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Chinitna Bay Bear Viewing

Chinitna Bay/Silver Salmon

(Lake Clark National Park)

Alaska is world-renowned for giving visitors an up-close and personal experience with majestic Coastal Brown Bears. 98% of our country’s brown bears live in Alaska and hundreds of these incredible animals live right across from Homer on the West side of Cook Inlet. We are proud to offer our guests the opportunity to fly by wheeled bush plane into the heart of Lake Clark National Parks to spend the day watching these great animals. Chinitna Bay and Silver Salmon Creek offer incredible opportunities to observe bears ranging from 800 to 1200 lbs. in their natural environment. After a short safety briefing, you’ll put on a pair of waterproof hip boots and climb aboard one of our bush planes. Many customers have commented that the flight alone from Homer into Bear Country was worth the price of admission. Your route will take you across Cook Inlet and around Mt. Iliamna volcano covered with snow, glaciers, and sulpher steaming vents. We'll follow the shoreline where you’ll land on long sandy beaches. From there, you and your trained guide will hike into the backcountry for a photo safari where the incredible scenery and wildlife around every corner will take your breath away. Watch Coastal Brown Bears dig for clams, graze on sedge grasses, and establish dominance. Later in the season, you'll observe momma bears teaching new cubs how to catch salmon in the river. Spend the day with us in the heart of bear country and make Alaska size memories that will last a lifetime!

What to Expect:

Fly our de Havilland Turbo Beaver or Cessna 206 on 35" tundra bushwheels to land on the beach across Cook Inlet!
Our Turbo aircraft are faster (more time with the bears), safer, and quieter
Intercom with noise cancelling headsets provided (talk to the pilot and each other during the flight)
Hip boots are provided depending on location
Beautiful aerial views of active volcanoes, rugged mountains, and wildlife-filled coastlines
Chinitna and/or Silver Salmon Creek are roughly a 45 minute flight each direction
Total trip length 5-6 hours including flights
2-3 guided hours on the ground with the bears
Full camera cards and big smiles with an unforgettable day in remote Alaska
Small groups guided by your pilot
Bears digging clams on the beach, eating Sedge grasses, and berries
Capacity: up to 15 seats
Trip Price: $1100 per person (includes taxes, park fees, fuel surcharge) *3% processing fee will be applied to all credit card payments. Wire transfers and checks accepted.

Lake Clark National Park (Chinitna Bay - Location)

Lake Clark National Park and Preserve is an American national park in southwest Alaska, about 100 miles (160 km) southwest of Anchorage. The park was first proclaimed a national monument in 1978, then established as a national park and preserve in 1980 by the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act. The park includes many streams and lakes vital to the Bristol Bay salmon fishery, including its namesake Lake Clark. A wide variety of recreational activities may be pursued in the park and preserve year-round. The park protects rainforests along the coastline of Cook Inlet, alpine tundra, glaciers, glacial lakes, major salmon-bearing rivers, and two volcanoes, Mount Redoubt and Mount Iliamna. Mount Redoubt is active, erupting in 1989 and 2009. The wide variety of ecosystems in the park mean that virtually all major Alaskan animals, terrestrial and marine, may be seen in and around the park. Salmon, particularly sockeye salmon, play a major role in the ecosystem and the local economy. The Kvichak River is the world's most productive watershed for sockeye salmon. Large populations of brown bears are attracted to feed on the spawning salmon in the Kijik River and at Silver Salmon Creek. Bear watching is a common activity in the park.

What Sets Us Apart? Our Planes!

Aviation and Alaska share an incredible past, present, and future of adventure, exploration, and beauty. So, when it came time to create a company with the ultimate touring packages for our guests, we knew that airplanes would be a big part of our success. Seeing and accessing Alaska by air is unmatched by any other experience. Having a birds-eye view of glaciers, volcanoes, wildlife, beaches, and rocky shorelines with cascading waterfalls creates photographs and memories that last a lifetime. Airplanes are able to transport us every day into untouched wilderness in the heart of Alaska’s wilderness and national parks. Our research team, pilots, and mechanics spent countless hours looking at various aircraft types used in Alaska to access these remote areas. By placing the bulk of our attention on safety, performance, comfort, and reliability, we found that de Havilland Turboprop and Cessna aircraft were the best in the business. Destination Alaska made a huge investment in three de Havilland turbine-powered aircraft and they have not disappointed. Incredible horsepower, smooth quiet climb performance, low maintenance, and fast cruise speeds are just a few of the pleasant surprises we have come to enjoy. "Turbo Bear Viewing" offers our guests more time with the bears and has become a signature offering for Destination Alaska. Next in line is our low-time Cessna 206. This aircraft lives up to its reputation of being the "pickup truck of the north". The five-seat 206 with its wide doors and rugged airframe is one of the most utilized aircraft in all of Alaska. Whether on floats or big bush tires, this plane gets the job done day in and day out. Our aircraft selection and attention to your comfort and safety separate us from the crowd. Come see the difference for yourself!