Last week of July photographing Bears

Question

I am trying to decide what is a better way to see bears. Between July 27 and July 31st

From Homer take a tour to Brooks Fall area? I would love to see bears eating at Brooks Falls but I am concerned with what I read of very limited time in the platforms...

Or from Homer do a Katmai bush tour

Or from Kodiak take a tour to see Kodiak Bears

What are the best companies to book a day tour to see bears?

Can I do Kodiak and Homer?? How would I get from one place to the other?

I am a photography enthusiast and really want to be able to take great Bear pictures....

Thanks!

Answer

Nice itinerary — you’ve captured many of Alaska’s best highlights for wildlife, glaciers/dog-sledding, and fjords. Below I’ll go day-by-day with notes, alternatives, booking advice, and photography/logistics tips so you can tighten up the plan and avoid common pitfalls.

Big picture summary / top tips up front — Book bear-viewing flights/tours, the Girdwood helicopter dogsled outing, Kenai Fjords cruises, and Denali bus tours well in advance (July is high season). Flights to King Salmon/Brooks are on small aircraft and are weather-sensitive — expect possible delays and build float time into your schedule. Bring telephotos (200–600mm ideal), fast SD cards, layered clothing, rain shell, and insect repellent near streams/marshes.

Day-by-day comments & suggestions

Day 1 — Anchorage arrival
- Good plan: arrive afternoon, settle at the Sheraton (central location). For dinner, consider upscale seafood (ex: Simon & Seafort’s if you want waterfront/photography views) or an Alaskan cuisine spot — reserve ahead as July evenings fill up.
- If you have time and energy, a short evening visit to Earthquake Park or Tony Knowles Coastal Trail offers sunset photo ops of the city and mountains.
Day 2 — Fly to King Salmon / Geographic Harbor (Katmai) bear viewing
- Your priority — bears — can be done two ways: (A) day trips to Brooks Falls/Brooks Camp (the classic bear-viewing platform), or (B) boat/ship-based and small-group expeditions that visit other coastal areas such as Geographic Harbor. Both options require early flights or multi-day charters and must be booked with authorized operators. The NPS maintains a list of authorized operators and the best viewing timing; book early.
- Operators & logistics: Companies such as Fly Katmai / Katmai Air, Regal Air, NorthWind, and specialist outfitters run day trips or lodges that fly from Anchorage or Homer into King Salmon / Brooks area — most day tours depart early and return late afternoon. If you’re aiming for Geographic Harbor specifically, look also at small expedition operators (multi-day sea/boat expeditions or specialized bear-viewing charters).
- Lodging note: If Alaska’s Gold Creek (or Brooks Lodge) is full, alternatives include staying in King Salmon or returning to Anchorage that night — but that makes Day 3 tighter. Consider re-arranging so you overnight closer (e.g., a lodge or flight-accessible base) if your primary goal is two full bear-viewing days — cancellations do happen and lodges sometimes release spots, so keep monitoring.
- Photography/field tips: Expect long telephoto needs; shoot at higher shutter speeds for action and bring a beanbag/monopod if allowed. Keep batteries/copies protected from damp coastal air.
Day 3 — Brooks Falls / return to Anchorage
- Seeing Brooks Falls is outstanding for salmon fishing/grizzly action — day tours typically give 4–5 hours on the ground if you book through established operators; this is a long day but extremely productive for bears. Operators vary in how much time they leave you on the boardwalk/platform. Expect to return to Anchorage in the evening if your flight legs allow.
- Alternative: If weather or flights look risky, a multi-day boat/ship operator (e.g., Geographic Marine Expeditions) provides an alternative coastal bear experience that reduces dependence on daily flight connections.
Day 4 — Helicopter glacier dog sledding (Girdwood / Alyeska)
- This is a great fit for your dog-sled priority and photo ops. Several reputable operators run helicopter + glacier dog-sled packages (examples: Iditaride, Alpine Air / local Girdwood operators). Book soon and check age/weight limits, and what’s included (time on glacier, meeting mushers, ride length).
- Logistics: Many tours depart from Girdwood (near Alyeska). Expect a 2–3 hour total experience (including flight), and always allow cushion for weather delays; morning flights often have calmer conditions.
- Ask each operator about how much hands-on dog interaction is permitted (some let guests drive a short run; others are rides only). For photography, ask about best spots on the glacier and the operator’s typical landing sites.
Days 5–7 — Drive to Seward, Kenai Fjords cruise, extra day
- Drive to Seward: The Seward highway is spectacular; allow 2.5–3 hours and stop at scenic pullouts (tons of photo opportunities).
- Accommodations: Two excellent options are Harbor 360 Hotel (waterfront, great for sunset/waterside photos) and Seward Windsong Lodge (beautiful setting near Exit Glacier). Both provide comfortable bases for cruising and local excursions.
- Kenai Fjords cruise: Major Marine Tours and Kenai Fjords Tours are the most established operators — choose a full-day (8+ hr) if you want the best chance to reach tidewater glaciers and maximize wildlife sightings; half-day trips are good for families or shorter schedules. Glacier calving is spectacular but never guaranteed; whales, sea otters, puffins, and sea lions are common sightings in prime season. Book the early/full day for more fjord time and better light for photography.
- Day 7 (extra day) options:
  - Hike Exit Glacier (short hikes to the glacier face and viewpoints).
  - Visit the Alaska SeaLife Center — great for kids and photography/education.
  - Go kayaking in Resurrection Bay (guided shore-based or sea kayak trips) if the family is adventurous.
Days 8–10 — Talkeetna & Denali
- Drive to Talkeetna: The drive from Seward to Talkeetna takes several hours (plan a full travel day with stops), or you can route via Anchorage depending on your preference. Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge is a comfortable, scenic choice with Denali views when skies are clear.
- Denali tours: From Talkeetna you can do flightseeing into Denali (Talkeetna Air Taxi) or travel to Denali Park for bus tours. The Tundra Wilderness Tour is the classic guided option for wildlife and scenery inside Denali Park (runs along the Park Road with stops and naturalist narration) — it’s a full day and is ideal for wildlife photography; plan for variable visibility of Mt. Denali (weather obscures the peak a significant fraction of days). Book the Tundra tour as soon as you lock dates.
- Day 10 choices: Return to Denali Park for hiking, rafting, or another bus tour if you want more chances for wildlife/landscape photos; or stay around Talkeetna for river float trips, zipline, or flightseeing for mountain photography.
Day 11 — Return to Anchorage & sightseeing
- Allow time to return the rental car, explore downtown Anchorage (Anchorage Museum or Coastal Trail), and finalize packing. Confirm evening departure logistics with airlines for July schedules.
Day 12 — Departure

Booking & logistics advice (critical)

Bear viewing & flights: Book an operator that includes transfer logistics (Anchorage ↔ King Salmon ↔ Brooks) and gives a clear cancellation/weather policy. If Gold Creek is full, either monitor cancellations or pick a reputable day-tour operator (Fly Katmai, NorthWind, Regal Air, or guided outfitters) and be prepared for a long but rewarding day.
Girdwood dogsled: Helicopter glacier dogsled experiences sell out fast for July — book now and confirm age/weight & photography allowances. Iditaride / Alpine Air style tours are common providers.
Kenai Fjords cruise: Full-day small-vessel cruises go farther into fjords for tidal glacier experience and better wildlife viewing; Major Marine and Kenai Fjords Tours are top choices — reserve early.
Denali reservations: If you want guided in-park experience, reserve the Tundra Wilderness Tour or the Eielson Excursion early (Denali’s tour seats are limited). Be realistic about Denali visibility — plan more than one opportunity to increase chances of seeing the mountain.

Photography & packing checklist

Telephoto lens 200–600mm (or 100–400mm) + 24–70mm for landscapes
Beanbag/monopod for small boat/floatplane stability
Extra batteries and weatherproof camera bag
Layered clothing, waterproof jacket, warm hat (glacier winds can be cold)
Binoculars, insect repellent, sunscreen
Copies of reservations, operator phone numbers, and a flexible buffer day for weather delays

Safety & etiquette

Follow guides’ instructions around bears and wildlife; use only approved viewing platforms and maintain distance.
Expect flight/weather delays; have flexible connections between the Katmai portion and downstream plans (Anchorage → Girdwood → Seward). Operators will often re-route or reschedule but build in buffer time so one delay doesn’t cascade.

Final suggestions / possible tweaks

If maximizing bears is your single highest priority, consider adding a second night near the Katmai area (or taking a multi-day coastal boat expedition) instead of returning immediately to Anchorage — this increases on-ground time and reduces risk from flight cancellations.
If you want more glacier time, consider swapping an extra Seward day for an additional Kenai Fjords full-day cruise (calving sightings increase with more time in the fjords).
Keep one “weather buffer” day (you have some built in) so key experiences (bears, dog sled, fjords) aren’t jeopardized by a single poor-weather day.

If you’d like, I can:

Look up current availability and contact info for specific bear-viewing operators and lodges (Fly Katmai, NorthWind, Brooks Lodge) for your specific travel dates;
Check helicopter dog-sled tour times/pricing for Girdwood (Iditaride / Alpine Air) on your dates;
Compare Kenai Fjords full-day vs half-day cruises and give a recommended booking based on your photography goals.

Happy to drill into any one area (bears, dog sledding operator choices, or which Kenai Fjords cruise best fits your family) and to help finalize bookings or an optimized day-by-day timetable.

Last week of July photographing Bears

More Alaska (AK) Travel Questions

The attractions mentioned in this question

Popular Destinations

Popular Travel Questions