Sitka, Alaska, is a place where nature reigns supreme. It’s a land of towering trees, pristine waters, and, of course, its iconic wildlife. We spend a lot of time out in nature with our tour guests, whether we are enjoying a short walk to a salmon stream, exploring the forest, or taking photos of a fabulous views. One of the most frequently asked questions we hear is “Can we see a wild bear?”

While the idea of a close encounter with a majestic brown bear might sound thrilling, it’s important to prioritize safety. That’s why our guided tours in Sitka offer a unique opportunity to observe these incredible creatures from a safe distance.

When you book one of our wildlife private tours, we’ll venture to prime bear-viewing locations, where your experienced local guide will point out these magnificent animals in their natural habitat. With binoculars and spotting scopes, you can admire their size, strength, and surprising grace. We practice and believe in sustainable and responsible tourism for the safety of our guests and these beautiful animals.

For a more intimate encounter and guarantee to see both brown and black bears, we recommend adding a stop to visit the Fortress of the Bear. This one-of-a-kind non-profit sanctuary provides a safe haven for orphaned bears, allowing visitors to observe them up close in a controlled environment. It’s a truly unforgettable experience that combines education and conservation. We are huge supporters of the work that they do there, in fact, you can typically find us there on our day off! The bear care team and staff truly care for the animals and create an environment for the bears that is as much like their wild environment as possible, from the foods that they eat, to the materials in their habitat, and even the enrichment activities that they design to keep the bears both physically and mentally healthy.

We do spend a lot of time there, so don’t be surprised if this blog tends to share a lot of photos and fun facts about bears. For instance, did you know that bears love and are attracted to the smell of certain perfumes and colognes? If you are walking in bear country, you might want to tone down the morning spritz before you leave your room. We are happy to customize any of our tour options to include a stop at Fortress of the Bear and the general admission costs are very reasonable at $15 for adults, $10 for military members, $5 (children age 8-18), and under 7 are free. Their last entry of the day is 3:30PM, so we do need to prioritize getting there early. The beauty of a booking a custom tour with Beyond the Dock Tours is that you can spend as much or little time at each stop as you’d like. I enjoy helping guests plan a custom itinerary for your private tour in Sitka based on your interests, so please don’t hesitate to reach out via our Contact Page or email: beyondthedocktours@gmail.com. If you’re looking for a truly wild adventure, Sitka is the place to be.