This was my second trip to Great Alaska Lodge and as always I had a fantastic time....
Great Alaska Bear Viewing Camp
Our remote Alaska Bear viewing camp is located on the shores of Lake Clark National Park in a rugged wilderness where healthy Brown Bears abound. With a backdrop of towering snow capped mountains ahead and the blue waters of Cook Inlet behind, the camp sits in a literal time machine.... Accessible only by water or air, it is all that Alaska has always been. Check out this week at Bearcamp!
BEAR CAMP AS PART OF OUR SAFARI ITINERARIES
Bear Camp is included in many of our five to ten days journeys. It is often the highlight when guests board a Bush Plane, often for the first time, and share a short flight into the wilderness. Your flight carries you over Cook Inlet, home of the world’s second largest tide and broadsides the ancient glaciers of two active volcanoes. The beach landing at our private camp in Lake Clark National Park begins one of the world’s great wild animal experiences. Our guests spend two days with these marvelous icons of our Wildlands before returning to the main Alaska wilderness lodge to share the experience.
Available as a stand alone trip to add to your own independent travel or as the perfect add on to a cruise, it is also included in some of our most popular itineraries: the Ultimate Combination, Lodge Wilderness package, Cruise Extension as well as the Greatland Safari, National Park Safari and Wilderness Safari.
BEARCAMP AS PART OF AN INDEPENDENT TRAVEL ITINERARY
In addition to our extended safaris, Bearcamp is available as an independent travel, to add to your own unguided Alaska experience or as an addition to a cruise. R/T pickups from Anchorage are included at no charge, or you may drive to our lodge on the kenai and depart from there. one day, two day and three day options are available. Call our office for logistic and how you can experience Bearcamp yourself.
OUR FAMOUS RESIDENT BROWN BEARS
In the early spring, female Brown Bear (Ursos Arctos) leave their dens with young in tow, to feed on the succulent grasses found around our camp. This allows us the opportunity to view and photograph these magnificent animals. Like the grasses and salmon they feed upon, the bears are transitory – following the most available food source. One day trip to the camp take place in June and July only, with overnight stays all throughout the season (6/01-9/01). The number of bears seen on each trip varies, but the camp’s incredible location, great staff and spectacular flights in and out alone make the trip a success. (Please note: Alaskan weather can occasionally cancel or delay flights- plan accordingly!) We highly encourage all our guests to select the overnight versions, as this provides the greatest opportunity to see the beautiful animals.
Facilities
The camp itself sits in a copse of trees between the mountains and the shoreline. Custom “Weather-Port” cabin/tents are on raised platforms and sleep two, with wooden floors, solid doors, propane heat and light and twin beads. Meals are family-style, featuring fresh seafood, meats, pasta and wine flown in from our main lodge and finished by your attentive staff. Electricity is available for a portion of each day. Plan on bringing spare batteries for your cameras!
The Flight
You will fly from the Soldotna airfield in group of 4 - 6, landing on the shoreline right in front of the camp. During the flight you will pass over towering mountains and rugged glaciers, often spotting bear, moose and other wildlife along the way. Plan on having some great photo opportunities – it is a fantastic flight-seeing trip that includes a fly-by of Mount Iliamna and Kalgin Island.
LOGISTICS
One-Day Trips (with transfers) depart from Anchorage at 7:45am. A salmon lunch is provided at the lodge, then a quick transfer to the Soldotna airfield for the 40-50 minute flight to Bear Camp. Day trips will spend approximately 1˝ hours on the ground before flying back for an air return to Anchorage (van transfer available at no charge). Clients who drive in will meet at our main lodge at 11:00am for check-in and instructions. Secure Vehicle parking is available for bear camp clients. RV parking overnights or camping are not available at Great Alaska Adventure Lodge.
Bear Camp is included in many of our five to ten days journeys. It is often the highlight of their trip when guests board a Bush Plane, often for the first time, and share a 50 minute flight into the wilderness. Your flight carries you over Cook Inlet, home of the world’s second largest tide and parallels the ancient glaciers of two active volcanoes. The beach landing at our private camp in Lake Clark National Park begins one of the world’s great wild animal experiences. Our guests spend two days with these marvelous icons of our Wildlands before returning to the main lodge to share the experience.
Overnight Trips begin the same as the day trip, with all day spent viewing the bears and exploring the area around the camp, followed by dinner and overnight at the camp. After breakfast, more quality time spent watching and photographing the great bears and other wildlife, followed by a flight back to Soldotna some time after noon (depending upon tides, weather and variety of other factors). Those who have chosen round trip transfers from Anchorage will return to Anchorage in the late afternoon, arriving approximately 7:00 - 9:00 pm at your hotel. Those with rental cars will be on their own upon arrival to Soldotna. Due to the transient nature of these great animals, Overnight experiences are recommended, although we do offer single day experiences in the month of June.
