Juneau’s Best Bear Viewing: Inside Two Premier Wilderness Destinations
How We Choose the Ideal Bear Viewing Experience for Your Time in Juneau
Written by Wild Coast Excursions’ Alaskan Bear Viewing Guides
Juneau sits at the doorstep of two of the richest brown bear ecosystems on Earth: Admiralty Island and Chichagof Island, the “A” and “C” of the ABC Islands. Landscapes shaped by their intact old-growth forest, powerful salmon runs, and some of the highest coastal brown bear densities anywhere in Alaska.
Wild Coast Excursions visits these places by floatplane the most convenient way to reach the un-roaded forests, tidal meadows, estuaries, and mountain-fed salmon streams where bears thrive across the summer.
Many guests wonder whether their trip will visit Pack Creek or Waterfall Creek, or how to choose between them. The truth is that each destination shines at different times of season, under different tidal and salmon conditions, and both offer world-class wilderness bear viewing. This guide explains the strengths of each location and how we choose the ideal destination for the date and time of your booking.
Juneau’s Two Premier Bear Viewing Destinations
Wild Coast’s most popular bear viewing trips focus on two extraordinary fly-in wilderness areas, each with its own character, landscape, and seasonal rhythm. These are the premier brown bear viewing sites in Alaska’s Inside Passage and make up the heart of Juneau’s bear country.
Pack Creek (Admiralty Island)
Kootznoowoo Wilderness / Admiralty Island National Monument
- Wide tidal flats, sedge meadows, and a salmon-fed creek
- Outstanding early-season sedge grazing (May–June)
- Excellent open sightlines for observing natural behavior
- Rich natural-history context and interpretive depth
- Diverse wildlife: brown bears, Sitka black-tailed deer, mink, eagles
- Highly regulated, permit-based access (max 24 people/day)
- Strong viewing from May to September, with a brief mid-summer lull
Pack Creek offers one of Alaska’s classic bear viewing landscapes: calm meadows, open estuaries, tidal influence, and broad visibility. Bears forage, graze, dig for clams, travel the spit, and later in summer move through the estuary as salmon arrive. This is world-class wilderness bear viewing in a protected, intact ecosystem.
Waterfall Creek (Chichagof Island)
Remote salmon and waterfall system / peak late July to early September
- Dynamic, up-close salmon-fishing behavior
- Bears chasing, snorkeling, and striking fish,
- Multiple bears competing for position and social hierarchy
- High-action, energetic photography opportunities
- Excellent visibility during late-season salmon pulses
- Dense concentration of bears in late July–early September
Waterfall Creek showcases the drama of late-summer brown bear behavior: waterfalls, fast movement, splashing, and powerful interactions. It is one of the most exciting brown bear fishing sites in Alaska.
How We Select the Ideal Destination for Your Trip
These wilderness areas are living systems. Tides rise and fall, salmon arrive in pulses, and bears shift behavior weekly and even daily. Because of this dynamism, the “best” destination depends on real conditions.
Here’s how we decide:
1. Seasonal Timing
- May–June: Pack Creek is uniquely reliable during sedge grazing and early summer behavior.
- Late July–Late August: Waterfall Creek experiences peak salmon fishing activity. Pack Creek activity also peaks!
- Late August–September: Both locations can be excellent depending on tides, weather, and salmon pulses.
2. Tide Height & Timing
Tides influence:
- where bears can forage
- visibility of channels and meadows
- bear movement patterns
- floatplane landing windows
The timing of the tide can make one destination significantly stronger (or not possible) on a given day.
3. Salmon Movement
Pink, sockeye, chum, and coho salmon arrive in pulses throughout summer. These pulses affect:
- bear density
- fishing intensity
- movement patterns
- how long bears stay at key feeding features
Salmon timing alone often determines the best site for that day. Each creek is home to different species.
4. Permit Allocation
Pack Creek operates under strict U.S. Forest Service limits.
We schedule our seasonal allocation to maximize:
- wildlife conditions
- safety
- ecological integrity
- group experience quality
- maximizing the length of our world-class bear viewing season
5. Weather & Floatplane Considerations
Cloud ceilings, wind, and visibility can influence which site is the safer or more reliable aviation choice.
Some landing areas perform better in specific weather patterns. We may pivot from one destination to the other based on weather. We are extremely fortunate that our permits allow us to offer this flexibility.
6. Guest Type
When recommending one of these destinations, especially for private groups, we consider:
- photography goals
- desired length of trip
- comfort with terrain
- preference for calm vs high-action viewing
- mobility and group style
When two destinations are available on a given date, we help you understand which site will offer the strongest wildlife conditions and best match your goals. For group trips, we will often have pre-selected a destination for the day.
Private Trips: How We Choose the Best Location
Private trips offer the highest level of flexibility.
Because the entire outing is tailored to one group, we can refine the day around the group’s availability in relation to:
- the strongest tide window
- salmon timing
- weather patterns
- safety factors
- photography needs
For private trips, we provide a destination recommendation based on the best wildlife conditions for that date, always in collaboration with your group.
When Each Destination Shines
Pack Creek and Waterfall Creek follow different seasonal patterns and offer different food for bears. Understanding these rhythms helps guests appreciate why one destination might be stronger than the other on any given week (or afternoon), and why Juneau offers such reliable brown bear viewing across the entire summer.
Pack Creek (Admiralty Island): Best in Early Summer, Strong All Season
May–June:
- Peak sedge grazing
- Highly visible foraging behavior
- Bears interacting in open meadows
- The only reliable brown bear viewing opportunity in Alaska’s Inside Passage during early summer
Late June-Mid July:
- Mid-summer lull as bears pursue diverse foods in the forest making them difficult to view and viewing unreliable
Late July:
- Transition to salmon-focused movement along the creek
- Bears using the estuary and forest edges
August–September:
- Consistent salmon presence
- Excellent natural-history viewing with diverse activity
- More bears concentrating along the creek and meadows
Pack Creek is the premier early-season destination, with strong viewing throughout summer and excellent interpretive opportunities. Pack Creek’s wilderness character as well as bear viewing and conservation history is unmatched.
Waterfall Creek (Chichagof Island) – Best Late July through Early September
Mid to Late July:
- First strong pulses of salmon
- Bears begin concentrating at the waterfall
August–Early September:
- Peak viewing activity
- Most dramatic fishing behavior of the season
- Multiple bears interacting in a compact area
Mid-September:
- Viewing remains strong as salmon continue to pulse
- Bears of all ages pick through the last of the coho salmon
Waterfall Creek is the premier peak-season destination, delivering high-action behavior and dense brown bear concentrations.
How to Experience These Destinations from Juneau
All bear viewing trips to Pack Creek and Waterfall Creek begin with a floatplane flight from Juneau into the heart of the ABC Islands and Tongass National Forest. Each destination has its own dedicated trip page on our website, with availability and seasonal guidance built into the calendar so travelers choose the best option for their timing.
Explore These Two Wilderness Destinations
Pack Creek Bear Viewing — Admiralty Island
Protected, permit-managed, early-season strength, and one of Alaska’s most iconic brown bear viewing sites.
Waterfall Creek Bear Viewing — Chichagof Island
Peak-season salmon falls, concentrated action, and dynamic behavior.
Private Bear Viewing Trips in Juneau
For private groups and photographers, we select the ideal destination based on season, tides, and conditions to give you the best possible bear viewing day.
Learn More About Bear Viewing in Juneau
For travelers planning a deeper Alaska experience, these guides offer additional context on the season, the wildlife, and the landscapes around Juneau:
- Why Go Bear Viewing in Juneau?
- Pack Creek Bear Viewing — A Complete Guide for 2026
- Waterfall Creek Bear Viewing — A Complete Guide for 2026
- Private Tours in Juneau – Your Custom Bear Viewing Adventure
Book Your Bear Viewing Trip
Wild Coast Excursions is Juneau’s bear viewing specialist, operating small-group and private trips into the premier brown bear habitats of Admiralty and Chichagof Islands. Summer availability—especially July through late August—fills early.
Reserve your date:
Book Now
What a Typical Fly-In Bear Viewing Day Looks Like (Both Sites)
The Floatplane Flight
A 25–30 minute flight from Juneau into true wilderness, old-growth rainforest, tidal flats, salmon streams, and rugged coastline.
The Landing
We touch down on water, no docks, no roads, no crowds. Just wilderness.
The Experience
Depending on timing and conditions, guests may observe:
- bears fishing
- bears grazing sedges (rich beach plants)
- cubs learning from adults
- salmon jumping
- eagles perched or diving
- ravens and mink foraging
- tides reshaping the landscape throughout the day
Guide Interpretation
Throughout the day, your guide interprets:
- bear behavior and body language
- bear histories (when known)
- spacing and safety
- ecology of the Tongass
- seasonal changes
- the cultural and natural history of the area
Return Flight
We depart as the tide shifts again, often with bears still visible from the floatplane windows.
Why Both Destinations Are Worth Visiting Over Multiple Days
Pack Creek reveals the broad rhythms and calm patterns of tidal brown bear habitat. Its location in the heart of Admiralty Island, is in turn the heart of the Tongass National Forest and our rainforest ecosystem. As part of the Kootznoowoo Wilderness and Admiralty Island National Monument, it has unmatched wilderness character.
Waterfall Creek reveals the intensity and drama of peak-season fishing behavior. The concentration of bears, and up-close fishing action at the base of the falls is unmatched among wilderness areas of Alaska’s Inside Passage.
Together, they tell the full story of coastal brown bears in the ABC Islands.
Many returning guests love to experience both.
Key Facts
- Destinations: Pack Creek (Admiralty Island) & Waterfall Creek (Chichagof Island)
- Access: Floatplane only
- Season: Pack Creek strong May–early Sept; Waterfall Creek peak late July–early Sept
- Wildlife: Coastal brown bears, salmon, eagles, mink, ravens
- Style: Small-group, naturalist-led, low-impact
- Decision Factors: Tides, salmon timing, weather, season, Pack Creek permits
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I choose between Pack Creek and Waterfall Creek?
Group trips are typically sold by destination. Destinations are offered only when season and conditions are optimal. When more than one option is available, we help you understand which site offers the best wildlife viewing conditions for your date and time.
Which site has more bears?
Admiralty Island has the highest density of brown bears that’s been measured. Population studies on Chichagof Island used different methods, but it is widely believed that both islands share in their unique density of coastal brown bears.
The number of bears gathered at each site varies by week, tide cycle, and salmon movement. Both offer exceptional brown bear densities.
Which destination is best for photography?
Waterfall Creek offers up-close high-action salmon fishing; Pack Creek offers wide compositions, an unmatched wilderness backdrop, and a rich natural-history story.
Is Pack Creek open all season?
Pack Creek trips operate from May–September with regulated access and excellent early-season viewing. Please note we do not visit Pack Creek in late June or early July when viewing is unreliable because bears are dispersed through the forest.
Are both destinations fly-in only?
Yes. From Juneau, both are accessible primarily by floatplane.
