Why Go Bear Viewing in Juneau?
A Comparison between Juneau and Other Inside Passage Cruise Ports & Southeast Alaska Destinations
Written by Wild Coast Excursions’ Alaskan Bear Viewing Guides
Why Juneau Offers One of Alaska’s Most Exceptional Brown Bear Viewing Experiences
Coastal Alaska offers some of the world’s best bear viewing opportunities.
If you are traveling Alaska’s southern coast through the “Inside Passage,” one area stands above its neighbors for access, pristine wilderness, and pure brown bear habitat.
And that port is Juneau.
Juneau sits at the gateway to the ABC Islands, Admiralty, Baranof, and Chichagof, home to the highest density of brown bears anywhere on Earth.
Because Juneau is the nearest hub town with robust seaplane service, it is uniquely positioned for brown bear viewing among Inside Passage cruise ship ports.
In Juneau, you can step onto a floatplane and be in true, un-roaded, salmon-rich wilderness in minutes.
Most other cruise ports do not offer comparable brown bear viewing because:
- Most other Southeast Alaska cruise ports are in black bear habitat
- A lack of seaplane service means other ports near brown bear habitat often lack Juneau’s single-day fly-in access
- The few areas with “roadside” viewing are in previously clearcut logged landscapes, not pristine wilderness
- Protected, high-density brown bear sites are too far from port
- Admiralty’s Pack Creek offers the only structured, reliable May–September brown bear viewing opportunity in Alaska’s Inside Passage. Due to hunting seasons, all other viewing locations are limited to late-summer salmon activity.
Juneau stands apart by providing rich wilderness, fly-in brown bear viewing to Pack Creek (Admiralty Island) and Waterfall Creek (Chichagof Island).
Bear Viewing in Juneau: How It Compares to Other Inside Passage Cruise Ports
Juneau
What Juneau Has:
- Direct, convenient floatplane access to Admiralty & Chichagof Islands
- World-record, high-density brown bear habitats
- Pack Creek (Admiralty Island) – protected, permit-managed, in a congressionally designated wilderness area
- Waterfall Creek (Chichagof Island) – remote salmon waterfall system, the best of peak season wild brown bear viewing
- No roads, no buses, no platforms
- Naturalist-led, low-impact, small-group and private bear viewing
What Juneau Doesn’t Have:
- Roadside bear viewing
- Mass-market bear “shows”
- Man-made fish hatchery viewing (or open landfills)
- Crowded platforms
Summary:
Juneau is the only Inside Passage port where visitors can experience true, reliable, fly-in brown bear wilderness in a single day.
Ketchikan
Ketchikan is famous for late-summer black bear viewing at:
- Herring Cove (partially developed)
- Revillagigedo Island streams
- Neets Bay Hatchery
These experiences often include:
- Elevated boardwalks
- Developed platforms
- Larger cruise passenger group sizes
- Predictable late-summer viewing (August peak)
Ketchikan’s only access to mixed brown/black viewing is:
Anan Wildlife Observatory (Wrangell area) is a mainland site accessed from Wrangell or sometimes Ketchikan by longer flight.
Black bears dominate the viewing here, however some brown bears use sections of the creek. Anan Creek is an excellent black bear viewing opportunity in a rich rainforest habitat. Expect platforms and larger groups than the wilderness areas near Juneau.
Summary:
Excellent black bear viewing.
Not comparable to Juneau’s brown bear, wilderness-only environments.
Sitka
Sitka sits on the western side of Baranof Island, part of the ABC Islands and home to one of the densest brown bear populations in Alaska.
Because of this, bear sightings do occur, especially in late summer when salmon gather at creek mouths and around hatchery outlets. Some locally owned, boat-based wildlife tours encounter bears along the shoreline or near productive streams, although most are focused on Sitka’s incredible marine wildlife.
However, Sitka does not have:
- designated or protected bear viewing areas
- seaplane-accessible brown bear viewing sites
- wilderness day-trips specifically focused on bears
- areas closed to hunting for structured viewing
- the consistent, all-summer reliability found at Pack Creek
Bear viewing in Sitka is typically opportunistic and seasonal, tied closely to late-summer salmon activity rather than dedicated bear viewing programs.
Summary:
Sitka is a spectacular town with rich culture, history, and wildlife, and late-summer brown bear sightings are certainly possible. But it does not offer the dedicated, reliable, fly-in wilderness bear viewing opportunities that make Juneau the premier bear viewing hub of the Inside Passage.
Skagway
As a mainland port, Skagway exists in lower density mixed black and brown bear habitat. Unfortunately, Skagway itself has no reliable bear viewing.
Nearby Haines (by ferry or flight) offers roadside brown bear viewing along the Chilkoot River in late summer, but:
- Viewing can be crowded
- Disturbance pressures have increased (animals are displaced from food by unmanaged crowds and drivers)
- Highly seasonal (salmon dependent)
- Not wilderness; roadside only
Summary:
Skagway is excellent for scenery and hiking, but not reliable brown bear habitat.
Icy Strait Point / Hoonah
Hoonah is the largest village on Chichagof Island and offers some of Southeast Alaska’s most accessible brown bear viewing for large groups.
Operators offer roadside bear viewing using large tour buses or vans for cruise ship passengers at Icy Strait Point.
These tours typically use:
- Industrial logging roads through former logging clearcuts
- Accessible bear habitat near town
- Roadside or short-walk viewing
- Large, mixed groups typically traveling by bus
Although operators catering to cruise passengers offer trips all summer, the reality is that Icy Strait Point/Hoonah brown bear viewing is only reliable in late summer when salmon are spawning. Hoonah’s roadside experiences can be enjoyable for large groups or guests wanting a short excursion, but they are not comparable to Juneau’s reliable, un-roaded, brown bear environments.
Summary:
Good accessible wildlife viewing that is highly seasonal.
Not fly-in wilderness brown bear habitat.
Additional Southeast Alaska Brown Bear Destinations
Anan Wildlife Observatory (Wrangell area)
Anan Creek hosts both black and brown bears, though black bears are by far more numerous.
This is a fantastic remote site with Southeast Alaska’s best black bear viewing in a rich rainforest setting. Most access is by boat ride from the town of Wrangell.
Anan Creek has:
- Boardwalks
- A viewing blind
- Controlled, permit-based access (limit 60 visitors per day, compared to Pack Creek’s 24)
High quality viewing and setting. Not wilderness or high-density brown bear habitat in the same sense as the ABC Islands.
Why Juneau Stands Apart
1. Highest-Density Brown Bear Habitat Accessible in One Day
Most cruise ports simply don’t have true brown bear ecosystems nearby.
Black bears are more common south of the ABC Islands, and near mainland towns.
2. Floatplane Access to Protected Wilderness
Pack Creek and Waterfall Creek are un-roaded, salmon-rich ecosystems with minimal human footprint.
3. Small-Group, Naturalist-Led Experiences
Juneau excels in ethical, respectful wildlife encounters free from crowds. Operators must meet the high standards to operate in congressionally designated wilderness areas and National Monuments.
4. Perfect Fit for Independent Travelers & Expedition-Style Cruise Guests
Juneau’s small group and private bear viewing perfectly aligns with the interests of:
- UnCruise Passengers
- Lindblad/National Geographic Passengers
- Alaska Dream Cruises Passengers
- Glacier Bay travelers
- Independent wildlife-focused visitors
5. More Time in Habitat, Less Time in Transit
The hallmark of Juneau bear viewing:
You spend the day with the bears, not traveling to them.
Key Facts
Type of Bears at Viewing Areas: Coastal Brown Bears
Locations: Admiralty Island (Pack Creek), Chichagof Island (Waterfall Creek)
Access: Floatplane day-trips, multi-day boat-based trips
Best Time: Late July–September peak, May and June is also great (specifically at Pack Creek)
Style: Small-group, responsible wilderness travel
Distinctiveness: True fly-in brown bear viewing from a cruise port and the regional hub
Perfect For: All wildlife lovers, cruise ship visitors, travelers headed to Glacier Bay, and small-ship cruise guests
What This Means for Your Alaska Bear Viewing Plans
Juneau is the Inside Passage’s premier gateway to true wilderness brown bear viewing. Unlike other cruise ports, Juneau offers direct floatplane access to the high-density bear habitats of Admiralty and Chichagof Islands, the heart of Alaska’s ABC Islands.
These are some of the wildest, most biologically rich brown bear ecosystems on Earth, and you can reach them in a single day.
If you want reliable brown bear viewing during your Alaska cruise or independent travels, Juneau should be at the top of your list.
Where to Book a Bear Viewing Trip from Juneau
As Juneau’s bear viewing specialists, Wild Coast Excursions offers small-group and private wilderness bear viewing to Pack Creek and Waterfall Creek, the two most remarkable brown bear viewing areas in Southeast Alaska.
Choose your adventure:
- Pack Creek Bear Viewing (Admiralty Island)
Structured, protected, May–September brown bear viewing in a National Monument. - Waterfall Creek Bear Viewing (Chichagof Island)
Peak-season salmon behavior at one of the Inside Passage’s most dynamic brown bear sites. - Private Bear Viewing Tours
A personalized wilderness experience for photographers, families, and travelers seeking a deeper connection with the Tongass.
Booking early is essential, especially for mid-July through late August, when salmon activity, and bear activity, are at their best.
Where to Learn More About Bear Viewing in Juneau
Explore our in-depth guides and wildlife articles to plan the perfect experience:
- Pack Creek Bear Viewing – A Complete Guide
Everything you need to know about the ABC Islands’ most iconic bear viewing site. - Waterfall Creek Bear Viewing – A Complete Guide
Learn why this salmon waterfall system offers some of the most dramatic behavior of the season. - Private Bear Viewing Trips – Who They’re For, What They’re Like, and How They Work
A naturalist-written guide for travelers seeking a custom wilderness experience.
These resources help guests understand how bear behavior changes through the season, how tides and salmon influence the day, and why Juneau’s wilderness-only approach offers one of the most authentic brown bear experiences in Alaska.
FAQs: Juneau & Cruise-Port Bear Viewing
Is Juneau really the best cruise port for brown bears?
Yes. Juneau is the only Inside Passage port with direct floatplane access to high-density brown bear wilderness.
Do other ports have brown bears?
Some do, but not with comparable accessibility or quality of habitat for wilderness viewing.
Are bear sightings reliable?
During peak salmon periods (late July–late August), viewing is excellent. Bear viewing at Pack Creek on Admiralty Island is also great in May and June, truly unique in Southeast Alaska.
Is this experience crowded?
No. Small groups and remote settings keep encounters peaceful and ethical.
