Alaskan adventure. In the land of the bears.

Alaska This is bear country. The population is estimated at over 100.000 – that's 70 percent of the North American population of this awe-inspiring predator. Three species can be found in the northernmost US state:

• Polar bears – living exclusively in the pack ice zone in the north of the country,
• Black bears, the most common and smallest bear species, are found in almost all of Alaska's forests, and finally
• Brown bears, also known as grizzlies in North America. Ninety percent of all brown bears, approximately 40.000 individuals, live in Alaska. They are omnivores and can grow up to two and a half meters tall and weigh up to 650 kilograms.

On the plane for bear watching

Bears are intelligent animals that generally avoid humans. But they can become dangerous if you behave incorrectly or harass them. For example, mother bears with their cubs should only be observed from a safe distance – and when hiking, you should make your presence known with a bear bell on your backpack to avoid becoming the victim of a surprise encounter with a bear family.

The best solution for relaxed, safe bear watching and bear photography – whether in Alaska or other areas – is to participate in an excursion led by a professional guide.

When preparing for the "Adventure Alaska" project, we had decided on exactly that – however, not a guided hike through bear country, but a tour in a single-engine Cessna to a stretch of coastline that, based on experience, is frequented by brown bears in the spring.

During this time, the grizzlies feed on the lush grasses that grow everywhere in the vast marshes between the beach and the mountains. Mussels are also part of their diet. Of course, salmon are the bears' preferred prey, but they don't migrate to Alaska's rivers to spawn until later in the year, eagerly awaited by "Master Bear."

Among the numerous bear tour providers, we chose the family-run company J Bear Tours in Homer in the southwest of the Kenai Peninsula. This decision proved to be absolutely right, as our pilot Chris not only flew the small plane confidently and safely, but also proved himself to be an experienced guide during the excursions on land.

From Lake Clark to Katmai: On the trail of the bears

Peaceful scenes on the coast of Chinitna Bay

We and the three other passengers had booked a trip to a coastal section of Lake Clark National Park. To this day, this virtually uninhabited national park, with its active volcanoes, glaciers, deep forests, and hundreds of bears, remains largely untouched by tourism, partly because it is only accessible by boat or plane. During our flight from Homer over Cook Inlet to Chinitna Bay, located on the southern edge of Lake Clark National Park, the panorama of this wild landscape unfolded in a brief but unforgettable glimpse under perfect weather conditions.

After a safe landing on the beach and a short walk along the coast, the first brown bears appeared: a grizzly mother with her two cubs, probably only a few months old. The three of them ran onto a wooded cliff where the little ones frolicked, while the mother bear watched us with a benign gaze. Since there was no risk of aggression, we were able to calmly observe and photograph the peaceful scene.

We then continued to a hilltop where we had a clear view of a marshland where several brown bears were enjoying themselves against the impressive backdrop of the snow-covered coastal mountains.

Bonus: Flight to see the bears in Katmai National Park

“I don’t have another tour this evening – should we fly to Katmai?” Chris asked me unexpectedly as we were walking back to the plane. Katmai National Park – the fourth largest national park in the USA, virtually untouched wilderness, and home to a bear population of over 2.000 animals – was at least 100 kilometers from Chinitna Bay, with its nearest beach landing spot.

Naturally, none of us passengers objected to this generous "upgrade" from our pilot and guide, and so we landed at low tide on a beach in the northern coastal area of ​​Katmai, far from any civilization. We had just covered about a kilometer searching for bears when Chris spotted a mother bear with her three somewhat older cubs.

The grizzly bear family was completely focused on eating the lush green grass and showed no interest in us. This allowed us to approach the bear group very slowly, single file, behind our guide.

Meanwhile, a playful wrestling match had broken out between two of the three young bears: one of the "teenagers" repeatedly tried to push his sibling to the ground, gently bite his ear, or pull his fur. This behavior, so similar to that of humans, was amusing to observe and provided plenty of material for a series of photographs.

For safety, use a signal pistol when bear watching.

On our way back to the landing site, we came across a group of impressively large male grizzly bears. "I'm not sure if these bears will behave as peacefully as before," Chris warned us, and as a precaution, he pulled his flare gun from its holster, ready to stop any potential aggression with a shot into the air if necessary.

Fortunately, this proved unnecessary, as the bears were too preoccupied with themselves and took no discernible notice of us. We learned that Chris had only had to use his flare gun once in his career as a guide in Lake Clark and Katmai National Parks.

Late in the evening, we took off for our return flight to Homer – with unforgettable memories of our experiences in the land of the bears.

Advance notice: Exhibition “Adventure Alaska” at
Schleswig City Museum

An exhibition of photographs from the report will be on display from December 2, 2026 to January 31, 2027 at Schleswig City Museum as a project of Photo Clubs Schleswig e. v. be visible.
The exhibition is sponsored by CANUSA Tourism, the organizer of individual trips to Canada and the USA – our partner in the planning and execution of the company “Adventure Alaska”.