Lake Clark National Park is on many peoples’ bucket list, including many Alaskans. You cannot drive to Lake Clark National Park so you must fly there (similar to Katmai NP). The experience from take off to touchdown at the Redoubt Mountain Lodge is one of a kind. People come to Lake Clark NP and Redoubt Mountain Lodge for the bear viewing, and it really is phenomenal. I’ve got the details for planning your own bear viewing trip to Lake Clark National Park so you can cross it off of YOUR bucket list!
If you have any questions that we don’t answer regarding bear viewing at Lake Clark National Park, gear or wildlife photography with bears, or the whole flightseeing experience, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re happy to share more and help plan incredible adventures.
Highlights of Bear Viewing at Lake Clark National Park
I knew it was going to be incredible but I didn’t know how incredible. Before we even landed on Lake Crescent to head to the Redoubt Mountain Lodge we were seeing bears from the air. And then before we even got onto our pontoon boat to go on a lake safari to see bears we were able to see them on the shore. Really unbelievable.
We landed and headed into the lodge where we had a delicious salmon lunch before heading out on the lake. This set the stage for watching bear eat salmon on the shore, on the rocks, sitting on logs, or even watching them fish for them in the water. I don’t think I was mentally prepared for how many bears we saw or how close we were able to get. Our naturalist guide was very knowledgeable and you could tell how much she loved the bears herself. We heard stories about the different bears, their names, and learned a lot about their habits, physiology and bear behavior.
The grizzly bears at Lake Clark National Park aren’t impacted by the humans who come to Redoubt Mountain Lodge. The tours keep their distance from the bears, and when you do get relatively close, the bears really don’t care. They exist peacefully eating fish all day.
Discount: We’ve partnered with Rust’s Flying Service to bring some savings to this amazing experience. Use the code 2TRAVELDADS when booking online or over the phone for a 10% discount!
Gear for Bear Viewing at Lake Clark NP
Dress warmly if you’re a chilly person. Visiting Redoubt Mountain Lodge is OUT THERE and it can be very different weather here than what you left in Anchorage. Once you’re on the ground in your bear viewing or sightseeing destination, be ready for whatever weather lies ahead. You’re limited as to the amount of gear or baggage you can bring with you, so dress in layers so that you’re comfortable no matter the weather.
When it comes to photography gear, bring what you’re most comfortable and confident with. Photography from the seaplane is easy with a camera phone or 55mm-250mm lens, but you’re not going to be able to do epic 600 or 800mm shots from a moving plane. Once in the wildlife setting, that’s where you’ll need the bigger lens. Small cameras can do the trick too, especially if you’re more of an in-the-moment wildlife person, but having a good telephoto (I use a 600mm but the lodge recommends capping it at 400mm) really does help capture amazing photos, especially of bears.
If you do want to bring a tripod, that’s a great way to capture wide shots of far off bears with the landscape, but for the up-close bear viewing from the boats, it won’t be too helpful/necessary. There were a few moments when I used my beanbag that I bring along to set my bigger lens on it for steady video shots, but not for photography.
Tips for the Best Lake Clark Bear Viewing Trip
Besides dressing warmly in any season, when you’re doing bear viewing at Lake Clark National Park, you’ll want to be well prepared with binocular and extra camera batteries. While you do get pretty close to the bears from the boat, there are many bears along the shores of Crescent Lake and it’s really neat to see how the bears behave when they are completely unaware of your presence. Also, this is a great way to help your guide find the best bear activity to decide where you should go.
When it comes to camera batteries, I’m not joking when I say that you should always have TWO backup batteries. Whether you’re enjoying just watching the bears or if you’re taking a lot of photos and video, you’ll want to be sure that when you are shooting that you can actually indeed have a functioning camera. I say this out of experience and too many times not having a backup to my backup battery.
Getting to Redoubt Mountain Lodge in Lake Clark NP
You can only fly into Lake Clark National Park. I flew in with Rust’s Air Service, but there are other seaplane operators that can get you here. If you’re staying at the Redoubt Mountain Lodge, your seaplane airfare is included in the cost of your reservation. The flight is about 45 minutes from Anchorage. I know that doesn’t seem far, but it’s a world away. On the way the sights are amazing, including Cook Inlet, Mount Redoubt and even wildlife from the plane.
Bear Viewing Tour Operating Info
To complete your planning, here is all the information to plan and book your adventure. You’ll see there are two companies involved here. The Redoubt Mountain Lodge is the on-site tour operator that will guide you for the bear viewing experience, while Rust’s Air Service is who will get you there. You can book the FLIGHT & BEAR VIEWING ONLY through Rust’s Air Service, but if you want to visit for multiple days and actually stay at Redoubt Mountain Lodge, you’ll book your transportation AND accommodations as a complete package through the lodge.
- Operating Dates/Season: mid June through late September
- Tour office phone number: 866-733-3034
- Company website: Redoubt Mountain Lodge
- Tour check-in address: Lake Hood Seaplane Port in Anchorage is the most common departure, flying from Homer is also an option. You’ll arrange this with the lodge.
For those who are booking their Lake Clark National Park bear viewing trip directly through Rust’s Air Service
- Operating Dates/Season: mid June through late September for bear viewing, flights run year round for other services
- Tour office phone number: 907-243-1595
- Company website: Rust’s Air Service
- Tour check-in address: Lake Hood Seaplane Port in Anchorage – 4525 Enstrom Cir, Anchorage AK 99502
Photography Gear Recommendations
Before jumping into cameras, let me start by saying that I am NOT a technical photographer but have worked professional as a photographer since 1997 with my first job being a photographer’s assistant and having my first wildlife photography piece published that same year. So, I’ve been doing this a while and ultimately I believe that you can do great things with nearly any equipment. Yes, the fancier and more expensive stuff is great, but you don’t have to drop thousands of dollars to capture amazing photos.
As you look at my recommendations, keep in mind that most cameras can be upgraded with good lenses. The key thing to do with any gear though is to read actual reviews from users versus looking only at manufacturer camera specs.
Camera Bodies for Amateur or Professional Use
Budget option: I’ve had a variety of cameras over the years, but my favorite and the one that I use for both hobby and professional photography is the Canon Rebel T7i. It’s a solid, hardy DSLR camera that does very well for travel, wildlife and even portrait photography. I’ve had other Canon Rebels in the past and they’ve always been great. Get my exact camera here!
Spendy but great: If you’re thinking about a mirrorless camera, the Canon EOS R6 does an amazing job. It’s fast with impressive photo clarity, and it’s remarkably quiet, especially in comparison to my DSLR camera. When it comes to an affordable camera in the land of insane mirrorless costs, the Canon EOS R6 is the best combination of cost and quality. Mirrorless cameras that are worth investing in start at around $2000 USD, so if you’re ready to take that plunge, it’s worth it to get something that matches quality and cost. Get the Canon EOS R6 here!
Telephoto Lens Recommendations
Before you get all shopping happy, keep in mind that not every lens is interchangeable with every brand of camera or model. There are specific lenses for specific brands and models and YOU MUST look at the lens details to confirm that the lens is compatible with your camera body. And also remember that some lenses might be compatible with “model x4” (as an example) but then the camera might be a “model x4A” or something.
With my Canon Rebel T7i I use three basic lenses: wide angle (basic), 250mm and a 600mm. I would love to have an 800mm but we’re talking about a heavy and expensive lens at that point. I use the wide angle for landscape, macro and easy shot framing. I use the 250mm for fast wildlife shots, distant landscapes and close range wildlife photography. This is my 250mm lens for my Canon Rebel T7i.
My favorite lens is my 600mm. I use this for shooting anything that’s awesome and that I want good close ups of. There are several settings on my lens that I don’t use, so I have it set just how I like it. It’s been a great lens for birdwatching and getting amazing wildlife shots in National Parks. Get the Sigma 600mm here!
Favorite Binoculars for Wildlife Watching
Sometimes you don’t want to be stuck behind a camera snapping photos the whole day, and when that’s the case a good set of binoculars can be just as satisfying. We always have at least one pair of binoculars with us, but more often we have a large pair and a small pair. Traveling with kids, it’s important to have a set that’s easy for them to use and allows them to see wildlife easily.
The best binoculars we’ve ever use, and we first came across them during our trip to the Peruvian Amazon, is the Vortex Diamondback. These are nice, small binoculars that are incredibly clear with great magnification. They run around $200 but are really hardy and do an incredible job. Get the Vortex Diamondback binoculars here!
I hope you’re excited to experience the incredible bear viewing at Lake Clark National Park. Between the beautiful wildlife and sense of Alaskan adventure, I know you’ll love it. If you have any questions about visiting Lake Clark National Park, flightseeing, or travel around Alaska please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to help with travel planning for an Alaska Trip!
Discount: We’ve partnered with Rust’s Flying Service to bring some savings to this amazing experience. Use the code 2TRAVELDADS when booking online or over the phone for a 10% discount!
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