Located in the Tongass National Forest of Southeast Alaska, 35 miles south of Wrangell Alaska, is the Anan Wildlife Observatory at Anan Creek, where the US Forest Service maintains a Black and Brown Bear viewing platform. Eagles, seals and Sea Lions join in the feast on Pink Salmon entering the lagoon.

The day begins with an hour long jet boat ride from Wrangell through the Eastern Passage. Seals, Stellar Sea Lions, dolphins and occasionally Orca feed on herring and smelt in the bays and currents along the way. Upon arrival at Anan, guests disembark off the bow of the boat and climb up the bank to reach the trailhead. A USFS interpreter will greet us at the trailhead to provide a brief history of the facility and recent wildlife activity at the observatory. A maintained 1/2-mile moderate trail partially boardwalked with steps leads through the rainforest to the observatory platform. The trail winds through the rainforest up and down along the lagoon and across some tree roots, ending at the observatory located above a series of cascading waterfalls. Your guide will brief you on bear safety and etiquette. Please follow these guidelines. At this point we are in the Anan Bear habitat where bears also use the trail. For the safety of our clients we carry a shotgun and pepper spray. There has never been an injury incident involving human and bear interactions at Anan. We encourage our clients to behave in a "bear savvy" manner as described below.

Please do not wander from the trail and group.

If you want to stop and take pictures, let your guide know and we will stop and wait.

Please talk in a normal conservational voice-make noise to avoid "surprise" encounters with animals.

Don't carry food or "scented" items into the observatory-only water is allowed. We will eat lunch before walking into the observatory and any left over items will be left on the boat.

In the event that a bear is encountered on the trail-stop and follow the direction of you guide.

We do not recommend visiting this area with children younger than 9 years old.

The multi-level observatory platform and photo-blind provide excellent opportunities for viewing black and brown bears fishing 30 feet below or approximately 150 feet across the creek. This platform is open to both guided and non-guided travelers and there is generally not more than 20 people there at any given time.One section of the deck is covered and provides shelter from the rain. An outhouse is available at the end of a 50 foot path off the observatory. Please notify your guide if you choose to use it.

Bears can be viewed fishing for salmon as close as 30 feet away from the safety of the enclosed photo-blind. The photo-blind is available on a first come basis and accomidates six photographers at a time for one half hour "turns". The sign up sheet is at the top of the stairs under the covered observation area. The time spent at the platform is determined by the guide based on local conditions. Usually we spend from 4 to 6 hours at the platform. This allows us to explore further on our return to Wrangell. There are "outhouse" bathroom facilities located on the bottom of the trail and near the observation platform for your comfort and convenience.

The best viewing varies by season and weather. Generally bears follow the salmon run which begins in early July. The peak of the season is from mid July through mid August with viewing available through the first week of September. Beginning in 2004 this unique activity is restricted by permit to all users from July 5th through August 25th. A total of 64 permits will be available daily for both the guided and th eunguided public. Four of these permits are reserved for cabin users, 12 will be available 3 days prior at the Wrangell Ranger District, with the remainder distributed between commercial guides, transporters and to the general public on a reservetaion system. Due to these changes,we will be offereing a variety of options: fully guided trips including permits, guided trips for those clients with private permits, and transportation only services for those with private permits and cabin users. Each company is alloted a fixed number of days based on historical use. Stickeen Wilderness Adventures inc.and Alaska Vistas inc.have a combined total of over 200 permits. Please book early and reserve your spot on this spectacular tour!