Alaska Bear Adventure By Floatplane

Duration: 3 1/4 hours

Tour Code: ktn-037

Fly into the nearby wilderness to a special viewing platform for a close-up look at black bears as they catch and then feed on spawning salmon.

Your adventure begins at Ketchikan's waterfront where you will board a floatplane equipped with digital sound systems, intercoms and noise canceling headsets for each individual passenger. Once you are in the air, you'll fly over the vast backcountry for approximately twenty-five minutes, gazing down upon historic homesteads, mountains blanketed with dense forests, pristine lakes and Alaska's fabled Inside Passage, a waterway shaped by massive glaciers.

Upon landing at your remote location, an Alaskan naturalist will accompany you on a short drive to a trailhead in the forest. A brief hike of approximately a half-mile brings you to a viewing platform that overlooks a stream brimming with salmon. While wildlife sightings cannot be guaranteed, Black bears are usually gathered around the rapids feeding on the salmon as they swim upstream. Several species of salmon travel through these waters, including chum, pink and coho salmon. Each fish can produce as many as 4,500 eggs, if it can make it farther upstream to spawn.

That's where the bears come in. They know this is a prime location for grabbing the salmon, often with their open mouths, as the fish unknowingly leap into the air. The suspense is palpable; as some salmon make it past the gauntlet of bears and others become dinner.

Of course, bear and salmon aren't the only creatures in this rugged wilderness. You may also see Sitka black-tailed deer, bald eagles, mink and martens. Ample time will be provided to observe the wildlife activity and your guide will also identify a variety of vegetation and wildlife found in this pristine rain-forest environment. Following your viewing time, you will retrace your route and return to the pier Ketchikan.

Please note: The hiking on this tour is considered moderate to strenuous and includes natural and uneven surfaces. This tour is not available to wheelchair guests or those with mobility concerns. All participants must be able to keep pace and stay with the group at all times. Warm, layered clothing to include a waterproof outer layer and sturdy walking shoes are recommended. Large backpacks or other carry-on items are not permitted onboard the aircraft; however, complimentary storage is available. THERE IS NO FOOD ALLOWED AT ANY POINT ON THIS EXCURSION.