No trip to Lake Clark National Park would be complete without seeing the park’s brown and black bears. The main spots for most people are Chinitna Bay, Crescent Lake and Silver Salmon Creek. At Chinitna Bay, there is a designated site for bear-viewing. Here you may see as many as twenty bears together. In other spots, try to stay with crowds or stay where tour guides congregate. Consistent viewing spots are safer for both bears and humans. Never get too close to bears as they are surprisingly fast and can kill a person very quickly. To get to the areas, you’ll need either an air taxi or boat as there are no roads. Guided tours are also available.

For an untouched wilderness experience, there’s nothing like hiking and camping in Lake Clark National Park. The park has no trails and you’re free to hike and roam anywhere that’s not closed to the public. In the wilderness you’ll find rivers, mountains, swamps and the park’s abundant wildlife. Black and brown bears both roam the park, so you’ll need to make sure you’re prepared for an encounter. Camping is permitted wherever possible. Because you’re likely to spend several days roaming the park, preparation is essential, including good maps, compasses or other navigation equipment. There are no services or amenities, so you’ll want to check weather conditions before beginning the journey. Guided trips are also available.

For a less rugged experience, try flightseeing over the park. Most of the tours leave from Anchorage for the approximately one hour and fifteen minute flight. From there, you can land and get an up-close view of brown bears and other park wildlife. Most of them also include lunch and other amenities. The total round-trip generally lasts about six hours, so it will take up most of the day. Flights only operate in the summer and can be costly. Check out our tours page for more information.