Bear watching in Ketchikan 1st week of July...Any recommendations?

[l4dk]

Our family will be in Ketchikan the first week of July. We will love to see bears but looks like because it is too early there are not many options with Disney.
Anyone familiar with any outside tours?

Thank you!

 

[DVC_Chris]

We booked Ketchikan Taxi Cab Tours. The owner took us by a salmon canning plant, and we saw a momma bear and three babies. This was second or third week of July.

 

[gravity01]

I'm not sure about tours but I am a local and I can tell you that, if you go to Herring Cove, you'll see bears and like a billion eagles. If you go at low tide, salmon get stuck in the little tidepools and the bears and eagles will come out for the easy meal. July is definitely not too early.

 

[mrcacou]

We saw a bear and her cub Last year while doing the rain forrest walk.

 

[l4dk]

We booked Ketchikan Taxi Cab Tours. The owner took us by a salmon canning plant, and we saw a momma bear and three babies. This was second or third week of July.

Thank you! Will check with them.

 

[l4dk]

I'm not sure about tours but I am a local and I can tell you that, if you go to Herring Cove, you'll see bears and like a billion eagles. If you go at low tide, salmon get stuck in the little tidepools and the bears and eagles will come out for the easy meal. July is definitely not too early.

Thanks, that will be great. What is the best way to get there from the port?

 

[gravity01]

Taking a taxi is probably your best option. The shuttle doesn't run quite that far out. You might find a tour bus that does a drop off there, but that would take some research. It's not a very 'touristy' place, although tourists go out there. It's also one of the few places you can get to via land travel (versus plane or boat).

Here's the deal - if you stay at Herring Cove long enough, you WILL see bears. However, given that the Disney ship doesn't stay in port as long as the others (I don't think you even get in until lunchtime), you may have to consider if it's worth spending all your time watching and waiting. If you do go... go first thing in the morning or later in the evening. And consult the tide tables. I always have the best luck when low tide falls in the evening.

Another option is to call around the flightseeing companies and see about booking a floatplane. They can get you into those obscure areas on other islands where you can see some lovely sights, including bears.

I think this is one of those occasions you have to decide if money or time is most valuable to you.

 

[l4dk]

Taking a taxi is probably your best option. The shuttle doesn't run quite that far out. You might find a tour bus that does a drop off there, but that would take some research. It's not a very 'touristy' place, although tourists go out there. It's also one of the few places you can get to via land travel (versus plane or boat).

Here's the deal - if you stay at Herring Cove long enough, you WILL see bears. However, given that the Disney ship doesn't stay in port as long as the others (I don't think you even get in until lunchtime), you may have to consider if it's worth spending all your time watching and waiting. If you do go... go first thing in the morning or later in the evening. And consult the tide tables. I always have the best luck when low tide falls in the evening.

Another option is to call around the flightseeing companies and see about booking a floatplane. They can get you into those obscure areas on other islands where you can see some lovely sights, including bears.

I think this is one of those occasions you have to decide if money or time is most valuable to you.

Great help, thank you.