This incomparable full-day bear viewing experience starts at Anchorage's Lake Hood Seaplane Base. Aboard a floatplane, passengers listen to the pilot's narration through two-way headsets as the aircraft takes off and turns southwest. The scenery along the Cook Inlet is as vast as it is diverse. Marshes dotted with kettle ponds meet glacial river valleys cascading down from harsh alpine peaks. The 70-minute flight concludes as the pilot lands on Crescent Lake and docks at the Redoubt Mountain Lodge.
The bears swim and dive with surprising grace.
With its rustic log cabins and welcoming owners, the lodge is a cozy home base for the next several hours of bear viewing. Experienced bear guides waste no time whisking guests onto a covered pontoon boat and into the aqua waters of Crescent Lake. Those guides know every shallow cove and hidden tributary that the area's bears frequent. Bears come to the rocky shore to fish, and it's their focused activity here that makes for such sensational viewing. They swim and dive with surprising grace, swiping salmon out of the water with lethal speed.
After returning to the lodge for a hearty homecooked lunch, the group heads out again for an afternoon spent in search of more bears. It's these quiet, unhurried hours on the lake that make this tour the immersive, intimate experience it is. The day closes with a return flight to Anchorage.
More Details
The chance of seeing bears at Crescent Lake is excellent but not guaranteed. Because the bears are drawn to the area by spawning salmon, it is not uncommon to see sport fishermen in the area as well.
What to Bring
As with most of Alaska, the weather at Crescent Lake can be unpredictable. Dress in warm layers and take rain gear. Bring a camera, binoculars, and bug spray. Because Redoubt Bay is an isolated location only accessible by floatplane, bring essential medications as well.
Special Instructions
Accurate passenger weight is required for aircraft weight and balance.
Transfers & Meeting Points
The tour departs from the Lake Hood Seaplane Base. The tour operator provides complimentary transportation to and from most major Anchorage hotels. Limited parking is available at the operator office. Passengers who park there are asked to leave their keys with the front desk. Check in 30 minutes prior to tour departure.
Rates & Dates
Here are the rates and operating dates for this product. Remember, we have a lowest price guarantee for nearly everything we sell.
Child rates apply to children under the age of 13, but this tour is not recommended for children under the age of 6.
Rates & Dates
Dates
Adult
Child
7/25/25 (F) to 9/20/25 (Sa)7/25/25 (F) to 9/20/25 (Sa)
Adult: $1,245.00
Child: $1,195.00
The rates above do not include taxes/fees of 3% plus $12.00 and are subject to change without notice.
Departure Times
Departure times and locations are listed below. Click on a link for an interactive map.
Departures
Dates
Depart
Location
7/25/25 (F) to 9/1/25 (M)7/25/25 (F) to 9/1/25 (M)
Select a departure below to see current availability. If your desired date is sold out (red) we will do our best to find an alternative, but we may not be able to accommodate your request.
"This was probably the highlight of our trip. We saw 25 bears, and our lunch, pontoon boat captain, and pilot were all great. I can’t say enough good things about this tour."
