Ketchikan to see bears

[M&T]

Do you have to take a tour to see bears? When do they appear? Late July? Thanks .

[Budget Queen]

Yes, tours are "necessary" out of Ketchikan. Tours start early July and go through the begining of Sept.

[M&T]

Is Ketchikan the best port to view bears? I was hoping there would be a salmon run somewhere and viewing was possible without a tour. I didn't want to pay $200-300 for the flight tour. Thanks. Marlyne

[Budget Queen]

Is Ketchikan the best port to view bears? I was hoping there would be a salmon run somewhere and viewing was possible without a tour. I didn't want to pay $200-300 for the flight tour. Thanks. Marlyne

 

Interior Alaska Denali park is the bargain of wildlife "tours".

 

IF you are only Inside Passage, then the fly ins are "necessary" IF you want to see bears, either out of Ketchikan or Juneau, unless you are going to Hoonah or Sitka?

[M&T]

We did see bear in Denali when we were there in May 2008. Most were too far away to see very well, but one came sauntering right by our bus. It was exciting. There is a tour group called Alaskacanopy.com that offers a tour called "Bear Country & Wildlife Expedition" which takes people eight miles out of Ketchikan to a rainforest sancturary to see black bears. Anyone heard of this? Thanks. Marlyne

[bearbait]

There is a tour group called Alaskacanopy.com that offers a tour called "Bear Country & Wildlife Expedition" which takes people eight miles out of Ketchikan to a rainforest sancturary to see black bears. Anyone heard of this? Thanks. Marlyne

 

Heard of them. Used to work for them. Good luck.

[Budget Queen]

Heard of them. Used to work for them. Good luck.

 

Bearbait- you are the expert here. :) I have never heard of them, so, can we assume they have a very low sighting stat, like the other ground access "tours"?

[M&T]

It sounds that if we want to see bears we will have to spend the extra money to do it right. Thanks again. Marlyne