Ketchikan: Neets Bay Black Bear Viewing Tour with a Cruise｜United States

Begin with pickup near your cruise ship for a scenic narrated drive along the North Tongass Highway to Clover Pass Marina. Along the way, listen as your guide shares stories about Ketchikan’s fishing heritage, the surrounding Tongass National Forest, and the incredible ecosystems that support Alaska’s abundant wildlife.

At Clover Pass Marina, board a vessel for a scenic cruise through protected island waterways surrounded by the lush rainforest of the Tongass National Forest. Keep watch for harbor seals resting along rocky shorelines, Steller sea lions cruising the channels, and bald eagles soaring overhead. Depending on the season, humpback whales and porpoises may also be spotted during the journey.

Your destination is Neets Bay, a remote hatchery site where salmon return each summer, drawing black bears to the streams and shoreline to feed. Upon arrival, disembark and walk along maintained forest trails toward viewing platforms designed for safe and respectful wildlife observation.

From these elevated platforms, witness black bears fishing for salmon, foraging along the shoreline, or moving through the rainforest. Listen as your guide explains bear behavior, salmon life cycles, and the important role the hatchery plays in the region’s ecosystem.

After your time at Neets Bay, return by boat through the quiet island passages before enjoying the scenic drive back toward your cruise ship docks.