Of course, no tour operators can promise that bears will be present, but this time of year you usually will see several black bears (and perhaps a brown bear) gorging themselves at the rapids where salmon often wash back into their waiting mouths.
Very few people were present when we arrived a little after 9:00 AM, so we were able to spend extra time in the small photography blind below the main viewing platform. From there, you get a clear view across the creek to a popular fishing location among a set of rocks. The bears appear from between the rocks or climb down from the hill, catch their meal, and then take it to a quiet spot to eat. The last three photos in this set were of a yearling on our side of the creek, just next to the photo blind.
Between meals, the bears rested in the shade or ambled around on the opposite bank.
In addition to the bears across the way, we saw numerous bald eagles, and two bears that crossed our walkway back to the beach.
Continue to Eagles and More Bears — Return to Alaska Cruise 2007
Copyright © 2008 Jefferson Scher.