Brown bears have made Lake Clark, Alaska, their home. Lake Clark National Park and Preserve (LCNPP) is approximately 160 km southwest of Anchorage, Alaska.  It comprises 1,630,889 hectares of the pristine and untamed Alaskan wilderness, approximately 1,067,000 hectares in the park, and 570,000 hectares in the preserve. LCNPP was created in 1980 to protect and preserve its natural habitat and the brown bears in the park. As a result, it is often called Alaska’s wildest park. Furthermore, approximately ninety-five per cent of brown bears in the USA live in Alaska. Therefore, Lake Clark has a large population of them.

Lake Clark

This area comprises many streams, lakes, glaciers, salmon run, bear fishing and foraging, salmon fishing, forests, meadows and two volcanoes (Mount Redoubt and Mount Iliamna). Mount Redoubt is still an active volcano; the last eruptions were in 1989 and 2009. 

A large population of brown bears is attracted to LCNPP due to the abundance of sockeye salmon, making this destination trendy for bear-watching and photographing.

Lake Clark is so remote that the only way to get there is by boat or a one-hour small scenic air charter from Anchorage. The airstrip is on the beach, a shared zone with bears, humans and small planes. Rangers are present for all landings and take-offs to ensure no bears on the beach.

The Main attraction – the Bears

Alaska is home to 95% of the USA’s brown bears, and Lake Clark provides a protected habitat. 

Brown Bear or Grizzly Bear – what is the difference?

Both brown and grizzly bears are the same species. The only difference is their location, which impacts their diet, size and behaviour. Coastal bears are called ‘brown bears’ with marine-based food diets, while ‘inland bears’ are called grizzly bears with diets that consist of vegetation. All bears have the characteristic shoulder hump, long curved claws and broad head.  

Lake Clark’s Coastal Brown Bears

Lake Clark’s coastal brown bears have a wide variety of vegetation and marine food, as rivers contain clams and salmon. Bears gather in estuaries in large numbers to eat and mate. With the plentiful food in this area, the brown bears grow larger and fatter, some males weighing 450kg. The average weight for males is 270 – 410 kg, height 2 – 3 metres. Females weigh approximately one-third of the male weight.

There are very few places in the world where you can find such a large concentration of brown bears in such a small area. In addition, Lake Clark’s coastal habitats are wild, with no roads, towns or camping grounds.

Viewing

Bear viewing occurs in two small areas: Chinitna Bay and Silver Salmon Creek. Due to strict guidelines and trained local rangers, the bears in these areas are used to human presence and have no fear as long as humans keep a reasonable distance from them. 

Bears have never been hunted or fed in this area, so they do not fear humans. The trained and knowledgeable guides ensure strict viewing rules are always followed.

Lodges

There are two lodges in Cook Inlet where you can stay when visiting Silver Salmon Creek in Lake Clark National Park. Alaska Homestead Lodge and Silver Salmon Creek Lodge. To access Lake Clark and its lodges, a small plane from Anchorage or Soldotna. The best time to visit is between May and September. The bears are out for the salmon run. Salmon migrate up rivers, spawning on gravel beds, creating a plentiful food supply for winter hibernation. Sows are now more comfortable showing off their very young cubs.

Observing and photographing the bears as they roamed in their natural and undisturbed habitat in Lake Clark National Park and Preserve was a great privilege. As the bears were heading home, so did I.

I spent a week at Lake Clark. During this time, I had the privilege of walking with these unique brown bears. I can highly recommend a visit to Lake Clark for anyone who loves brown bears and wild wilderness.

Please enjoy this short video of Lake Clark.