Coastal Grizzly Bears of Lake Clark
Take a bush flight to the seldom visited Lake Clark National Park to walk amongst Alaska brown bears in the wild. Enjoy this unique experience that begins with a magnificent bush plane flight along the bases of active steaming volcanoes of the Alaska Peninsula and ends with a landing on the beach in front of the lodge. Spend three days walking amongst these giants of the bear world as they go about their daily lives of eating, playing, and sleeping.
Take home countless memories and photographs under the expert guidance of Alaska resident and naturalist, Bill Mohrwinkel.
Questions? Contact Us
Tour Highlights
Itinerary Summary
| Description | Lodge | Meals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 22 | Arrive in Anchorage, Overnight at local hotel dinner on your own many good restaurants within walking distance. | Susitna Place B&B or equivalent, Anchorage | |
| Jun 23 | 9:00am, fly to Silver Salmon Creek, orientation and settle in with morning, afternoon, and evening bear viewing/photography | Silver Salmon Creek Lodge | B, L, D |
| Jun 24 | Early morning for those who want to photograph/view bears before breakfast. Half day of bear viewing and half day boat trip to “Puffin Island” (weather permitting) for puffin and other bird viewing/photography | Silver Salmon Creek Lodge | B, L,D |
| Jun 25 | Early morning for those who want to photograph/view bears before breakfast. Half day of bear viewing and half day of exploration on the endless beaches of Cook Inlet, looking for bears and other wildlife. If weather was inclement the previous day this is another opportunity for a trip to “Puffin Island” for puffin and other bird viewing/photography | Silver Salmon Creek Lodge | B, L, D |
| Jun 26 | Early morning for those who want one last outing with the bears before breakfast. After breakfast pack up and prepare for one-hour flight back to Anchorage (mid-morning) | B | |
| June 26 | Arrive back in Anchorage mid-day. Transfer to your overnight accommodations in Anchorage or Anchorage International Airport for flights home |
Jun 22: Arrive in Anchorage, Alaska
Arrive in Anchorage, Alaska from Denali National Park after your stay in Kantishna.
Jun 23–25: Silver Salmon Creek Lodge for Brown Bears and other wildlife
From Anchorage you will take a one-hour flight to Silver Salmon Creek Lodge, situated on the coast of Cook Inlet within Lake Clark National Park. The scenic, low-level flight will end with a beach or lagoon landing for a unique Alaska experience. Silver Salmon Creek Lodge is on 40 acres of private land within the coastal region of the expansive park, offering views of the coast and towering volcanic peaks.
The opportunity to observe concentrations of coastal brown bears in their natural habitat is the primary attraction of this remote wilderness area. Due to their high-protein salmon diet, coastal brown bears are often significantly larger than their cousins found in the interior of Alaska (both are subspecies of brown bear, Ursus arctos). Most of the time spent here will be observing and photographing the phenomenal bear activity, sometimes even from the deck of your cabin. You will spend time with mothers with cubs as well as larger male bears as they dig for clams at low tide and forage for grass in the meadows. Patches of lupine, wild geranium, and other wildflowers add a splash of color to your photos. As you move into the habitat of the bear, you may witness seldom-seen behaviors, such as courting, mating, and nursing. Keep your eye out for wolves, moose and other wildlife that inhabit the park as well.
Birding around Silver Salmon Creek Lodge is excellent with an abundance of shorebirds, songbirds, and birds of prey, such as peregrine falcons and northern harriers. Small islands just off the coast host nesting pelagic birds. Horned and tufted puffins, parakeet auklets, murres, eiders, and more are found here during the short Alaskan summer. If time and weather permits, you will make a half day boat voyage to “Bird Island,” a major nesting ground for horned and tufted puffins and common murres with excellent photography opportunities. If you wish to go on a half day halibut fishing charter this can be arranged for a minimum of two people (max 6) for an extra cost.
Jun 26: Wildlife viewing and scenic flight to Anchorage.
You will have the morning for one last bear viewing opportunity and to take in the wildlife and scenery around Silver Salmon Creek before departing for the flight back to Anchorage. Arrival in Anchorage will be mid-day, in time for you to catch flights home from Anchorage International Airport later this afternoon. You may also choose to spend one last night in Alaska in Anchorage before flying home on June 27. When making return flights, please do not schedule departures before 5 pm to allow time for any possible weather delays.
Jun 27: Fly home
Cost:
Trip Cost, double occupancy: $4,500
Single Supplement (Guaranteed single room): $2240
Costs are per person, double occupancy, no hidden costs.
We reserve the right to charge for cost increases that occur between when we set tour prices and the date of travel, for example, changes due to the cost of lodging and transportation. If you are a single traveler and you are willing to have a roommate, we will find a roommate for you, and if we cannot, we will not charge you a single supplement fee. Single rooms are subject to availability and cannot be guaranteed throughout the trip.
Payment, Reservation & Cancellations:
Payments will be due based on the schedule below. All reservations require a deposit to confirm reservation of your space. For reservations made after a due date, all past payments will be due with registration. By sending your initial deposit, you agree to accept our payment schedule and cancellation policy as a contract. If payments are still outstanding two weeks after the due date, your space may be forfeited.
- Deposit, due now to reserve your space: $500
- Second payment, March 1, 2021: $2,000
- Final payment, May 1, 2021: Remaining Balance
Cancellations
Until the Final Payment due date, deposits are refundable except for a cancellation fee of $400 per person, which can be applied toward another tour if reserved within six months of the cancelled trip’s departure date. Cancellations are non-transferrable. No refunds are given after the Final Payment due date.
Included:
- All activities, leaders, transport, park entry, taxes and user fees, landing fees and permits unless described as optional.
- Accommodations for the nights of June 23 through June 25.
- Meals from breakfast on June 23 through breakfast on June 26.
- Round-trip flights between Anchorage and Silver Salmon Creek Lodge.
- Trip Materials – information about flights, packing, entry and departure requirements, airport transfers, gratuities, etc.
Not Included:
- Airfare from your home to Alaska, airport and departure taxes, and excess baggage fees
- Airport transfers in Anchorage.
- Gratuities for the guide and staff at Silver Salmon Creek Lodge: tipping is, of course, discretionary. It is customary to tip about $60–$70 per participant for our bear guide and about $50–$60 per participant to be split among the lodge staff.
- Additional night(s) and meals in Anchorage or Silver Salmon Creek Lodge if weather delays the flight.
- Emergency medical and evacuation insurance and trip cancellation insurance.
Items of a personal nature such as laundry, telephone calls, medical costs or hospitalization, room service, alcoholic and other beverages, items not on the regular menu, etc. If you have special dietary needs, please indicate them on your Reservation/Release Form.
Bill Mohrwinkel
Bill has lived and guided in Alaska for 25 years. He has extensive experience throughout Alaska including being part owner of a guiding business in the Arctic for 10 years,…
