Private Bear Viewing at Waterfall Creek in Juneau
Juneau, United States

Private Bear Viewing at Waterfall Creek

Outty Ranking 43 5.0 · 5 traveler reviews5.5 hoursFrom $3799

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September 2026

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Adults

Age 13 and over

2

Children

Age 12 and under

0

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From, per person$3799
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Outty Ranking

43/100

Worth a Look. Our proprietary evaluation. How we score

Traveler rating

5.0/5

Based on 5 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.

Quick answer

Is Private Bear Viewing at Waterfall Creek worth booking?

Private Bear Viewing at Waterfall Creek is a 5.5-hour experience in Juneau, United States, from $3799 per person. It scores 43 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Worth a Look, based on a 5/5 rating across 5 reviews. This booking is non-refundable, so pick your date carefully. Same-day spots are currently showing.

Outty Ranking
43 / 100
Rating
5/5 (5)
Duration
5.5 hours
From
$3799 per person

Bear Creek Outfitters pioneered Waterfall Creek as one of the premier bear viewing locations in SouthEast Alaska more than two decades ago. Our local expert guides continue that tradition with excellent service and a fan

What you get

    About this experience

    Bear Creek Outfitters pioneered Waterfall Creek as one of the premier bear viewing locations in SouthEast Alaska more than two decades ago. Our local expert guides continue that tradition with excellent service and a fantastic experience. If you are looking for an activity where you can bring kids as young as 6 then a Private Waterfall Creek Tour is perfect for your family.

    What's included

    Included

    • Private transportation
    • Bottled water
    • Rain Gear, Binoculars, Drybag, Wildlife Spotting Scope
    • Snacks
    • Certified Guide
    • In-vehicle air conditioning
    • All Fees and Taxes

    Not included

    • Guide Gratuities are not included. (Typically 5-10%)

    What you'll see and do

    1. Marvel at Wild Grizzly Bears fishing for salmon beneath a scenic waterfall, after a 25-minute scenic floatplane flight from Juneau. Enjoy learning from your local certified guide about the bears and the nature of SouthEast Alaska. Mid-July til the end of September is when the bears go to work. The bears focus at this point is on fishing. The primary viewing location is about 5 yds from the creek with the fish, the waterfall about 75yds upstream slows the fish down and creates good fishing for the bears. Viewing is typically at 20-75yds but lucky groups my get to see bears catch and eat a fish even closer. This is when we often see the most bears in view at a given moment and the only time of year to get a picture of a bear with a fish in its mouth. Bald eagles, ravens, kingfisher, gulls, mink, and very occasionally Sitka deer are sighted on our trips. Sometimes whales and sea lions are spotted from the plane.

      240 minutes here

    2. Tongass National Forest

      25-min each way Scenic Floatplane Flight over the Tongass on our way to Waterfall Creek

      50 minutes here · Admission included

    Where it starts and ends

    Meeting point

    Juneau

    We share a building with Ward Air, park in any empty space that is not signed, and enter through the door under the large Bear Creek Outfitters sign.

    Hotel pickup

    Pickup is available for selected locations.

    Ends at

    We share a building with Ward Air, park in any empty space that is not signed, and enter through the door under the large Bear Creek Outfitters sign.

    Options you can book

    • Private Trip 1-2 people

      Private flights and guide Duration: 5 hours: May be customized to suit the group Pickup included

    • Solo Traveler joins group

      Join a group: Opportunity to join an existing group as a solo traveler. Max group size 5 Pickup included

    • Private Trip 3-5 People

      Private flights and guide Lunch Times can be customized Pickup included

    Before you book

    Cancellation
    All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
    Languages
    en
    Ticket
    Mobile Only
    Runs on
    Every day
    Group size
    Up to 5 travelers per booking
    Operated by
    Bear Creek Outfitters

    Know before you go

    • Public transportation options are available nearby
    • Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
    • Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
    • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
    • Not for travelers with mobility impairments

    Photos

    Private Bear Viewing at Waterfall Creek in Juneau, photo 2Private Bear Viewing at Waterfall Creek in Juneau, photo 3Private Bear Viewing at Waterfall Creek in Juneau, photo 4Private Bear Viewing at Waterfall Creek in Juneau, photo 5Private Bear Viewing at Waterfall Creek in Juneau, photo 6Private Bear Viewing at Waterfall Creek in Juneau, photo 7

    What travelers are saying

    Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 4 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.

    The guide

    3 mentions

    Travelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.

    Knowledge and storytelling

    2 mentions

    Reviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.

    Photo opportunities

    2 mentions

    The views and photo stops come up again and again.

    Organization

    2 mentions

    Pickup, timing, and logistics are described as running smoothly.

    Traveler reviews

    4 verified traveler reviews for Private Bear Viewing at Waterfall Creek. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.

    5 star
    4
    4 star
    0
    3 star
    0
    2 star
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    1 star
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    Sort
    vickimA8015KK · August 2025

    Must see bear viewing

    We saw at least 6 bears catching fish at the waterfall. Our guide was knowledgeable and courteous. The pilot was friendly and a great pilot.

    via Tripadvisor

    626kerrymm · August 2025

    Once in a Lifetime “Must Do”.

    Our guide Chris did a great job keeping us safe and we appreciated that he took the time to make sure we were fitted with comfortable boots before heading out. Our pilot Nano was amazing - smoothest landing we’ve ever experienced in a float plane. The setting was ideal. We saw 3 blue heron, a king fisher, 5 brown bears (including a mom teaching her cub to fish) and a ton of salmon jumping out of the water. Even caught a glimpse of a humpback whale on the return flight.

    Response from the operator: Thanks for the great review! We also really appreciate the great pilots that we work with, and the experienced guides like Chris.

    via Tripadvisor

    brooklynp66 · August 2025

    Beautiful Wildlife Tour

    Visited Waterfall creek with Teresa this week. The views from the planes were incredible. If you know what to look for you can spot whales on the way up! One bear, Roxy stayed around the falls the whole day, giving us plenty of time to photograph her. The trip was awesome! I definitely recommend it.

    Response from the operator: Thanks for the kind words Brooklyn! Teresa had fun with your group.

    via Tripadvisor

    desireeo267 · July 2025

    Great adventure!

    I went out on a bear viewing trip with Bear Creek Outfitters. The trip was very well organized, from being picked up in downtown by our guide, to getting outfitted with rain gear and the flight over to the bear viewing zone. The plane ride was smooth, the views were breathtaking and absolutely stunning. At the bear viewing location, Chris, our guide lead us the the viewing point. He was very knowledgeable, entertaining and knew everything about grizzly bears and the wildlife in South East Alaska. We saw multiple bears, one came kind of close. At each point I felt safe and was not scared, since he explained to us how to behave appropriately. I would do this trip in a heartbeat again and would go again with the oldest company in town - Bear Creek Outfitters. Thanks for the wonderful adventure.

    Response from the operator: Hi Desi, thanks for the kind words! We try to get all the little details right. We look forward to seeing you again next summer!

    via Tripadvisor

    Good to know

    Duration
    5.5 hours
    Free cancellation
    Non-refundable
    Minimum age to book
    All ages
    Availability
    Bookable today
    Runs on
    Every day
    Price range
    $3799 to $6499
    Hotel pickup
    Available for selected locations
    Booked in 30 days
    2
    Verdict
    Worth a Look

    Why this scores 43

    The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.

    Traveler sentiment (30% weight)86
    Review evidence (18% weight)20
    Booking momentum (14% weight)14
    Value for money (12% weight)0
    Listing quality (10% weight)68
    Local standing (8% weight)56
    Booking flexibility (8% weight)0

    Private Bear Viewing at Waterfall Creek: questions travelers ask

    Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Juneau.

    How much does Private Bear Viewing at Waterfall Creek cost?

    +

    Prices start at $3799 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Juneau usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.

    How long does Private Bear Viewing at Waterfall Creek take?

    +

    Plan for about 5.5 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Juneau is not rushed.

    Is Private Bear Viewing at Waterfall Creek worth it?

    +

    It holds an Outty Ranking of 43 out of 100, which we label "Worth a Look". That score blends traveler sentiment (5/5 across 5 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable family friendly in Juneau, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.

    Can I cancel or reschedule Private Bear Viewing at Waterfall Creek?

    +

    No. This experience is sold on a non-refundable basis, so only book a date you are confident about. Similar experiences in the city do offer free cancellation if flexibility matters more than price.

    Is Private Bear Viewing at Waterfall Creek suitable for kids and families?

    +

    Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 5.5-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.

    How far in advance should I book Private Bear Viewing at Waterfall Creek?

    +

    Around 2 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Juneau can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.

    What should I bring or wear?

    +

    Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Juneau and add a light layer if any part of the 5.5-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.

    Where does Private Bear Viewing at Waterfall Creek start and how do I get there?

    +

    The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Juneau within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.

    What are the best things to do in Juneau?

    +

    Juneau runs Mendenhall Glacier trips, whale watching in Auke Bay, helicopter glacier landings with dog sledding, and rainforest hikes. Most tours are timed to cruise ship windows, so we weight clear duration and pickup detail. On Outty we rank every Juneau experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Juneau Wildlife Whale Watching, Juneau Wildlife Whale Watching & Mendenhall Glacier, Mendenhall Glacier Lake Canoe Tour. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.

    When is the best time to visit Juneau?

    +

    May to September, peaking for humpbacks in June and July. Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.

    How many days do you need in Juneau?

    +

    Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.

    Do I book through Outty or through the operator?

    +

    Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.

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