Best place to see bears in Alaska
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If you want a truly unforgettable wildlife encounter, few experiences rival seeing bears in Alaska. Alaska’s untamed landscape is one of the best places on Earth to witness brown, black and grizzly bears in their natural habitat — often on the same trip.
You might see salmon-snagging brown bears at Brooks Falls or black bears roaming the Tongass National Forest. This is especially possible with Princess Cruises, where you get to the best place to see bears in Alaska as a seamless part of your cruise experience.
Key takeaways
- Bears: Alaska is home to brown, black and grizzly bears, each found in different regions across the state
- Viewing locations: Katmai, Denali, Kodiak Island and Pack Creek offer unforgettable bear encounters
- Excursions: Princess Cruises offers exclusive access via floatplane, boat, hiking and photography tours
- Timing: Summer (June–August) is prime season, especially during salmon runs and pre-hibernation feeding
Why Alaska is perfect for bear viewing
In Alaska, bear tracks outnumber road signs. With more than 100,000 black and brown bears roaming its wilderness, this state is unmatched for wildlife encounters. Glacial rivers churn with salmon, berry thickets fill entire valleys and the wild stretches for miles without a fence or footprint — all prime real estate for bears.
What makes Alaska truly remarkable isn’t just the number of bears, but how easily you can see them. Guests aboard Princess Cruises gain rare access to remote habitats, from the coastal estuaries of Katmai National Park to the tundra plains of Denali. These are the places where brown bears wade into rivers to hunt, black bears forage in ancient forests and grizzlies scan open landscapes under the shadow of towering peaks.
Types of bears in Alaska
Brown bears – The coastal giants
Coastal brown bears are Alaska’s heavyweight champions, often tipping the scales at over 1,000 pounds. You’ll find them near rich salmon streams and coastal estuaries, especially in places like Katmai National Park and Lake Clark National Park. When the salmon run peaks in Alaska in the summer, dozens of bears gather at rivers like Brooks Falls, standing shoulder to shoulder as they fish.
Black bears – Forest dwellers
Smaller than their coastal cousins but no less captivating, black bears thrive in Alaska’s lush, forested regions. They’re expert climbers, surprisingly agile and have a wide-ranging diet that includes berries, plants, fish and the occasional crabapple.
You’re most likely to see them in Southeast Alaska, particularly along the Inside Passage and deep within the Tongass National Forest, the largest temperate rainforest in the world. Cruises to Ketchikan or cruises to Juneau are especially great for seeing black bears. Look for Princess shore excursions that pair bear viewing with scenic hikes or floatplane tours out of ports like Ketchikan and Juneau — two of the best cruise ports for wildlife access.
Grizzly bears – Tundra titans
Grizzlies are technically a subspecies of brown bear, but don’t let the shared DNA fool you — they live, move and hunt differently. These bears stick to inland and tundra areas where food is scarcer and territory is vast. They roam across hundreds of miles, using keen eyesight and an unmatched sense of smell to track prey and forage for roots, berries and ground squirrels.
Your best chance to see them? Denali National Park. With sweeping views of the Alaska Range, Denali offers some of the most dramatic bear-spotting backdrops in the state. Princess guests can explore this area through guided tours like the Tundra Wilderness Tour, which takes guests deep into grizzly country for a chance to see these massive animals in Alaska in action.
Best places to see bears in Alaska
Katmai National Park – Iconic Brooks Falls
If there’s one image that defines bear viewing in Alaska, it’s a brown bear mid-pounce at Brooks Falls, jaws open as salmon leap upstream. Located deep in Katmai National Park, this site is world-famous for its summer bear gatherings — and for good reason. In peak season, you might see more than 20 bears competing for fish in a single stretch of river.
If you visit Icy Straight Point on your cruise, you can go on the Remote Wildlife & Brown Bear Search excursion to spot one of these incredible animals in the wild. Princess makes it easy to safely see brown bears during the Bear & Eagle Quest in Skagway, too. These excursions give you the best chance to see brown bears in berry-infested fields or along riverbanks, all from the comfort of a motorcoach or bus.
Denali National Park – A mountain’s worth of bear sightings
Denali isn’t just home to North America’s tallest peak — it’s also prime territory for spotting grizzlies in open tundra. Bears are frequently seen from the park’s main road, especially near Polychrome Pass and the East Fork River, where Princess guests visit the Murie Cabin during the Tundra Wilderness Tour.
Lake Clark National Park – Stunning coastal bear habitats
Just across the water from Katmai, Lake Clark National Park offers equally incredible bear-viewing, and often with fewer visitors. Two standout locations are Crescent Lake and Chinitna Bay, where brown bears gather along the shoreline and in open meadows. These areas are especially productive during salmon runs in late summer, when bear activity peaks.
Kodiak Island – Home of the Kodiak bear
Kodiak bears are the largest brown bears in the world, sometimes standing over 10 feet tall on their hind legs. Found only on Kodiak Island, one of the most unforgettable places to visit in Alaska, this subspecies is genetically distinct and a bucket-list sighting for wildlife lovers.
Pack Creek Bear Viewing Area – Accessible bear watching
Located on Admiralty Island near Juneau, Pack Creek is one of Alaska’s most accessible bear-viewing spots. It’s part of the Tongass National Forest, where more brown bears live per square mile than anywhere else in North America. It’s a top choice for guests looking to add wildlife to their list of things to do in Juneau cruise ports.
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge – Polar bear territory
While Princess doesn’t operate excursions this far north, the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge deserves mention as one of the wildest bear habitats in Alaska. The remote village of Kaktovik is a hub for bear researchers and photographers hoping to spot grizzlies and other Arctic species. This region highlights just how vast Alaska’s bear country really is, stretching from tidewater estuaries to tundra hundreds of miles inland.
Bear viewing tours and excursions
Tundra Wilderness Tour into Denali National Park
Grizzlies, caribou and sweeping tundra views — Princess guests can see it all on the Tundra Wilderness Tour, a full-day adventure deep into Denali National Park. Along the way, you’ll stop at the Murie Cabin near the East Fork River, where legendary biologist Adolph Murie conducted his groundbreaking bear research.
Fly-in bear viewing
The Alaska Bear Adventure and Flight flies you into the true wilderness of Ketchikan, where bears dominate the landscape. Spot brown bears fishing from riverbanks or roaming open meadows, all with expert guides handling safety and logistics.
Boat-based bear viewing
Watch brown bears fish and forage just off the shoreline on the Alaska Bear Encounter by Land and Sea. These water-based excursions take guests into hotspots in Tongass National Forest and Neets Bay, offering quiet, close-up views from the deck.
Guided hiking tours
Lace up your boots and follow expert naturalists into active bear country. These guided hikes are designed for small groups and big views, blending wildlife tracking with safe, on-foot exploration. It’s perfect for adventurous guests aboard an Alaska land and sea cruise.
Wildlife photography tours
If you’re chasing that once-in-a-lifetime shot, wildlife photography tours are a dream. Capture brown bears during salmon runs, black bears in coastal forests or grizzlies crossing open tundra — all in stunning light and with expert framing advice along the way.
Tips for a successful bear-viewing experience
What to pack for bear viewing
Layer up! Alaska weather changes fast. Bring waterproof outerwear, binoculars, a good camera and sturdy walking shoes. If you’re heading out for a full-day tour, snacks and water are smart. Not sure what to bring? Our Alaska cruise packing list has you covered.
Safety and etiquette when observing bears
Keep your distance, listen to your guide and never approach wildlife; simple rules that make a big difference. Princess-led excursions are designed around safety and respect, ensuring guests observe bears without disturbing their behavior. A quiet group and a good vantage point make for a much better experience, for both you and the bears.
Plan your bear-viewing adventure with Princess
Whether you fly in over glacial fjords or cruise past icy inlets, our guided excursions and cruisetours take you straight to the action, with expert naturalists, safe viewing platforms and once-in-a-lifetime photo ops. You’re stepping into the wild heart of Alaska, safely and comfortably.
Ready to view Alaska bears up close? Cruise with Princess and discover the best places to see bears in Alaska for an unforgettable adventure.
