Revillagigedo Island and the surrounding mainland are black-bear country, and the neighbouring mainland also has brown bears. For most of the year the animals are scattered through the forest and hard to see. That changes when the salmon return: from late July the bears come down to particular streams and hatcheries to fish, and they keep coming until the runs thin out in September.
Several sites within reach of Ketchikan have viewing platforms and guides, and each is a different kind of trip. All of them depend on the fish, the weather and the bears’ own plans — no honest operator guarantees a sighting — but in August and early September, visitors see bears on most trips. Outside those weeks, think twice before paying premium prices.
Top things to do: Bear Viewing around Ketchikan
Neets Bay
A remote bay about 40 miles north of town with a large salmon hatchery, where returning fish draw black bears to the creek mouth. Trips go by floatplane (about 25 minutes) or by road and boat, followed by a short forest walk to viewing platforms with a guide. The boat option lasts around five hours and adds a wildlife cruise.
Traitors Cove (Margaret Creek)
A US Forest Service wildlife observation site reached by a 20-minute floatplane flight, a short van ride and a quarter-mile walk to a platform above a waterfall and fish pass, where black bears fish at close range. Groups are small and trips last roughly three hours.
Herring Cove
The do-it-yourself option: a cove at the end of the paved road south of town where a hatchery stream enters the sea. In season black bears can often be seen from the road bridge, for free. See our Herring Cove guide.
Anan Wildlife Observatory
The most famous bear-viewing site in southern Southeast Alaska, near Wrangell, where both black and brown bears fish an enormous pink-salmon run. From Ketchikan it is a floatplane trip of about 45 minutes each way plus a half-mile boardwalk trail. Forest Service permits are required in the peak weeks of July and August and are limited, so tours sell out early.
Prince of Wales Island
Floatplane tours also visit bear streams on Prince of Wales Island, west of Ketchikan, home to a dense black-bear population.
How to get there
- Floatplane trips leave from the waterfront docks and usually include a transfer from the cruise berths.
- Boat-and-trail trips to Neets Bay start with a drive north from town; check the pickup point.
- Herring Cove is 8 miles south by road — taxi, rental car or tour.
- Compare and book: see the bear-viewing tours on our list.
Insider tips
- Time it right: late July to mid-September, with August the surest month. In May and June choose a different excursion.
- Follow your guide’s instructions exactly — stay in the group, keep your voice down, never bring food or scented items to the platform.
- Bring a zoom lens or binoculars. Platforms are close to the action, but bears also fish up- and downstream.
- Trails to platforms are short but can be muddy and uneven, with steps. Check fitness requirements before booking.
- Floatplane-based trips can be cancelled for weather. Leave slack in your day.
Best tours for this sight
These bookable Ketchikan excursions fit best with a visit to Bear Viewing around Ketchikan:
Wildlife tour from $399 Ketchikan: Neets Bay Black Bear Viewing Tour with Cruise
A half-day trip by land and sea to Neets Bay, where salmon returning to a hatchery draw black bears to the creek. You walk forest trails to viewing platforms and cruise through sheltered channels looking for eagles, seals and whales. Go when the salmon are running for the best chance of bears.
- Bear-viewing platforms above a salmon stream
- Forest trail walk with a guide
- Scenic wildlife cruise through island waterways
Nature walk from $110 Ketchikan: Alaska Rainforest Sanctuary and Totem Park Walk
A naturalist leads you along trails and boardwalks through the Alaska Rainforest Sanctuary at Herring Cove, explaining the forest, the salmon stream and the animals that depend on it. The walk ends at a historic sawmill and a small totem park. Gentle, and worthwhile in any weather.
- Guided walk in a 40-acre private rainforest reserve
- Historic sawmill and totem park
- Look for bears, eagles and salmon in season
Guided tour from $85 From Ketchikan: Potlatch Totem Park and Herring Cove Tour
A guided visit to Potlatch Park to discover the art of totem carving, followed by a stop at Herring Cove to look for wildlife — eagles all season and bears when the salmon are in. One of the lowest-priced tours with transport.
- Guided visit to Potlatch Park
- Learn about the art of totem carving
- Wildlife spotting at Herring Cove
