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Susi Zimmermann Bill Feller

A generation or two ago, Anan Wildlife this is their main food source used to bulk up representative who instructs everyone on the
Observatory was only known to the locals of before winter hibernation. There are a very rules, trail conditions, safety and bear activity.
Wrangell, Alaska. Before the observatory, the small number of permits set aside for individual The talk includes valuable instructions such
photo blind, trail, and stairs, there were only people, and those can be purchased through as, “Stay on the trail, don’t give up the trail to a
salmon and the bears. Tourists wandering www.recreation.gov beginning February 1st bear, and in order not to have bears associating
into Wrangell had to be convinced to take an or through a weekly lottery from the Wrangell humans with food, there is absolutely no food
hour boat ride, land on a rocky beach, and hike District Office. allowed on the trail.”
into a dark, overgrown forest with only the “It’s very difficult to roll into Wrangell these Guided tour operators then escort the group
guide they had just met a few hours before. days and expect to go to Anan,” said Eric Yancy on the 1/2 mile trail to the observatory. Until
But for those brave individuals who listened from Breakaway Adventures. “With the limited it was recently revamped, the trail consisted
to local guides, they were rewarded with an number of permits, we start booking the of wooden planks smaller than a sidewalk,
experience right out of a high adventure novel. previous November and within a few months as well as natural terrain. There were also
Today, Anan Wildlife Observatory is a world we already have dates that are sold out.” over 300 stairs from the Anan trailhead to
class bear viewing destination. Located 30 Beside the issuing of permits, there are other the observatory deck, which was completely
miles southeast of the town of Wrangell and advantages to visiting Anan with an experienced replaced for the 2022 season. The photo
nestled in the Tongass National Forest, the guide. Tour operators out of Wrangell employ blind at the bear observatory is also accessed
observatory offers visitors a chance to be within local guides who are familiar with the area through a stairway that is the equivalent to
feet of these giants of the forest. Anan Creek and are able to give their customers a rich and three stories tall. Once at the observatory,
was an ancient fishing ground for the Stikine in-depth experience. Tours include guides, visitors will be enthralled at seeing bears in
Tlingit clans who would catch and preserve the permits and an hour-long boat ride from their native and natural habitat fishing, eating
the large salmon run for their winter food Wrangell to the Tongass National Forest. Upon and lounging only feet away, offering priceless,
reserves. Today this creek still has one of the landing, groups are met by a U.S. Forest Service once-in-a lifetime photo opportunities.
largest pink salmon run in Southeast Alaska.
Both black and brown bears are attracted WRANGELL’S PREMIER JET BOAT OPERATION!
to the creek with mainly mothers, their cubs,
and juvenile bears taking advantage of the
abundance of fish.
Dee Galla, Outdoor Recreation Planner for Stikine River
Anan with the Wrangell Ranger District, said Tours From
that during the July-August salmon run, there $240. 00
are approximately 40-60 black bears and
8-12 brown bears that use the area during
the season, however, Anan Creek seems most
suited to the black bears.
“I haven’t conducted an official study on this,” Bus Style Seating! Operating
said Galla, “but the black bears seem to have Better Comfort Since 1989
a fishing strategy. They like the small crevices
and deep waters of the creek and tend not to & View!
plunge into the water and sit down like brown
bears.”
Getting to the wildlife observatory requires
a boat or float plane and a permit, which are
regulated by the U.S. Forest Service with only
60 permits given out per day from July 5th- STIKINE RIVER - ANAN BEAR OBSERVATORY - SHAKES
August 25th. Most permits are allocated to & LECONTE GLACIERS - SKIFF/CANOE RENTALS & SUPPORT
experienced tour operators such as Breakaway
Adventures, Alaska Charters and Adventures, 1-907-874-2488
Alaska Vistas, and Alaska Peak and Seas, all info@breakawayadventures.com
located in Wrangell. The Anan Management
Plan limits the amount of visitors during the www.breakawayadventures.com
salmon run out of respect for the bears, as
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