Anan Creek Bear Observatory is a premiere bear viewing site located in Southeast Alaska halfway between Ketchikan and Wrangell, Alaska. If you are in Ketchikan, you can take a four hour flightseeing tour that includes flight, hike, and bear viewing. If you are in Wrangell, there are boat, hike & bear viewing opportunities. The flight packages from Ketchikan include a 45 minute flight to Anan Creek Lagoon, an easy 15-20 minute hike along a well-groomed trail that includes boardwalks & stairs and 1.5 hour bear viewing at the observatory platform that includes a terrific photo/observation blind that gets you a bird's eye view of the bears' favorite fishing hole.

This is an animal buff & photographer's dream. During the peak of the salmon run (early-mid July to late August), you may see up to 20 bears feeding in the area. The area is home to both black and brown bears, very rare to see both feeding in the same location (the blackies stay far away from the brownies when they are in the vicinity).  Some other wildlife present are salmon, bald eagles, seals (in the lagoon), martens, gulls, and squirrels. Everything about this site is great; the rainforest, the lagoon, and the wildlife.

Access to this location is limited by the U.S. Forest Service and you must secure a permit from them (or your tour provider) to visit - they allow only 60 visitors per day. There are very helpful and informative naturalists on-site that will brief you on the bear activity, appropriate behavior (human & bear) & safety. Tours are available guided and unguided. The cost for these tours out of Ketchikan are over $400, but well worth it if you want to see a unique and beautiful area with abundant bear activity.