Bear Camp May Be the Best Place to See Brown Bears in their Habitat

Alaska provides plenty of opportunities to view bears – they even occasionally roam down city streets – but seeing them from a remote location, far from sightseeing crowds and shore excursion tour groups, is extra-special.

A brown bear at Lake Clark National Park shares a fishing hole with some sea birds. Photo: Karl Sanchez from Getty.

Visitors to Bear Camp, a sustainable bush camp located in Alaska's Lake Clark National Park and Preserve, don't have to wonder if they'll encounter brown bears. The question is when. During a recent study, observers counted over 200 bears within a 54-square-mile area of the park.

Bear Camp is an exclusive offering from Natural Habitat Adventures, a tour operator specializing in responsible adventure travel and ecotourism around the globe.

Bear Camp

Visitors travel to Bear Camp by charter flight boat ride across Cook Inlet from the Kenai Peninsula. Photo: JeffDSamuels71 from Getty Images

Travelers take a charter flight or boat ride across Cook Inlet from the Kenai Peninsula to reach Bear Camp. The rustic-yet-comfortable accommodations house just 14 guests who spend four days viewing bears, disconnecting, and enjoying the Alaskan wilderness.

Though simple, the modest tented cabins set on raised platforms are a significant upgrade from camping and a welcoming oasis in the wilderness. Cabins feature comfy beds, mosquito nets, and portable toilets for overnight use (Shared composting toilets and showers are a short walk away). They also align with Nat Hab's Bear Camp goal: to provide incredible access to wildlife and leave a light footprint.

Bear Camp Daily Activities

Salmon is a fairly reliable food source for bears in Lake Clark National Park from June - October.

Each morning, while guests enjoy breakfast, Bear Camp guides scope out places with the most bear activity, then escort the guests to the optimal sites. This may involve a walk on the beach, a ride in the "bear mobile" - a pickup truck outfitted with two seats in the bed - or visiting a two-story platform for panoramic views of the meadow.

Lunches range from elk burgers to chickpea bowls and potato coconut turmeric soup, followed by free time in the afternoons. A newly-revamped heated pavilion outfitted with chairs and couches allows guests to pair bear sightings with a cup of coffee or happy-hour beverage.

Long Alaskan summer days make for prime early-evening bear viewing. After a couple of days, visitors recognize individual bears by their characteristics. They'll also spot an occasional coyote or otter.

Education and Sustainability

National Habitat Adventures promotes conservation efforts by educating its guests about Bear Camp's local wildllfe. Photo: AmyDunlop from Getty Images.

Nat Hab prioritizes education and sustainability. National Park Service rangers often stop by to give talks about the area's wildlife population. "In order to save bears, we've got to get people to know them," says Court Whelan, Nat Habs' chief sustainability officer.

In addition, all their trips are carbon neutral, the company partners with the World Wildlife Fund and every Bear Camp guest is encouraged to donate to local nonprofits.

Natural Habitat Adventures' five-day Bear Camp experience includes one day in Homer, Alaska, followed by four days at Bear Camp in Lake Clark National Park and Preserve. Departures: Multiple dates, May 24, 2023, through August 22, 2023. Perks and amenities are available when you book your stay through a Virtuoso travel advisor.

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Produced by Grand Journeys Travel and Virtuoso