Overview
Photograph Alaska’s giant brown bears in Katmai National Park after Brooks Camp closes for the season and tourist crowds have disappeared. But dozens of bears still congregate, indulging in a final round of gluttony before settling in for a long winter’s sleep. Get extraordinary close-ups of tawny bears against a rich autumn palette as we fly each day by private floatplane from our deluxe wilderness lodge to the Brooks Falls area. Along the Naknek and Brooks rivers, capture exhilarating images as hefty bears devour the remaining bounty from summer salmon runs. Earthy fall tones and a low-slung sun cast a golden light upon the scene—a late-season mingling of cubs, healthy females, giant males and subadults. The bears are sated and relaxed, creating thrilling subjects for an epic photo expedition you won’t find anywhere else.
Trip Highlights
- In-Depth Brown Bear Photography Spend intensive, unhurried days photographing Alaskan brown bears at their biggest, as they gorge on the last of the annual salmon run during the changing seasons
- Solitude & Supreme Access in the Off-Season Get intimate bear shots when tourists are virtually nonexistent, gaining exclusive access via our chartered floatplane with wilderness flightseeing en route
- Shoot Alongside Top Naturalist Guides Our Expedition Leader is not only a talented wildlife photographer but a career naturalist and bear expert, too—enhancing your chances for incredible shots!
Itinerary
Our brown bear photography adventure begins in Anchorage. Located at the head of Cook Inlet, Alaska's largest city is home to half the state’s residents plus some 1,500 moose, while the ocean at its doorstep is the domain of all five species of Pacific salmon and an endangered population of endemic beluga whales. Wedged between wilderness areas and within sight of the Chugach, Kenai and Talkeetna mountain ranges, Anchorage enjoys both urban culture and access to outdoor adventure. You're met on arrival at the airport and transferred to our hotel, with time to relax before meeting your Expedition Leader and fellow photographers at a welcome dinner this evening.
Fly southwest from Anchorage to King Salmon, an isolated hamlet at the head of the Alaska Peninsula that is the gateway to Bristol Bay and Katmai National Park. We make the short transfer to Gold Creek Lodge to get fitted with our waders before returning to the airport for the 20-minute flight by private floatplane to the Brooks Falls area. Once we touch down, we stop for a safety talk with local rangers who share the proper protocol for behavior in close proximity to brown bears. Bears are usually abundant in the area this time of year, spending the fall fattening up on salmon that remain along the Brooks and Naknek rivers. While they won't be fishing in famous Brooks Falls this time of year, they linger for the end-of-the-season feast where the rivers meet Naknek Lake.
Alaska's autumn light is dramatic with the sun hanging low in the southern sky. A golden glow may linger on the landscape as cottonwood and birch leaves turn yellow before succumbing to frost. It’s an irresistible setting for photographing these enormous coastal grizzlies. By late September, bears have consumed so much salmon that their weight is up as much as 40% since August, and they sport thick, lustrous coats in preparation for winter.
Watching bears in the field is a rustic backcountry experience during a season of changing weather, with spare accommodations that include only off-season outhouses at Brooks Camp—but the rewards outweigh any discomfort! After an afternoon of tracking bears in the elements, return by floatplane to our exclusive wilderness lodge retreat on the Naknek River, a tidal estuary with legendary salmon runs and trophy rainbow trout. A small family-run outpost in the bush, Gold Creek Lodge is our luxury base camp for daily bear-viewing expeditions. We settle in to deluxe cabins with private bath, fireplace, sitting area and spacious decks for observing nature, then enjoy a gourmet meal featuring local Alaskan specialties. Once darkness descends, keep an eye out for a possible sighting of the northern lights and the chance for some stunning aurora photography.
Prepared for unpredictable fall weather that can often be chilly and wet, we follow the bears during full days around Brooks Falls and the surrounding area. Their food supply is prolific, with fish still plentiful following summer's salmon runs that moved from Bristol Bay, the world’s largest fishery, into the Naknek River, Naknek Lake and beyond. Chance encounters with snow or one last silver salmon run are possible at this time of year—both of which optimize opportunities for exceptional photographs.
A highlight of our visit is a chance to see the famous ursine competitors who will be the stars of the Katmai Conservancy's annual Fat Bear Week. This popular mid-October event offers the public a chance to "weigh in" by voting online for which brown bear best exemplifies the heft that sets it apart from the rest. As the bears bulk up for their long winter hibernation, they pack on the pounds during a final salmon fling in the Brooks River (which we are witness to), and our Expedition Leaders are often familiar with "who's who." Once you get home, you can vote for some of the very bears you've likely had a chance to see in person during our expedition.
Since we taxi in and out of the Brooks River area in our chartered floatplane, we have the flexibility and time to follow the bears and linger among them on the trails around the falls near Brooks Camp (which is closed for the season, so crowds are nonexistent). With the opportunity for aerial flightseeing, our paths will survey different natural areas each day, offering an overhead vista of the vast Katmai wilderness. Each evening we return to our well-appointed haven at Gold Creek Lodge, surrounded by forest that's home to bald eagles, moose, bears and other wildlife. Relax on leather sofas in front of the stone fireplace to ward off fall's chill, and enjoy time after dinner for photo editing and photography lessons, bear lectures, geology talks and more.
Prepared for unpredictable fall weather that can often be chilly and wet, we follow the bears during full days around Brooks Falls and the surrounding area. Their food supply is prolific, with fish still plentiful following summer's salmon runs that moved from Bristol Bay, the world’s largest fishery, into the Naknek River, Naknek Lake and beyond. Chance encounters with snow or one last silver salmon run are possible at this time of year—both of which optimize opportunities for exceptional photographs.
A highlight of our visit is a chance to see the famous ursine competitors who will be the stars of the Katmai Conservancy's annual Fat Bear Week. This popular mid-October event offers the public a chance to "weigh in" by voting online for which brown bear best exemplifies the heft that sets it apart from the rest. As the bears bulk up for their long winter hibernation, they pack on the pounds during a final salmon fling in the Brooks River (which we are witness to), and our Expedition Leaders are often familiar with "who's who." Once you get home, you can vote for some of the very bears you've likely had a chance to see in person during our expedition.
Since we taxi in and out of the Brooks River area in our chartered floatplane, we have the flexibility and time to follow the bears and linger among them on the trails around the falls near Brooks Camp (which is closed for the season, so crowds are nonexistent). With the opportunity for aerial flightseeing, our paths will survey different natural areas each day, offering an overhead vista of the vast Katmai wilderness. Each evening we return to our well-appointed haven at Gold Creek Lodge, surrounded by forest that's home to bald eagles, moose, bears and other wildlife. Relax on leather sofas in front of the stone fireplace to ward off fall's chill, and enjoy time after dinner for photo editing and photography lessons, bear lectures, geology talks and more.
After a last round of watching and photographing bears in Katmai and some elevated exploration via our private air taxi this morning, we fly back to King Salmon, then on to Anchorage. Tonight, our Expedition Leader hosts a farewell dinner to celebrate our grand autumn adventure among the bears.
Our Alaskan bear expedition comes to a close today as we transfer to the airport for onward flights.
Included
- Trip price includes: Accommodations, services of Nat Hab's professional Expedition Leader(s) plus local guides and lodge staff, all meals from dinner on Day 1 through breakfast on final day, some gratuities, airport transfers on Day 1 and final day, chest waders for use during bear-viewing excursions (If you require an especially large or small size, please let us know prior to your trip), all activities and entrance fees, all taxes, permits and service fees.
- Internal air cost includes: Flights from Anchorage to King Salmon and all floatplane flights within the itinerary (this will be listed separately on our invoicing).
Not Included
- Travel to and from the start and end point of your trip, alcoholic beverages, some gratuities, passport and visa fees (if any), optional activities, items of a personal nature (phone calls, laundry and internet, etc.), airline baggage fees, airport and departure taxes (if any), optional travel protection and medical evacuation insurance.
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