Admiralty Island Alaska
Frequently Asked Questions
Nowhere. The island has no pier and no terminal: expedition ships anchor offshore and Zodiacs land passengers on shingle beaches at the edge of the rainforest.
Because the Tlingit named it Kootznoowoo, 'fortress of the bears'. The island holds roughly 1,600 brown bears, about one per square mile: the highest known concentration anywhere.
No, and that deserves saying plainly. This is a wildlife-watching call where nature sets the programme: you come to look, wait and listen. Odds are excellent during the salmon run, never guaranteed.
The island's best-known site, at a creek mouth on the east coast. A short walk along the shore leads to a viewing spit overlooking the estuary, where bears come to fish.
Some groups arrive by floatplane from Juneau, about a twenty-minute flight over the channels; others come by boat. Access is capped by permit and departures are limited.
Nothing like a conventional port day: no town, no shops, no schedule. A Zodiac landing, a walk along the shore, quiet observation. Swell and weather can rewrite the plan without notice.
Layers, waterproofs and rubber boots: southeast Alaska's rainforest earns its name and landings are often wet-footed. A pair of binoculars transforms the day.
Only for children able to stay still and silent for long stretches, in the presence of wild bears. Operators generally set a minimum age at Pack Creek.
US dollars and English, the island being part of Alaska. That said, there is nothing to buy ashore: bring what you need from the ship.
June through September, the only window when expedition ships work southeast Alaska. July and August, during the salmon run, give the best viewing odds.
