environment. This is where bears often gather for feeding, and with multiple spots for viewing at the observatory, you won’t miss a thing!
After our bear watching experience we’ll head back to the boat for our ride back to Wrangell. Feel free to bring a lunch to enjoy on the boat ride back to town, but please keep in mind that for safety reasons, food is not permitted on the trail or at the observatory.
What You Need to Know
Most importantly: Food is strictly forbidden on the trail and observatory, and must be left on the boat. Bottled water is allowed.
The trail is an uncovered, compacted gravel path through the wilderness. Please wear or bring appropriate shoes and clothing; usually a light jacket and/or rain jacket and sneakers are sufficient.
If you or anyone in your party have mobility issues, up to and including a wheelchair, please contact us. We can adjust the tour slightly to accomodate you and make sure you get to experience this incredible area!
Infants or toddlers are strongly discouraged at Anan, due to the unpredictability of bear behavior around infant sounds/smells. Minimum recommended age is 5 years old.
