Peak Season Bear Viewing By Seaplane

I did the waterfall bear viewing and it was spectacular. The communication from the group leader was fantastic from the get-go. The seaplane was fun with beautiful views. We were the only group watching the bears and it was surreal. Professional and memorable tour!

Our bear viewing excursion to Waterfall Creek with Wild Coast Excursions was honestly one of the absolute highlights of our Alaska trip. 🐻❤️ From the moment we took off in the float plane, we knew we were in for something special. The two incredible 30-minute float plane flights were an adventure in themselves, with breathtaking scenery all the way. It was such a unique way to experience the beauty of Alaska. Our guide Matt was fantastic. His passion for bears and the environment was obvious from the start, and his knowledge was incredible. He was so enthusiastic and genuinely cared about the animals and their habitat. He made the experience even more special and helped us understand and appreciate what we were seeing. Seeing the bears in their natural environment was something we will never forget. It felt like such a privilege to experience them up close in such a beautiful, untouched setting. We can’t recommend Wild Coast Excursions highly enough. If you’re visiting Alaska and have the opportunity to do this excursion, DO IT! The combination of the incredible float plane flights, stunning scenery, amazing bears and a guide as passionate as Matt made this an experience we will remember for a lifetime. 🐻✈️🏔️ Thank you Wild Coast Excursions and especially Matt for such an incredible day!

Once in a lifetime, THE bear viewing experience that surpasses everything! An experience that will stay with us forever. We took the “Chichagof Island, Waterfall Creek Bear Viewing” trip with Wild Coast Excursions and honestly, we are almost at a loss for words. Everything was perfectly organized right from the meeting point at Ward Air in Juneau. The fact that you could borrow backpacks, rain gear, and rubber boots for free was a huge plus. The briefing before takeoff was clear, understandable, and immediately gave us a sense of security. The flight in the Super Beaver seaplane was already magical. During the flight there and back, one person was allowed to ride in the co-pilot seat each time, an absolutely unique moment! The landscape below us was breathtakingly beautiful, and when we even saw whales, the excitement was hard to put into words. But what awaited us on site was simply indescribable. Several bears at the edge of the forest and right by the waterfall, and the feeling of standing in the middle of their world. There was a bear near us the entire time. One even came within about 7 meters of us. This moment was simultaneously awe-inspiring, emotional, and simply overwhelming. And yet, we felt safe every single second. What made this experience additionally so special: It was not mass tourism. We were just a small group, which made everything even more intense, personal, and quiet. Matt was simply exceptional as a guide. His calm, respectful manner, his enormous knowledge, and the way he explained everything to us were impressive. You could immediately feel how much he respects these animals and how important it is to him to pass on exactly that feeling to us. What touched us the most was the deep connection to nature that we felt on this day. The respectful treatment of the bears and their environment, the calm, the mindfulness—all of that made this excursion something very special. Exactly this attitude and the palpable love for nature completely convinced us and are the reason why we would choose this experience again at any time. The included lunch, which we were able to select in advance, was also a great extra and rounded off the day perfectly. Conclusion: We loved this trip with all our hearts. It is more than worth every franc or every dollar, an experience of a lifetime that you never forget. We would do it again at any time and can truly recommend it to everyone from the bottom of our hearts!

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Wildcoast Excursions was one of the most incredible experiences of my life. We took a seaplane to Pack Creek in late May and I cannot say enough good things about it. We were fortunate enough to get to sit for a few hours viewing a mother brown bear and her 2 cubs play and snack on sedge grass, and a curious juvenile male bear graze and swim. The location was one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been. You are surrounded by Mother Natures glory. Every sight and sound from the rushing creek water to the rustling cold breeze through the tall grass was a gift to the senses. Watching brown bears in the wild, observing their behavior and taking in all of the surrounding beauty was truly awe inspiring. Tears of joy flowed more than once. Our pilot was top notch and Alaskan views from the air are otherworldly. Lastly, our guide Matt was one of the best guides I’ve ever had. He went above and beyond for our group, myself and my 79 year old father. He was a wealth of knowledge and showed immense respect for Alaska and the wildlife. He was informative and made us feel aware of our surroundings (these are wild animals) and safe while we observed these beautiful creatures. I am so thankful he was our guide and I would highly recommend Wildcoast and Matt. I can’t thank them enough for the beautiful memories they gave me and my Dad. I’ll cherish this experience for the rest of my life.

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We weren’t sure what to expect exactly, as this was our first trip to Alaska. But I am a huge animal lover and knew this was a must see and so I booked the trip to see the bears well ahead of time. We only had a few days in Juneau so we were thankful the weather was great…not too sunny though, so the bears were out fishing for salmon and it was stunning to be amongst them. Our guide was very professional, explained everything in detail as to how to approach the area and how to stay safe, and she was very knowledgeable about the bear behavior. The area was beautiful and easily accessible from the float plane. Everything was very professional and we felt safe, even though we were very close to the bears. We sat quietly amongst them and took all the photos and videos we’d ever want. It was a stellar day that I will never forget and will always cherish. Wild coast was very professional and we would most certainly use them again if we were ever back in Alaska.

Unforgettable and Responsible Bear Viewing Experience, the Best in Juneau and Southeast Alaska What an incredible, once-in-a-lifetime experience! As a solo traveler visiting Juneau, I was thrilled when Wild Coast Excursions found a bear viewing tour for me to join. That’s not always easy as a single traveler, but they made it happen. From the start, communication with Peter was clear, timely, and professional. I met the group at Ward Air the morning of the tour, where Peter greeted us warmly, handed out their high-quality gear, and provided a thoughtful and calming safety and expectations briefing. This perfectly set the tone for the day. After a stunning and smooth flight, we landed at Waterfall Creek, a remote and wild part of Chichagof Island. While a few other guests from another Juneau company, and a yacht were at the area, it felt exclusive, and intimate. I’ve visited Juneau before and explored other parts of Chichagof Island, but this un-roaded wilderness was on another level. And the bears! We saw at least eight individual coastal brown bears, including mothers with spring cubs, all fishing just yards away from us. Watching their social dynamics and natural behavior was mesmerizing. At several points, they came to fish right next to our group—but never seemed stressed or alarmed. Peter knew exactly how to position us for the best viewing without disrupting the bears, always reading their body language and ensuring we gave them the space they needed. It was clear that other guides in the area were watching and taking cues from him. Of all my travels, this was the most respectful, responsible, and well-led wildlife viewing experience I’ve ever had. Wild Coast Excursions sets the gold standard for bear viewing in Juneau, Alaska, and I would go as far as saying it’s the best bear viewing opportunity in Southeast Alaska and Alaska’s Inside Passage. I can’t wait to return and explore Pack Creek with them next time. Five stars, without hesitation.

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As a Juneau local, I thought I’d become a little too used to the incredible wildlife here—bears included. Wild Coast Excursions completely changed that. From the float plane ride to the mossy shoreline of Chichagof Island to our guide Matt’s deep knowledge and respect for the animals, everything was handled with care and expertise. We learned how to read the forest, spot signs of wildlife, and approach with respect. The highlight was watching a female brown bear, just yards away, fishing for salmon with complete focus and grace. She didn’t seem bothered by us at all—it felt like we’d been quietly invited into her world. This wasn’t a quick photo stop or a crowded viewing platform. It was a safe, intimate, and completely authentic wildlife encounter. I left feeling humbled, grateful, and in awe of the place I call home. If you want to experience Alaska’s wild beauty in a thoughtful, respectful, and unforgettable way, I can’t recommend Wild Coast enough.

Our family did a bear tour with the group. We were flown to a short hike to a waterfall. One bear showed up and spent an hour fishing, giving me ample opportunity to take photos. Our leader Cam was very friendly and knowledgeable, and really made our experience more enjoyable. If you get the chance, do a tour with them - you will love it!

Absolutely incredible experience! From answering all my questions to the actual trip itself this was a best in class adventure for my family. Peter was super responsive during the entire planning process and our guide Matt was knowledgeable and made sure we were taken care of the during the trip. Not sure there is enough room on the review to express how amazing Matt was as a guide…thank you Matt. Our group had the afternoon slot at Waterfall Creek on Chicagof Island. The float plane trip was super cool but the bear viewing was of course the highlight of the trip. The weather was perfect and the only complaint is we couldn’t stay longer.

I had such an amazing time with Wild Coast Excursions at Waterfall Creek. As soon as we got off the floatplane and walked around the corner — there was a bear right at the waterfall! It was truly one of the coolest and most unforgettable experiences I’ve ever had with brown bears. I felt completely safe the entire time, and it was absolutely incredible to watch these majestic animals in their natural habitat. Watching them fish was surprisingly fast, sometimes even hilarious! Wild Coast made the whole experience feel both thrilling and respectful to the wildlife. Wild Coast Excursions is the best opportunity to see bears in Juneau and probably Alaska! I cannot wait to go again and check out Pack Creek next time — already dreaming of it! Don’t miss this if you’re in Juneau — it’s pure magic.

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