Starts | Jun 12th 2022 |
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Ends | Jun 19th 2022 |
Leader | Steve Gettle & Nicole Sudduth |
Price | $6,750 |
Deposit | $750 |
Participants | 6 (Full (Check out our 2023 trip)) |
There is a reason why Lake Clark National Park is one of the most sought after destinations to photograph the majestic Alaskan Brown Bear and it begins with the incredible density of bears that call this great place home. Filled with sedge marshes and wonderful clamming flats, it is the place where bears come to gorge after their winter slumber. Unlike a lot of lodges in this area, at our location, you will not be tied to a viewing platform. Instead, you will spend your time on the ground with the bears in their world, enjoying and photographing their many behaviors. As an added bonus, at the end of our trip we will visit Prince Williams Sound for opportunities to photograph whales, sea otters, sea lions, puffins, glaciers and more.
We will stay at three hotels/lodges during this tour. We will begin at a hotel in Anchorage that simply serves as our landing spot.
From here, we will be transported via small plane to Silver Salmon Creek Lodge, one of the most iconic lodges in the area and situated within Lake Clark National Park. This will be our base for our entire time while photographing the bears. This lodge is wonderfully appointed, provides fantastic service and serves delicious food.
Each day in Lake Clark, we will go out via ATV with our experienced bear guide as we photograph and enjoy the bears and other wildlife that we encounter!
Following our bear photography, we will have a bonus adventure to Prince Williams Sound. Here, we will stay at a wonderful Inn located on the warf of Whittier and spend a full day out in the sound on a terrific 40 ft boat.
We have limited this tour to a very small group of just six clients.
Here is a trip video we created about our scouting trip to this great location:
Sunday, June 12 – Travel Day and arrival at our hotel
Fly in to Anchorage International Airport (arrive any time) and either take a taxi or airport shuttle to our hotel (located 2 miles from the airport)
Monday, June 13 – Arrive at Lake Clark and Start Photographing Bears!
This morning, we will take a one hour flight in a small plane to Lake Clark. Be sure to have a small camera handy as the views from the air are stunning!! Upon landing on the beach, we will be transported to the lodge, pull out our gear and head into the field to start photographing bears. We will return to the lodge for lunch and spend the rest of the day out in the field with the bears. After dinner, you will have the option of going out to spend more time with the bears.
Tuesday, June 14, Wednesday, June 15 and Thursday, June 16 -Full Days Photographing
Each day, we will enjoy a wonderful breakfast at the lodge and then head out via our ATV chariots. We will spend the morning photographing bears as the forage and clam, play and interact. We will return to the lodge for lunch and head back out for more bear photography until dinner. After dinner, you will have the option to go back out for more bear encounters.
Friday, June 17 – Return to Anchorage
Following breakfast, we will board our plane and return to Anchorage. From here, we will drive to Whittier and enjoy the afternoon and evening at the warf.
Saturday, June 18 – Exploring Prince Williams Sound
We will spend the full day exploring Prince Williams Sound on our own private chartered boat that is perfect for photography! With both a comfortable inside cabin and outside deck, this is the perfect boat to explore this area. Prince Williams Sound is rich in wildlife and we should see whales, sea otters, harbor seals, sea lions, puffins, murres, kittiwakes, glaciers and more.
Sunday, June 19 – Flights home
Following breakfast, we return to Anchorage for our flights home.