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Fly from Juneau to Pack Creek on Admiralty Island for up-close brown bear viewing in a protected sanctuary. This 5.5-hour trip pairs short flights with three-plus hours of guided wildlife observation, cultural interpretation, and a landscape shaped by glaciers and salmon.
Fly from Juneau to Pack Creek on Admiralty Island for up-close brown bear viewing in a protected sanctuary. This 5.5-hour trip pairs short flights with three-plus hours of guided wildlife observation, cultural interpretation, and a landscape shaped by glaciers and salmon.
Fog thins over the Tongass as a small aircraft lifts off from Juneau, and the teeth of Admiralty Island unfold below — a braided coastline, willow marshes, and a dark green forest that seems to move. On arrival, the creek’s estuary and alder flats take over: the air smells of wet earth and salmon, and brown bears methodically patrol the shoreline, noses down, paws stirring tidewrack.
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Operated by Wild Coast Excursions · Juneau, Alaska
Fog thins over the Tongass as a small aircraft lifts off from Juneau, and the teeth of Admiralty Island unfold below — a braided coastline, willow marshes, and a dark green forest that seems to move. On arrival, the creek’s estuary and alder flats take over: the air smells of wet earth and salmon, and brown bears methodically patrol the shoreline, noses down, paws stirring tidewrack.
Pack Creek sits on the northeast shore of Admiralty Island within the Tongass National Forest, an area shaped by glaciers and abundant salmon runs that have long sustained Tlingit and Haida communities. The sanctuary protects a concentrated feeding ground where bears gather in summer; the creek’s gravel bars and estuary are geological leftovers of glacial scouring and tidal exchange.
Guides interpret Indigenous history and local ecology while you watch bears from a designated viewing area a few feet away — permits regulate group size and movement to minimize disturbance. The experience blends low-angle wildlife observation with the drama of aerial approaches: the return flight over fjords and old-growth forest reiterates the scale of Southeast Alaska.
Practical side: these trips are roughly 5.5 hours total (about 25-minute flight each way, 3+ hours at the sanctuary), require moderate fitness for standing and walking on uneven, wet ground, and include lunch, rain gear, rubber boots, and spotters. Timing is crucial — summer months see peak bear activity during salmon runs; daylight is generous. Bring layered waterproof clothing, a telephoto lens or binoculars, and be prepared to follow guide instructions for safety and respectful viewing.
moderate.
5–6 hours.
Suitable for travelers in moderate physical condition — standing, short hikes on uneven ground, and getting on/off small aircraft.
The flight is about 25 minutes each way aboard a small aircraft operated by a local carrier.
Guides aim for good viewing windows and the sanctuary has a high likelihood of sightings in summer, but wildlife is never guaranteed and sightings depend on bear activity and salmon runs.
Yes, but the tour requires moderate fitness and adherence to safety rules; check age restrictions with the operator and supervise children closely near viewing areas.
Trips typically include round-trip air transport, permits, a guide, lunch, rain gear, rubber boots, binoculars, and use of a shared spotting scope.
Admiralty Island has been inhabited and used seasonally by Tlingit peoples for millennia; salmon runs have sustained local communities and wildlife alike.
Pack Creek is managed as a wildlife sanctuary with regulated access and permits to protect bear feeding habitats; visitors are expected to follow leave-no-trace principles and group rules to reduce disturbance.
Wild Coast Excursions operates guided outdoor trips and adventures with an emphasis on safety, stewardship, and memorable experiences.
Fog thins over the Tongass as a small aircraft lifts off from Juneau, and the teeth of Admiralty Island unfold below — a braided coastline, willow marshes, and a dark green forest that seems to move. On arrival, the creek’s estuary and alder flats take over: the air smells of wet earth and salmon, and brown bears methodically patrol the shoreline, noses down, paws stirring tidewrack.
Fog thins over the Tongass as a small aircraft lifts off from Juneau, and the teeth of Admiralty Island unfold below — a braided coastline, willow marshes, and a dark green forest that seems to move. On arrival, the creek’s estuary and alder flats take over: the air smells of wet earth and salmon, and brown bears methodically patrol the shoreline, noses down, paws stirring tidewrack.
Pack Creek sits on the northeast shore of Admiralty Island within the Tongass National Forest, an area shaped by glaciers and abundant salmon runs that have long sustained Tlingit and Haida communities. The sanctuary protects a concentrated feeding ground where bears gather in summer; the creek’s gravel bars and estuary are geological leftovers of glacial scouring and tidal exchange.
Guides interpret Indigenous history and local ecology while you watch bears from a designated viewing area a few feet away — permits regulate group size and movement to minimize disturbance. The experience blends low-angle wildlife observation with the drama of aerial approaches: the return flight over fjords and old-growth forest reiterates the scale of Southeast Alaska.
Practical side: these trips are roughly 5.5 hours total (about 25-minute flight each way, 3+ hours at the sanctuary), require moderate fitness for standing and walking on uneven, wet ground, and include lunch, rain gear, rubber boots, and spotters. Timing is crucial — summer months see peak bear activity during salmon runs; daylight is generous. Bring layered waterproof clothing, a telephoto lens or binoculars, and be prepared to follow guide instructions for safety and respectful viewing.