8
Excellent tour, highly recommend!
Excellent experience! Kim was a great guide. Very passionate about Alaska and nature. A real highlight of our trip!
Traitors Cove Bear Viewing in Ketchikan, Alaska
At a glance
- Duration
- 3 hours
- Price from
- $595 / person
- Location
- Ketchikan, United States
- Rating
- 4.9 / 5 · 35 reviews
- Languages
- EN
- Group
- Small group, up to 12
- Cancellation
- See policy below
- Hotel pickup
- Available
- Confirmation
- Within 24h
- Ticket
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Operator
- Seawind Aviation, Inc
Description
Upon arrival to the platform, you will be at a prime vantage point to see Alaska’s REAL fisherman! Watch the true champions of the tour – the 5 species of salmon battling in the last part of their life, to arrive upstream to spawn. They are fighting not just the swift current but also the bears. See the black bears fattening up for winter, plunge into the rushing water with jaws wide, to eat the wild salmon heading upstream to spawn. Besides bears feeding, you are also likely to see Bald Eagles feeding on salmon scraps left over by the bears. The Highlights - Visit a World Class bear viewing facility. - A round trip floatplane flight over the Tongass National Forest is included. - Listen to a personalized flight narration – no recorded tracks - There is a high likelihood of seeing black bears, eagles and salmon. - Enjoy a nature walk of approximately ¼ mile round trip. - Be accompanied by an experienced Alaska Bear Guide. -Tour length is 3 hours with up to 45 minutes of flightseeing.
Schedule & prices
- Runs
- Thu
- Start times
- 7 times a day, 8:00 AM–2:00 PM
- Season
- Starts Jul 23, 2027
- Adult
- $595
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 12.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Ketchikan
The Traitors Cove Bear Viewing experience begins with a short 20 minute floatplane flight over the lush wilderness of the Tongass National Forest. Your pilot will narrate along the way, pointing out key points in the area. After you touch down in Traitors Cove, you will be met on the floatplane dock by your personal Alaska Bear Guide who will drive you about one mile down a United States Forest Service (USFS) road to a trailhead. Your guide will safely escort you down the trail (approximately 250 yards) to the Margaret Creek Bear Viewing platform. Along the trail, your guide will point out the flora, fauna, berries and trees as well as any wildlife you encounter. Keep your eyes peeled all around – bald eagles and even bears are known to perch high above in the trees. The Margaret Creek Bear Viewing observatory is maintained by the USFS whose policy allows bear tours from late July into late September. We operate our bear viewing tours from the late July- mid September.
What's included
Included
Private transportation
Bottled water
Not included
Alcoholic Beverages
Pickup Locations & Times
We will pick you up 30 minutes prior to the flight time on the Ketchikan pier on Berth 2 north side of the Ketchikan Visitor Center downtown. Our white van will pull up beside the Visitor Center located at berth 2. "Seawind Aviation" is on all sides of the van, and very bright. If your ship is docked at the Ward Cove Mill, we do pick up there directly if your flight is at 8am or 8:30am. (The pickup is 45 minutes prior as this port is 20 minutes from town). Otherwise, you'll want to come in on a bus to downtown and we will meet you at the Visitors Center. Very important: Once you arrive in Ketchikan, you'll want to turn your cell phone on, so we are able to communicate with you. It is important to connect by phone as flight times can change due to weather. We also have a direct phone line inside the Visitor Center you can reach us on if you do not have a cell phone. Thank you and we look forward to seeing you soon! Seawind Aviation
Traveller Ratings
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
4.9
35 reviews
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Cancellation
All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
0+ days before0% refund
Frequently asked questions
How long does Traitors Cove Bear Viewing in Ketchikan, Alaska take?
Traitors Cove Bear Viewing in Ketchikan, Alaska lasts about 3 hours. The itinerary has 1 stop.
How much does Traitors Cove Bear Viewing in Ketchikan, Alaska cost?
Prices start at $595 per person for this Ketchikan experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
What days does Traitors Cove Bear Viewing in Ketchikan, Alaska run?
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs on Thursdays, with 7 departures a day between 8:00 AM and 2:00 PM.
Can I cancel Traitors Cove Bear Viewing in Ketchikan, Alaska for free?
All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
Is hotel pickup included?
Yes, pickup is offered. We will pick you up 30 minutes prior to the flight time on the Ketchikan pier on Berth 2 north side of the Ketchikan Visitor Center downtown. Our white van will pull up beside the Visitor Center located at berth 2. "Seawind Aviation" is on all sides of the van, and very bright. If your ship is docked at the Ward Cove Mill, we do pick up there directly if your flight is at 8am or 8:30am. (The pickup is 45 minutes prior as this port is 20 minutes from town). Otherwise, you'll want to come in on a bus to downtown and we will meet you at the Visitors Center. Very important: Once you arrive in Ketchikan, you'll want to turn your cell phone on, so we are able to communicate with you. It is important to connect by phone as flight times can change due to weather. We also have a direct phone line inside the Visitor Center you can reach us on if you do not have a cell phone. Thank you and we look forward to seeing you soon! Seawind Aviation
What languages is Traitors Cove Bear Viewing in Ketchikan, Alaska offered in?
The experience is available in EN.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 12 participants.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Confirmation is sent by the operator within 24 hours of booking.
Is Traitors Cove Bear Viewing in Ketchikan, Alaska worth it?
Travellers rate it 4.9 out of 5 across 35 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by Seawind Aviation, Inc.
Reviews(35)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
E
Best Excursion on our Alaskan Cruise
This was our favorite excursion we did in Alaska. We booked directly with the company. I spoke with Ginger a couple times with questions before our trip and she was very helpful and friendly. Kim was our guide for the trip and she was outstanding. She was very, very knowledgeable and just a great guide. The floatplane ride was fun and very scenic. We saw bears when we arrived at the viewing platform. We were not rushed at all and saw several more bears while there. I highly recommend this company and this excursion...5 stars!!
E
Chance of Low Salmon Even During Peak Times
After seeing tons of salmon right at previous cruise stop at Sitka (trail bridge at the national park), thought seeing salmon would be the least of our worries at Traitors Cove. For whatever reason, for our Sep 3, there were barely any salmon visible at either location. Saw black bears several times from the platform so no real issue there but only one bear really bothered to fish and they didn't catch anything. Seeing a bear with a salmon in its mouth was really was the one thing we really wanted to see our entire trip - so spent accordingly. Don't know if more unlucky day, week or year. Platform is also weirdly awkward. The viewing portals are at heights that make it difficult to stand at. And only 10-11 spots when 12 people can visit. Also impossible angle to see into the fish ladder. Rest of trip was solid. Guide good. Meetup good. Flight good. Zero bugs - despite AI getting us uber-prepared.
S
Bear sighting trip without the bears
Fun flight, good host at the destination but no bears. The problem is that they have a tight schedule so you don’t have an opportunity to give it time to see if any bears decide to show up. There is a lot of state maintained hiking trails available when you get to Traitors Cove so if you are able to get there by some other means you would have time to discover .
K
Top notch
If you are considering a flight of any kind in Ketchikan this is the company to choose! Everyone we dealt with from the first inquiry call to the end was amazing. After reading reviews I had narrowed it down to two companies and called both. The warm response I got at seawind prompted me to book. We were given very clear instructions for pick up and were driven from Ward Cove to the seaplane location. We then had a wonderful day with Russ and Kim. The real kicker came at the end when Lesley, the owner, noticed us stranded at the dock and drove us to the shuttle bus location and sent a cab to make sure we had a ride back to the port. You don’t often experience people who truly care about others like this! What an amazing experience!
S
Traitor cove amazing!!!
Incredible experience, seeing the mother bear arrive with three cubs was very moving. The guide was super and I want to thank her for the passion with which she does her job. Activity and company recommended without a doubt.
J
Awesome Bear Tour out of Ketchikan!
Excellent Traitor’s Cove Bear Tour out of Ketchikan with SeaWind Aviation! We were coming in on a cruise ship and they were very communicative with us before we even left home and worked with us in terms of timing our tour around when we'd arrive. We had a great flight over to Traitor's Cove and hiked a little ways in to observe bears in their natural habitat, catching salmon, climbing trees and playfully fighting. All the staff, guides and pilot were very friendly and accommodating. I would highly recommend SeaWind Aviation to anyone visiting Ketchikan.
A
Incredible tour
Incredible bucket list tour. Professional, easy to get to from cruise ship. Cheaper than cruise ship. Had the most amazing time with knowledgeable, funny, warm Kim from uk. Can’t believe we saw 2 sets of mothers and babies, one set of teeny bear cubs and another playing out a whole drama of teaching the baby cub how to cross the water. Was an experience I will never forget actually brings me close to tears it was sooo fantastic. It’s expensive but really worth every penny. Incredible
Operator response
I enjoyed every minute of this trip with you too! Thank you for your words and as the bear guide, I am as excited as you to see the cubs playing. It is always a special experience to get out there and I appreciate you coming as it means I get to go too! Kim
D
Our favorite excursion while visiting Alaska!
Excellent experience watching the bears feed on salmon, highly recommend! Very professional outfit, from booking with Lesley months prior, to the seaplane flights, and our guide on the island was great. By far our favorite excursion while we were in Alaska for twelve days. (2nd week of August)
A
Bear tour
Highly recommend. Plane was smooth. Guide was wonderful and knowledgeable. We did see multiple bears and a cub.
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from$595
4.9(35)