Kawanti Adventures Black Bear Express for Wildlife Watching in Ketchikan

I will never guarantee wildlife sightings, either when I’m driving a tour or when I’m recommending something, but spending time with Kawanti Adventures in Ketchikan is nearly a guarantee for seeing black bears when the season is right. Located just south of downtown Ketchikan Kawanti Adventures has a large swatch of property with boardwalks where they guide guests through the woods looking for black bears and they are very successful with the experience. But it’s not guaranteed…

If you’re hoping to see wildlife during your trip through Southeast Alaska you’ll have lots of choices for activities, but for seeing black bears, Kawanti Adventures Black Bear Express may just be the perfect pick for you. We’ll fill you in on what to expect when you go out with Kawanti Adventures and we’ve got some great tips for photographing black bears in the wild, like you’ll hopefully see here. If you have any questions about this activity or need more recommendations for things to do in Ketchikan, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to share more and help you plan a great trip to Alaska!

Highlights of Kawanti Adventures in Ketchikan

When I talk to people who haven’t been to Alaska before, they so often are most concerned about bear safety and having an encounter that leaves them terrified or feeling like they’re in danger. Kawanti Adventures makes seeing bears an experience that’s both fun and extra safe. When you’re visiting their area at the edge of the Alaska Rainforest Sanctuary you always have a trained guide with you (usually at least two actually) and they lead you through the forest and along the boardwalks.

The bear boardwalks are actually the thing that makes visiting Kawanti Adventures so cool. You get to explore, elevated above the grassy areas the black bears roam through. You get to be so close and have such a unique view. This is a fully wild experience, despite it being such a consistent one. You can explore the boardwalks as part of a day at the Alaska Rainforest Sanctuary (ziplines and interpretive center) or you can do the Black Bear Express where you get to just go with guides to look for bears both in the forest and along the stream via the boardwalks. It’s such a simple process with a great success rate. We’ve been several times to the stream at Herring Cove where the boardwalks go and only one time did we not see bears there. Sometimes they’re in the water, sometimes the grass and sometimes they’re hanging out at the edge of the woods.

The other cool thing about doing Kawanti Adventures Black Bear Express and visiting the Rainforest Sanctuary is the number of bald eagles you’ll see. Both mature and juvenile eagles fill the trees and can be seen all along the stream. Like with any sort of wildlife watching though, even the bumper bald eagle population can vary by visit because they’re wild, but we’ve always seen several, and pretty close too. Another one of the awesome and consistent things about visiting Alaska!

Tips for a Great Black Bear Viewing Experience

The first tip with any sort of wildlife watching is always SAFETY FIRST. When you go out with Kawanti Adventures you’ve got trained guides who are watching out for bears all around you, so it’s well managed. It’s up to YOU to listen to them and behave, but they’re pretty awesome people who want you to have a great experience. They’re equipped with bear spray and safety skills, so you can enjoy the Black Bear Express and other tours with ease.

Most people are visiting Ketchikan as a part of a cruise, and Kawanti Adventures knows this. When you’re booking your tour, be sure that you’re choosing a time that works with your port schedule. There are lots of opportunities throughout the day, and since the Black Bear Express usually lasts just about 90 minutes, you can schedule it to allow you other activities in Ketchikan as well. Look at everything you want to do while you’re in port and then you can line up for schedule to maximize your time.

Note: the Black Bear Express with Kawanti Adventures runs in August and September only. This is because the bear are most active here during the salmon runs. If you visit in June and July, while you can likely see bears in the Alaska Rainforest Sanctuary and at Herring Cove, the tour doesn’t start up until the bears are in their most active time.

Being Prepared for Kawanti Adventures and the Rainforest Sanctuary

Oh, Ketchikan, you wet and wonderful place! Yes, you need to be dressed properly when you head out into the woods with Kawanti Adventures. Although much of the trail system you’ll be on is surrounded by trees, it’s not under cover and even misty rain will soak you if you’re out in it for long enough. It’s okay to bring an umbrella if you think you need it, but we lean towards jackets to keep us dry. The paths you’re on when you’re in the forest with Kawanti Adventures are fairly flat and are very well maintained. You’ll either be on gravel paths or boardwalks, so just regular shoes are fine. There’s no need to put on hiking boots, but you don’t want to wear sandals or flip flops, I’d say.

BRING YOUR CAMERAS! When the black bears are active, you get such a unique view of them as they wander about. It’d be a pity to not try to get a few good shots of them. And the eagles too!! A telephoto lens (400-600mm should do the trick) is a much for capturing photos of this wonderful wildlife experience. Yes, your camera phone may be effective too, but for close up bear pictures, you’ll want a bigger lens if you have one available.

Note: you won’t see and grizzly/coastal brown bears here in Ketchikan. The island only has black bears.

Should I Tip My Guide?

Tipping culture in the USA is interesting. I’ve worked in tipped tourism jobs and managed tipped and non-tipped teams, and it’s always a delicate topic. While a gratuity is always a nice way to compliment a guide on their skills and service, it’s not required. You’ve already paid for the ticket for your tour, you’ve paid the cost of access and professional staff. You don’t have to tip, but it’s always appreciated.

In general in the USA, it’s thought that 20% of the cost is a great tip/gratuity. I think that’s not always what you should do. I think when guided experiences are easy with minimal interaction or when a guided experience doesn’t need a lot of help or personalized service, I feel that a 20% tip is no necessary. You’ll be able to tell what you feel is appropriate, and then you can provide a gratuity in cash or via Venmo.

Transportation for Kawanti Adventures from Ketchikan

If you have a car with you in Ketchikan (like if you came up on the Alaska Marine Highway) you can drive yourself to the Kawanti Adventures headquarters. There is plenty of parking, a gift shop, totem pole park and an old saw mill here. There also is usually a totem pole carver working, so that’s neat to be able to watch. If you’re doing the Kiwanti Adventures Black Bear Express from a cruise ship, the driver will meet you at the dock wearing clothing and holding a sign so you go to the correct tour. They have a great system for keeping cruise guests organized and on time for their tours. They’ll transport you back and forth from the cruise dock so you won’t need to worry about it.

More Things to Do in Ketchikan

Ketchikan is such a cool town and it’s a wonderful place to explore for several days. If you’re only able to stop in for a little bit from a cruise ship, that’s fine too, but you’re going to want to come back and explore on your own in the future. What makes Ketchikan such a great town to visit is the combination of Alaska Native culture and all the elements that come to mind when you think of Alaska: salmon, mining, timber, landscapes. Ketchikan can be a wonderfully active town to visit or you can arrive and spend a few days relaxing.

As you plan your time in Ketchikan, think about how you want to mix up your activities. You can plan tours on the water or to visit different parts of Ketchikan to learn about Tlingit culture or nature. There are some walking tours to dig into the food scene or you can enjoy the Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show. Do you need a car when you come to town? No, not necessarily and downtown is very walkable, even beyond Creek Street, and there is a bus system that goes to some further away spots. A car is nice though, as that open you up to hiking and traveling around the island freely.

Here are are recommendations for things to do in Ketchikan:

Where to Stay in Ketchikan

If you’re lucky enough to get to spend several days in Ketchikan, there are some fun options for hotels around down town. For visitors with their own cars, you can consider something outside of the immediate downtown area and not need to worry about parking. I will say, there are some cool places to stay just off Creek Street, which puts you right in one of the most iconic Alaskan neighborhoods. You can even stay at the Cape Fox Lodge overlooking downtown and then take the funicular down to the main area. Some hotels in Ketchikan offer shuttle service between the hotel and downtown or the airport ferry terminal, so if you want to enjoy a more quiet stay, you can still easily get about town without a car.