Our boat, The Alaskan Gamefisher, is undergoing extensive renovations.
The cabin is being expanded to add an enclosed bathroom and provide a little extra space for seating.
We are also adding custom-built ladders on both the bow and the stern, giving us three options for getting on and off the boat when exploring the beaches and tide flats of the remote western Cook Inlet in Lake Clark National Park.
We strive to make our trips as comfortable as possible while offering the best experience. These upgrades will allow us to access the entire coastline of Lake Clark National Park at any stage of the tide!
We look forward to the 2025 season and putting you on plenty of bears!
Captain Mel Erickson
Bear Viewing in Alaska, your trusted gateway to unforgettable wildlife adventures. Our expertise lies in crafting captivating tours that present an unparalleled chance to observe the majestic Alaskan brown bears in their native habitat. Whether you are a professional or amateur photographer, we will get you amazing images. Whether you’re an adrenaline junkie, a devotee of nature, or an individual in pursuit of a singular, unforgettable encounter, our expeditions pledge an adventure filled with amazement and marvel amidst the untouched splendor of Alaska’s wild expanses.
Interested in Bear Viewing tours in Alaska? Captain Mel Erickson is a renowned Bear Viewing Guide with a commercial operator permit from the National Park Service, that offers you the best bear watching trips. When you plan a once in a lifetime trip to Alaska. Chinitna Bay Bear Tours will take you by boat, or plane to the remote pristine wilderness of Lake Clark National Park.
We are the first and only bear viewing charter service that accesses Chinitna Bay and Silver Salmon Creek via boat 7 days a week departing daily at 7:30 am. Our boat specifically designed to get into very shallow water and can access the bear coast at any stage of Cook Inlet’s extreme tides. The boat experience and skills of the captain allows us to access locations along the coast at any stage of tide in any weather conditions that no other boats can get into.
The most Challenging part of doing bear viewing trips by boat in a remote wilderness with no docks is getting the people off and on the boat and to the shoreline in extreme tides, shallow water, surf, mudflats & not letting the boat get stuck on the tide flats as the tide recedes, or the boat getting washed up high on the beach at high tide when the surf is large.
Captain Mel Erickson, with 40 years of experience, & knowledge navigating cook Inlets west side along with a custom built boat for this use has mastered the skills, & techniques to safely accomplish transferring people to and from the boat to the shore at any stage of the tide, and almost any surf and sea conditions also keeping you dry, comfortable, & warm.
Cook Inlets remote west side where the coastline of Lake Clark National park meets the sea is more often reached by aircraft ,& rarely accessed by boat. Cook Inlet has the second largest tides in the world with water levels rising and dropping by up to 28 feet in a 6 hour timeframe, this can reach 4-6 feet of water level change per hour. Bay’s, cove’s and coastline can go completely dry during this period at low tide then fill back up at high tide.
This extreme tidal movement can create many challenges with tide rips, rough water when wind runs against these strong tidal currents, rocks, quicksand like mud, fog, & more. If not careful the boat could go dry until the next tide several hours later. This is why I was the only boat offering bear trips for many years and still currently just a few boats doing these trips and most can only access the beach at high tide because their boats are to big with deep V’ hulls, and not built to go into shallow bays at low tide.
I’ve seen others try this for a year or two and then give up due to these challenges, and I have witnessed some crazy scenes with inexperienced captains with improper boats struggling to reach shore with people falling down , getting wet, muddy with some taking shoes and socks off to wade to shore. The ability to access the park at low tide, & walk out on tide flats when the bears are out digging clams extremely improves your bear viewing experience with multiple bears digging clams within a few yards, & also away from the crowded park services designated, & constricted bear viewing sites.
While Aircraft can just land on a beach and hop out on dry ground, if you choose to go by boat make sure you go with a guide that has the knowledge, skill, and the proper boat and equipment that gives you the highest quality bear viewing tour possible.
Your experienced Bear viewing guides will get you Close to Alaskan Brown (Grizzly bears) safely. This is an awesome adventure whether you’re a wildlife enthusiast, naturalist, or photographer.
At Bear Viewing in Alaska, we strongly believe that each wildlife expedition should be as distinctive as those participating in it. This is why we meticulously organize every aspect of our Alaskan brown bear tours, guaranteeing that your adventure aligns with your interests, expectations, and comfort level.
Your brown bear viewing tour begins in Anchor Point, Alaska which is close to Homer. After departing Anchor Point, you cross the beautiful Cook Inlet to Chinitna Bay in Lake Clark National Park. Once we arrive we get out of the boat and walk a short distance to watch the bears.
We provide a broad range of tour choices, each tailored to meet varied tastes and adventure thresholds. Whether you opt to partake in the thrill of bear viewing by boat in Alaska, or venture on a spectacular voyage to Chinitna Bay for a unique bear viewing experience, we pledge to provide a wildlife encounter that will be etched in your memory for years to come. Our rates are designed to offer exceptional value, making these unforgettable adventures accessible to all.
At Bear Viewing in Alaska, we offer an experience that goes beyond the ordinary. Our commitment to delivering authentic, safe, and informative wildlife encounters is what sets us apart. Here’s why you should choose us for your bear watching tours :
Binoculars, bug repellent, , sunglasses and hat are also recommended. Bring whatever you want to eat & drink , we do not bring any food into the field and food will remain on the boat.
We provide Waders, & hiking pole’s for all our guests to keep your feet dry getting off, & on the boat. Plus this allows us to walk across the tide flats and cross creeks to get closer to some bears in different locations other than the main viewing spots. Many other bear viewing companies dont provide waders or allow their clients to walk out on flats to see the bears clam digging.
You also have a bonus of digging some clams, or fishing trips for salmon. Really, what makes your Alaska bear watching trip with us so special is that we love showing people the real Alaska!
And this is not it. A total of five snow-capped volcanoes rise up 10,000 feet from sea level in an exquisite American national park just for you. Also, available from us is bear viewing with an Alaska bush plane to explore the other beautiful locations.
