Amidst the Alaskan brown bear. Enter the world of the great brown bear at the Pack Creek Bear Viewing Area on Admiralty Island, just a short 30 minute float plane ride from Juneau, Alaska. View these magnificent creatures in their natural setting eating sedge and clams, playing with siblings, sleeping and fishing for salmon in mid- to late summer. Admiralty Island is at the center of southeast Alaska's Tongass National Forest. The native Tlingit people called this place "Kootznoowoo" meaning "fortress of the bears." Containing over a million acres, its gentle mountain slopes and steady precipitation create a lush temperate rain forest and ubiquitous salmon spawning habitat which makes it an ideal home for the Alaskan brown bear. The island boasts one of the healthiest bear populations in the world with approximately one bear per square mile and is home to around 1,500 bears. These coastal brown bears are akin to "grizzlies" of the interior and easily distinguished by a large hump of muscle over their shoulders, as well as a dish-shaped face. The Nature of Pack Creek From its headwaters 4000 feet above sea level, Pack Creek descends rapidly to the ocean salt water in upper Seymour Canal. Sediments are deposited at its mouth, creating a 400-acre estuary. These mudflats are an important source of food for many animals, including bears, which feed on clams, shellfish and other creatures throughout the summer. Bears gather here when the pink and chum salmon return to spawn in their natal stream. Like all things wild, it is not possible to know exactly when the salmon runs begin in Pack Creek as it is part of an intricate and dynamic system. In the last several years bears begin catching fish between the second and last week of July. The Pack Creek ecosystem is home to more than just brown bears. The wilderness world of Pack Creek contains endless opportunities for inspiration and discovery. Admiralty Island contains the highest concentration of bald eagle nests in the world. Other birds, mammals and marine life thrive in this rich ecosystem of old growth rain forest and coastal marine environments. Recreation The Pack Creek Bear Viewing Area is within a federally designated Wilderness Area. This means there is limited development on site. There is no dock or restrooms. You can choose to walk the beach to the viewing spit or hike about one mile to an observation tower and spend time enjoying the wilderness. No humans or bears have ever been harmed at Pack Creek. In order to maintain this record and perpetuate quality bear viewing opportunities, all visitors must strictly follow Pack Creek protocols. These behavior protocols perpetuate patterns that maintain a safe and stress free environment for the bears who make Pack Creek their home, and creates the unique opportunity for visitors to witness bears in their natural environment, unbothered by human presence.