Neets Bay Bear Encounter by Land & Sea

4.9

20 reviews

Excursion Overview

A bear watching excursion you won't want to miss at Neets Bay Observatory!

Southeast Alaska's pristine wilderness makes for an enchanting day trip in Ketchikan. The day begins with a fully narrated motor coach ride from downtown Ketchikan. Your guide will share the unique history of this special part of the world.

Arrive at Clover Pass Resort where your 36-passenger boat charter awaits. Your experienced Captain and crew will set to the sea for an hour-long adventure toward Neets Bay Bear Observatory. This expansive wilderness area is limited to a small number of visitors each year and you will have the golden ticket. The sights and sounds of the Tongass National Forest will leave you breathless. Photo opportunities will be ever-present as you sail toward Neets Bay. Stay alert to the abundant Alaskan wildlife throughout the journey. You may see whales, eagles, sea lions, and more.

Southeast Alaska is home to hundreds of bears, and they stake their claim near salmon spawning streams that feed into the Pacific Ocean. Upon arrival at Neets Bay, near the base of the stream, you will be debriefed on the habitat you are about to explore and the bears you will hopefully be observing. Bear and Wildlife sightings are never guaranteed as this excursion takes place in the wild, bears are not captive for viewing Enjoy the serenity of this lush forest and the chance to see smaller woodland creatures as you walk along a well-maintained forest trail while making your way to the viewing platform.

Your guides will be on hand to answer all your questions about these majestic mammals and to share their knowledge of the surrounding forest and the importance of the hatcheries to enhance salmon production in Southeast Alaska. Photography is a must as you will not want to forget a single moment of this experience as you co-exist with these incredible creatures within their own habitat. You may see them teaching their young to fish or relaxing after a big meal of fresh salmon, but nothing will compare to simply being near these beautiful creatures in the wild.

PLEASE NOTE: THIS EXCURSION OPERATES JULY-EARLY OCTOBER ONLY.

For groups larger than 6, please contact us by email, phone, or chat to check availability—we may be able to accommodate additional guests.

Things You Need to Know

Inclusions:

Roundtrip transportation
Narrated boat adventure
Guided visit at Neets Bay Observatory with a local naturalist
Bottled water and light snack

Requirements:

Guests must be able to walk up to 3/4 of a mile on forest floor, incline ramps and boat deck
Children under the age of 5 are strongly advised against participating in this tour due to its duration and the need for a quiet environment to avoid scaring the bears

Duration: 4.5-5 hours (Roundtrip from cruise ship terminal.)

15-30 minutes (dependent on ship location) - coach to Clover Pass Resort
15 minutes - guests board the boat
1 hour and 5 minutes - fully narrated boat excursion en route to Neets Bay
20 minutes - fully guided rainforest walk
45 minutes - Neets Bay Bear Observatory
20 minutes - fully guided rainforest walk
1 hour and 5 minutes: boat returns to Clover Pass
15 minutes: board coach, shopping time available
15-30 minutes (depending on ship location) - coach returns to the ship

Meeting Instructions:

This tour meets at the Ketchikan Visitor Center by the bronze statue. Fully detailed instructions are included on your finalized ticket vouchers. Guests docking at Ward Cove will be picked up and returned to the Ward Cove welcome center.

ADA Accessibility of Tour:

This tour is not wheelchair or limited mobility accessible.

Refund Policy:

You may cancel for any reason up to seven (7) days prior to the date of the tour for a full refund.
Please see our Refund Policy Page for complete details.

Frequently Asked Questions

Children under the age of 5 are strongly advised against participating in this tour due to its duration and the need for a quiet environment to avoid scaring the bears.

The boat charter is a 36-passenger vessel.

The observatory is uniquely designed to allow guests to see bears from a safe enclosure. Guests are at a safe distance but please note, that bear and wildlife sightings are never guaranteed. This excursion takes place in the wild, bears are not captive for viewing.

If a guest doesn't see a single bear, the local tour provider will notify Alaska Shore Excursions to issue a seventy-five dollar refund per adult passenger and a fifty dollar refund per child.

Closed-toed, comfortable walking shoes are recommended. Dress weather-appropriate - layers, jacket, etc.

Bottled water and a light snack are available.

There are bathrooms available at the beginning of the tour, on the boat, and also at Neets Bay.

Guest Reviews

4.9

20 total

Brad S

On Aug 2025

What an experience. My wife and I took a 14 day Northbound/Southbound Alaska cruise and decided that this excursion would be our only one for the 14 days and all the ports we visited. We had done a previous Alaskan Cruise many years ago and did a variety of all the popular excursions so we considered this one our most desired. Well it lived up to our expectations and beyond. The transportation via Shuttles and Boat Ride were great and timely. The scenery during the boat t ride to the Salmon Hatchery was fabulous and when we made the short walk to the viewing areas we were welcome twice by Black Bears doing the part in nature and consuming the plentiful salmon. We were so close the experience was fantastic. I took a large volume of pictures and videos and will be using them in a travel video I will be compiling for our overall 14 Day Alaska Cruise! Thank you to all the Alaska Shore Excursion Team!

Cid R

On Aug 2025

Guide was incredibly knowledgeable of the area and shared stories of the history of Ketchikan. Headphones were provided to help with hearing during the tour and boat was equipped with comfortable seating. Water was a little choppy but otherwise a very pleasant ride. The hike to the bear viewing platform was easy and we were lucky enough to see two bears during the tour hunting for fish.

Paul E P

On Aug 2025

^ 6 Bears, WOW! We totally enjoyed this excursion starting with the boat ride. The information and stories told were great. I believe Nathan was his name and he kept us entertained and engaged on the ride to the bear encounter. Land and sea were both beautiful. We were not guaranteed to see a bear so the fact that we got to see this many moving in and out to catch fish was truly amazing, I highly recommend this tour!!!

Akaash M

On Aug 2025

It was like a national geographic moment watching the bears catch salmon!

BARBARA S

On Aug 2025

This excursion was one of the highlights of our entire trip. The boat team were all wonderful and welcoming. The boat ride was spectacular, quiet, no other boats around. We saw sea lions sunning on the rocks and eagles. The hatchery and rain forest -amazing! Got to the creek to find 2 bears pulling salmon out of the water! Wonderful, unforgettable experience! We also loved they only take small groups in at a time.

$399.00

Best Price Guarantee!

$399.00

Duration: 4.5-5 hours

Best Price Guarantee!

Duration: 4.5-5 hours

Select Date & Time *

Number of Passengers *

Adult (12+): $399.00

Child (5-11): $299.00

Neets Bay Bear Encounter by Land & Sea

Excursion Overview

A bear watching excursion you won't want to miss at Neets Bay Observatory!