Neets Bay Bear Encounter by Land & Sea

4.9

14 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 comfortable walking up to 1/3 mile on sometimes uneven terrain.
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

14 total

John R

On Oct 2024

Excellent experience. We were transported from our ship to a dock where we took an hour boat ride across a lake to a fish hatchery (the salmon are coming upstream at this time of the year to lay eggs and the bears are aware of this and there to begin fatting for the winter). The bears are only looking for the eggs in the female because of the increase fat content. The gentleman on the boat was terrific in discussing the area. As we approached the hatchery our first bear was there on the shore to "greet us". As we walked up the dock we also saw a Bald Eagle sitting on top a post then flew off. We took a guided walk along a path to a stream where the black bear were gathering salmon. What a delight to see them catching their food. They are adorable. (You are at a safe distance) The guides were great with safety guidelines. It gave you the feeling you were one with the bears. We gained so much knowledge in regards to a bears life!!

Jeff F

On Sep 2024

This tour was amazing!! It is long but worth it. We saw so many different animals including several bald eagles and a black bear. The salmon running was also very cool. Our guides were great. This is the best tour out of Ketchikan.

Jennifer B

On Sep 2024

The highlight of our Canadian/Alaskan holiday - we were lucky enough to see 6 black bears - the group before us saw 1 - so we felt extra lucky. We even saw one bear catch a salmon. Such magnificent creatures. Was well run and professional- they cater for the cruise ships and I prefer to book my onshore excursions with smaller private companies instead of the companies used by the cruise lines

Timothy L

On Sep 2024

Awesome trip, we were able to see four bears. Two of the bears actually "argued" over a salmon. Cooper and all of the team made it a wonderful trip.

Markus B

On Sep 2024

Even though it was a rainy day, we had a blast! We saw several bears at the hatchery, one right by the bay and even some sea lions on the way. Staff was very knowledgeable. All in all a great excursion.

$399.00

Best Price Guarantee!

$399.00

Duration: 4.5-5 hours

Best Price Guarantee!

Duration: 4.5-5 hours

Select Date & Time *

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Adult (13+): $399.00

Child (5-12): $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!