Sitka’s Fortress of the Bear – the Unique Bear Sanctuary You MUST Visit

One of the more unique wildlife experiences you’ll find in Alaska is Sitka’s Fortress of the Bear. A fortress? Yes, a literal concrete fortress that serves as a sanctuary for bears. I’ll explain in a moment, but it’s really special what they’re able to do for the bears. And while it’s not directly in the downtown area, there are plenty of options to be able to get out to Fortress of Bear if you’re visiting independently or with a cruise ship. 

We’ve got the full scoop on how you can visit the Fortress of the Bear when you come to Sitka, as well as some recommendations for seeing more awesome Alaskan creatures. If you have any questions about visiting the Fortress of the Bear or need more ideas to add to your time in Sitka, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to share more and help you plan a great Alaskan adventure. 

Why Visit Fortress of the Bear in Sitka

Getting to see bears is always something special, and ideally it happens when you’re visiting Alaska and you’re out in the wild or on the Alaska Railroad or something, but not all bears get to live out their full lives in the wild if their circumstances weren’t ideal when they were young. Fortress of the Beach is a sanctuary for bears that have faced a loss or injury and have needed human support to survive. Because Alaska doesn’t currently have a rehabilitation and release program for bears, but just rehabilitation, bears who need help need a place to live once they’ve had the human interactions. Fortress of the Bear gets to be the home of such bears, and as of 2026 they have seven bears that they look after: 4 brown bears and 3 black bears. Even though these bears are no longer in the wild, getting to see them up close from the observation areas at Fortress of the Bear is special. 

It’s very unique to get to care for bears, so the staff here are some of the luckiest people in Alaska, if you ask me. While they aren’t interacting with them and training them like may have been the case in zoos and circuses in the past, they are looking after their health and ensuring the bears have the right enrichment to stay content. What does that look like for a bear? Well, during the salmon runs it means putting live fish in the water features of the enclosures. During spring it means giving the bears fresh, fun branches to play with and pull the leaves off. In summer it’s making sure they have the right toys to keep them pleasantly active. It’s complex, taking care of bears. 

For the visitors to Fortress of the bear, they get to support this work and learn about black and brown bears in Alaska. Between the Tongass National Forest being continually threatened and just the general plight of being a bear in a place with humans, you’ll see what it is that impacts the bear population of Southeast Alaska and why the Fortress of the beach is so valuable. And the bears are ridiculously cute as well. 

Tips for the Best Visit to Fortress of the Bear

When you come to Fortress of the Bear, take your time. You’ll begin your visit with a video about the Fortress’ mission in saving bears who need human help, about the creation of this very unique sanctuary and how you can help. Once you’ve got the info and had the talk about safety, you get to enter the sanctuary. Fortress of the Bear gets its name from the structure it uses, which is actually an old pulp plant from the lumbering/paper days of Sitka. There are two huge concrete, circular structures that used to be pulp tanks which now have been converted to brown bear habitats. There’s also a forested hillside that is home to the black bears of the Fortress of the Bear. Indoor and outdoor viewing platforms give you an up-close look at the different bears and you’re able to observe without disturbing them. 

I loved the perspective from the observation platforms for photography. It’s not often that you can get so close to brown bears, or black bears either, and here you can watch them and get photos unlike in the wild. Whether it’s the brown bears cuddling or the black bears digging in the woods, when they’re being active it’s special to get to watch, especially knowing that they wouldn’t have likely been able to survive in the wild, so they have the cush, mellow lives they do thanks to the Fortress of the Bear. 

There’s always staff around making sure that guests are safe and observing the rules of the sanctuary, but they’re also there to answer questions. Visiting Sitka and getting to learn about the bear population from the people who care for a few of them gives you a great perspective into the lives of wild bears. In talking with the staff at the Fortress of the Bear we learned about where each bear came from and what made them different, which is important for visitors to hear. So many people think of bears as ferocious, dangerous animals (and they certainly can be), but listening to the staff talk about the bears’ personalities and history, it was heartwarming. I’m cheesy like that. 

Being Prepared for Fortress of the Bear

When you visit the Fortress of the Bear, keep in mind that it’s both an indoor and outdoor experience. Sitka is a very wet town and you’ve got a good chance of rain and mist when you visit. Dress accordingly. We wore rain gear because it was such a wet day anyways, and it was very much appropriate and allowed us to have more time outside watching the bears. If you’re not well prepared, you can also observe the brown bears from inside if they’re in the right place, but it’s best to be able to enjoy all the viewpoints. 

Note: be careful with anything on your person. A lot of visitors lose hats, glasses, phones and more to the enclosures and usually these cannot be fetched out. 

For camera gear, I think the Fortress of the Bear offers some cool, unique opportunities for photography. You can likely get some good photos and videos with a regular camera phone, but sometimes the bears are in the mood to be as far away from the human zone as possible, so it’s good to have a nice camera with a telephoto lens. This certainly isn’t required, but I found it very helpful. 

Is there a Gift Shop at Fortress of the Bear?

Yes! There is a wonderful gift shop at the Fortress of the Bear that is full of art, bear knickknacks, shirts, sweatshirts and books. If you left home without your snuggle teddy bear and you won’t make it through your tour of Sitka and Southeast Alaska without it, this is THE place to get a new bear stuffy. Remember though, depending on the type of Alaska trip you’re doing, you may not need to get a souvenir everywhere you go, because you’ll need to transport them with you.

Is the Fortress of the Bear a Non-Profit? 

Yes, it is! The Fortress of the Bear is a 501c3 non-profit organization (41-2064376, known as Kootznahoo Fortress Of The Bear). Their work is supported through private donations, service organizations, and funds raised through visitation. I love the non-profits of Alaska because they’re all so focused on preserving AK holistically, meaning they work to protect the forests, the wildlife, the waters and the Alaska Native culture of the state. Other wonderful non-profits we like to support operating in Sitka are the Sitka Sound Science Center and the Boat Company (the only non-profit cruise line in the world).

How Much Time Do I Need to Visit the Fortress of the Bear

I think allowing yourself 90 minutes to visit Fortress of the Bear should be fine. This includes the time to get out to the sanctuary, as it is not located directly downtown Sitka. Fifteen minutes out, an hour of enjoying the bears, and then fifteen minutes returning should be perfect. 

Getting to the Fortress of the Bear

While most of the things to do in Sitka are walking distance from each other, the Fortress of the Bear is actually located about fifteen minutes outside of town. The drive from downtown out to the Fortress is beautiful, with the forest covered mountains spilling into the waters off Sitka Sound. If you’re visiting Sitka on your own, you can book your visit during general admission hours, and then you can take a taxi to the Fortress of the Bear. You can also book a tour of Sitka that includes time at the Fortress, and this can be done as an independent visitor to Sitka or as a cruise excursion.

On cruise ship days admission to the Fortress of the Bear is restricted to set, timed entry due to the limited space for humans at the bear sanctuary. The best way to ensure you’ll be able to visit is to book a tour that includes a stop here. If you’re driving on your own, there is limited parking at the Fortress of the Bear, but there should be plenty of space as most visitors will be a part of a cruise tour. 

Things to Do in Sitka

I think Sitka is a really cool city. It’s much less visited than Ketchikan or Juneau and has so much to do and see all within walking distance of the primary marina downtown. It’s full of Tlingit culture and Russian imperial history, and there are some wonderful wildlife education and viewing opportunities. I think Sitka is a really good three day visit, but then if you’re also planning some fishing or hiking days you can easily make it a five day town.

Something that really stands out to me about visiting Sitka is how accessible history all in its central hub. You’ve got several museums, Sitka National Historical Part and more all within walking distance of each other. If you’re into science and wildlife, you’ve got several places to visit that are all about Alaska’s habitats and the science of its keystone species. Sitka is so cool.

Where to Stay in Sitka

There are three ways to enjoy Sitka as a visitor: on a day visit from a cruise ship, staying in a cozy spot downtown, or enjoying one of the remote lodges. Everyone has a different plan for how they want to experience Sitka and Southeast Alaska, and everyone’s budget is different, so book what’s right for you. Here are some recommendation for Sitka:

You can also checkout lodging options in the map below:

We hope you’ll consider visiting Fortress of the Bear and supporting this wonderful group of people caring for the bears of Southeast Alaska. It’s a unique experience and a great addition to your time in Sitka. If you have any questions about planning your time in Sitka or Southeast Alaska, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to share more and help you plan a memorable trip to Alaska.