The Best Places to See Bears Catching Salmon in Alaska

Alaska is famous for its abundant wildlife, and few sights capture the essence of the Alaskan wilderness as perfectly as bears catching salmon. During the summer salmon runs, bears across Alaska gather along rivers and streams to feast on the nutritious pink, chum, and sockeye salmon making their annual spawning journey. Witnessing the spectacle of bears snatching leaping salmon straight from the water with stunning speed and efficiency is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

In this article, we will highlight the prime locations in Alaska to observe bears fishing for salmon Whether you want to photograph bears in action from a safe viewing platform or experience the heart-pounding excitement of watching bears fish from a boat, there is a destination perfect for your Alaskan bear viewing adventure.

Brooks Camp in Katmai National Park

The most famous bear viewing destination in Alaska, if not the world, Brooks Camp in Katmai National Park offers phenomenal opportunities to watch bears catch salmon. Located about 290 miles southwest of Anchorage, Brooks Camp sits along Brooks River, where bears gather in huge numbers during the summer salmon runs.

In July, when thousands of sockeye salmon are migrating upstream, it’s common to see over 40 bears fishing along the river banks and wading out into the rapids. The famous Brooks Falls is a natural bottleneck in the river where bears wait to ambush leaping salmon. Visitors can safely watch the action from raised bear viewing platforms.

In September, bears return to feast on the spawned-out salmon carcasses littering the river. Staying at the Brooks Lodge provides front-row seats to the action, but day trips by floatplane from Anchorage, Homer, and King Salmon are also possible. Just remember July offers the most bears, but September allows for up-close viewing opportunities

Pack Creek on Admiralty Island

Home to one of the planet’s highest brown bear concentrations, Admiralty Island near Juneau is another top bear viewing destination. Pack Creek, accessible via floatplane from Juneau, is a remarkable place to watch bears catch salmon along a small, winding stream.

Visits during August and September allow you to see bears of all ages and colors fishing for pink and chum salmon. Solo bears, females with spring cubs, and large males all frequent Pack Creek. The Alaska Department of Fish & Game issues just 12 permits per day, so you are guaranteed an intimate bear viewing experience.

Pack Creek is also steeped in Tlingit cultural tradition with evidence of over 4,000 years of salmon fishing at this spot. Overall it’s one of the most reliable places for close-range bear viewing opportunities.

McNeil River State Game Sanctuary

Each summer, McNeil River State Game Sanctuary on the Alaska Peninsula hosts the world’s largest congregation of brown bears, with up to 144 individual bears observed. Only 10 visitors per day are allowed into the sanctuary via permit lottery, resulting in phenomenal bear viewing in a pristine wild setting.

From late June through August, mature bears, subadults, and females with cubs all gather at McNeil Falls and Mikfik Creek to feast on migrating sockeye salmon. Expect to see bears capturing salmon at an astounding rate, with large males easily snagging over 30 fish in a single day. It’s an unforgettable experience, but the limited entry means securing a permit takes planning and luck.

Anan Creek near Wrangell

What makes Anan Creek special is the chance to see both black and brown bears fishing for salmon together. Located on the mainland near the town of Wrangell, Anan Creek is accessible via a short boat ride or floatplane flight.

A raised viewing platform allows you to safely watch bears catching leaping pink salmon near a small waterfall. Peak viewing is late July through August. Around 30-40 bears frequent the creek, with black bears usually outnumbering the shyer brown bears. Anan Creek offers great bear photo opportunities in good lighting.

Fish Creek near Hyder

Fish Creek is located right along the Alaska-Canada border near the tiny town of Hyder. An elevated boardwalk lets visitors safely watch bears catch chum and pink salmon from late July through September. This is one of the few prime bear viewing spots accessible by road, making it a popular trip for RVers or those without planes.

Solo black bears are most common, but brown bears also frequent Fish Creek thanks to its steady salmon runs. You can get remarkably close to the bears here, but rangers patrol to ensure proper etiquette. The creek itself almost looks artificially enhanced for bear viewing, with crystal clear water and gently sloping banks ideal for watching bears fish.

Geographic Harbor in Katmai National Park

Within Katmai National Park near the famous Brooks Camp, Geographic Harbor offers a coastal bear viewing experience. Throughout July and August, brown bears fish for salmon along the beaches and tidal flats of this protected bay. Accessible only by boat or floatplane, Geographic Harbor offers a more immersive bear viewing adventure compared to the platforms of Brooks Camp.

Watching bears expertly fish the river mouths and salmon streams flowing into the harbor with the volcanic Alaska Peninsula as a backdrop is simply incredible. Geographic Harbor sees fewer bears than Brooks Camp, but they often exhibit more natural behaviors due to less human exposure. For the best access, visit as part of a multi-day kayaking or camping trip departing from Homer.

O’Malley River on Kodiak Island

The remote O’Malley River winds through the pristine Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge, home to the famous Kodiak brown bear. Visiting the O’Malley between July and September via guided tour offers exceptional stream fishing bear viewing opportunities. This is a wild, undeveloped area with no facilities – just untouched Alaskan wilderness.

Kodiak bears grow to enormous sizes thanks to the rich salmon resources. On the O’Malley River, these mammoth bears capture sockeye salmon with skilled precision. Access involves chartered floatplanes or boats from Kodiak, ensuring limited visitors and minimal bear disturbance. It’s an iconic Alaskan bear viewing experience, but requires time and planning due to the remoteness.

Wolverine Creek near Lake Clark National Park

Accessible via a quick floatplane flight from Anchorage or Homer, Wolverine Creek is a popular spot to watch bears fish for sockeye salmon from small boats on the water. Wolverine Creek lacks formal viewing platforms or trails – instead visitors float quietly nearby in rafts and kayaks as bears stand knee-deep in the creek snatching passing salmon.

Wolverine Creek stays relatively hidden compared to famous bear viewing sites, but the fishing opportunities are just as remarkable from mid-June through August. The surrounding scenery is stunning as well, with the Alaska Range rising in the distance. Day trips work well, but you can also camp along the creek for multi-day bear viewing. Just be sure to practice proper bear safety protocols.

Watching bears catch salmon along Alaska’s pristine rivers and streams is an unmatched wildlife viewing experience. Thanks to Alaska’s healthy salmon runs, bears time their feeding patterns to take advantage of this nutritious seasonal feast. By visiting any of the prime bear viewing destinations in Alaska, you are guaranteed to make lifelong memories watching these powerful predators in their element exhibiting impressive fishing skills honed over countless generations.

Bears in Alaska catch salmon primarily during the summer months, with the peak season being from mid-July to early September. This is when the salmon runs are at their fullest as the fish return to their spawning grounds.