Discover one of Alaska's largest bear populations during this memorable visit to Prince of Wales Island via floatplane.
Depart the pier in Ketchikan via floatplane for the 30-minute flight to Prince of Wales Island, the United State's third-largest island territory behind Hawaii and Kodiak Islands. The country's overgrown logging areas and many salmon streams serve as an ideal habitat for black bears; the highest black bear population can be found on Prince of Wales Island. This remote destination will serve as the setting for your guided bear tour.
After your plane lands on the water, dependent upon location and tidal conditions, you may disembark the plane directly onto the beach or you may be required to walk in the water to access the beach. You will then proceed to a quiet water area where bears come to fish. On rare occasions when there are extremely high tides or it would be deemed unsafe for you to leave the aircraft due to the close proximity of wildlife, viewing will be from the plane. At the pilot's discretion, you may be offered to view the wildlife from outside the plane, standing on the plane's floats.
Following your visit, you will reboard your floatplane for the return flight to the pier.
Please note: Although bear sightings are common, they cannot be guaranteed. This tour may involve approximately 100 yards of walking on an uneven, rocky and, at times, slippery beach, 40 minutes total flying time and 40 minutes on the ground. Participation in this excursion is extremely limited. Depending on prevailing tides, guests may be outfitted with hip boots or waders at the pilot's discretion to make transit from the plane to the beach drier and easier.