Alaska Grizzly Bear Photo Safari
Join Me on My Favorite Photo Adventure!
Photograph Brown Bears Crashing Through Creeks in the Remote Wilderness of Alaska
Aug 8-13, 2024 - Camping
Aug 14-19, 2024 - Lodge-based with Daily Fly-outs
Aug 8-13, 2025 - Lodge-based with Daily Fly-outs
Aug 14-19, 2025 - Lodge-based with Daily Fly-outs
Katmai and Lake Clark National Parks in Alaska are the Earth’s best location to photograph the coastal grizzly (brown) bear. Here, many of the salmon streams are in the high alpine and open tundra…giving clear, unobstructed views to capture spectacular images. The trips are offered at a time that coincides with what is typically the peak Sockeye Salmon run at my favorite photo location within Katmai National Park and Preserve. Although we will concentrate our efforts on photographing bears chasing salmon, there will also be opportunities to photograph interactions between the bears, sows with cubs and bears on the tundra with amazing backdrops. On the Lodge-based trips, we will also visit the famed Brooks Falls for at least one day.
TRIP HIGHLIGHTS
All-inclusive Photo Safari to some of the best bear photography locations on the planet
Concentration on photographing grizzly bears fishing for salmon…the most fun you can have with a camera!
Access to more than 127 specific bear locations
All Lodging, food, guides, daily bush flights, daily maid service and waders are included
Small group with a maximum of 4-6 guests
Expert photographic instruction and coaching
Magnificent Scenery and Wonderful Image-making
Lodge-based trips will visit Brooks Falls at least once
WHAT TO EXPECT
This spectacular photo safari is based in a remote village on the north shore of Lake Iliamna (Alaska's largest lake). Surrounded by 18 million acres of wilderness, this village is accessible only by plane and is nestled between Katmai & Lake Clark National Parks. The lodge is a destination lodge & guide service that specializes in remote wilderness photo safaris for Grizzly Bears, Walrus, Wolves and Dall Sheep. Included are daily bush flying adventures into some of the wildest places on Earth. Your host has been guiding photographers in Alaska since 1978. The Lodge is family run and environmentally friendly. They are NOT a large adventure company doing trips all over the world. They are NOT a hunting/fishing lodge or air service booking photographers in their slow seasons. They are Alaska's Bear Experts!
They do one thing: Provide Wildlife Photographers & Adventure Travelers the best Grizzly Bear Experience in Alaska.
You will begin each day with a hearty home-cooked breakfast before taking a bush flight to the destination of your choice. This will, typically, be to an area where the bear activity (bears fishing for salmon will be the priority) is the greatest. The lodge has access to over 127 different locations in the Alaskan Wilderness. Each day will the an exhilarating experience…filled with the action of bears crashing through alpine streams as they attempt to catch salmon. At the end of the day we will return to the lodge for a spectacular meal and share stories from the day.
We will almost always be photographing from the stream’s edge or in the stream…providing you with some spectacular water-level shots. You will be provided with waders that will keep you dry and warm.
This trip is Moderate to Difficult in its physical requirements. You should be able to walk at least 5 miles a day. At times the terrain may be uneven and you should expect the rivers to be rocky. Temperatures are generally somewhere between 50-65 degrees.
Each bear has a different tolerance level for how close it will be comfortable with us approaching it. Usually, we can get to 50 yards from the bears without disrupting the bears’ behavior. However, very often bears will safely pass much closer as they wander or hunt for salmon. The bears are completely focused on catching salmon and ignore our presence. Your guides have years of experience with bears and are able to judge just how close is a safe distance. Bear spray is provided and your guide carries both bear spray and a firearm.
ITINERARY - ALASKA GRIZZLY PHOTO SAFARI
Day 1
Depart Anchorage in the afternoon for the Lodge. Upon arrival we will be welcomed with a meal and some briefing in order to prepare for first outing the following day
Day 2-6
Our days start with a wonderful family-style breakfast followed by a “fly-out” to photograph bears all day. We will return to the lodge in the evening for a hot meal and rest for the next day.
Day 6
Depart the Lodge for in the late afternoon for Anchorage..
ACCOMMODATIONS AND FOOD
The main lodge is on the shore of Lake Iliamna and is your gathering place. With a 180 degree panoramic view of Alaska's largest lake and the glacial filled mountains of the Alaska Peninsula, you'll enjoy the warmth and atmosphere around the stone fireplace reliving the day's adventure We’ll also be able review images on a large screen TV, play pool, and plan the next day’s adventures. There are 6 comfortable guest cabins, each with a private bathroom and unlimited hot water. There are 2 full-sized beds in each cabin and you should expect double occupancy. Powered by a small hydro project, the cabins have full-time electricity…to charge batteries, use a hair dryer or power a CPAP machine all night.
A maximum of 12 guests will be at the lodge during any one time. The dynamics of a small, personalized operation allows the lodge to customize each day's activities to best accommodate it’s guests. We split into 2 or 3 groups each day and there is 1 guide with every group.
The lodge has a long standing reputation for fine dining. Meals are prepared fresh daily under the experienced eye of our chef. The lodge can cater to both meat lovers and vegetarians. If you have special dietary needs please call the chef, at least 3 weeks before your arrival, so that all supplies are on hand to meet your needs.
GETTING AROUND
Most traveling is undertaken by aircraft each day. The Lodge owns a total of 4 aircraft: Two DeHavlland Beavers on floats, each with 8 seat capacity. One Cessna 206 on 29” tundra tires with 6 seats & 1 Piper Super Cub on 35” tundra tires with 2 seats.
The aircraft are always standing by to fly yout to over 127 different locations. You will have exclusive use of the aircraft that are always with you or at the lodge waiting for you.
ACTIVITY LEVEL
You should be able to climb into and out of a small plane or float plane. You should be able to walk as much as 5 miles per day over uneven terrain. The walking is generally level, with minimal elevation changes. Not all destinations will require this amount of walking, but getting to the best bear activity can sometimes require this amount of walking. You should also be comfortable with walking through shallow, moving water that has a gravel/rock base (you will be wearing provided waders) . Guests must complete a standard liability waiver upon arrival at the lodge.
CAMPING TRIP
If you want a truly amazing and immersive experience, join me on a camping adventure. We will tent-camp at a location that has the best bear activity at the time. There’s no need to worry, however, the bears are super highly focused on eating salmon and have an overabundance of it everywhere. We are not a threat to them or their foodsources and the bears generally ignore our presence. We are also not a foodsource for them. Our campsite will also be protected by an electric bear-fence.
In early August, we will have 17 hours of daylight and we can maximize our time photographing the bears. The camping trip in 2024 is at the same time I did a trip in 2023 and along a 4-mile stretch of stream we saw more than 80 bears!
Our campsite will be equipped with everything we need. You just need to bring your own sleeping bag. There will be a 2-burner propane stove and oven on which we can heat up prepared meals or cook some fresh salmon. The cooler will be fully stocked all kinds of goodies. I will also have battery packs to recharge our camera batteries.