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familiar with the area and are able to give their
customers a rich and in-depth experience.
Tours include guides, the permits and an hour-
long boat ride from Wrangell to the Tongass
National Forest. Upon landing, groups are
met by a U.S. Forest Service representative
who instructs everyone on the rules, trail
conditions, safety and bear activity. The talk
includes valuable instructions such as, “Stay
on the trail, don’t give up the trail to a bear, and
in order not to have bears associating humans
with food, there is absolutely no food allowed
on the trail.”
Guided tour operators then escort the
are approximately 40-60 black bears and Anan Management Plan limits the amount of group on the 1/2 mile trail to the observatory.
8-12 brown bears that use the area during visitors during the salmon run out of respect Until it was recently revamped, the trail
the season, however, Anan Creek seems most for the bears, as this is their main food source consisted of wooden planks smaller than a
suited to the black bears. used to bulk up before winter hibernation. sidewalk, as well as natural terrain. There were
There are a very small number of permits set also over 300 stairs from the Anan trailhead to
“I haven’t conducted an official study on aside for individual people, and those can the observatory deck, which was completely
this,” said Galla, “but the black bears seem be purchased through www.recreation.gov replaced for the 2022 season. The photo
to have a fishing strategy. They like the small beginning February 1st or through a weekly blind at the bear observatory is also accessed
crevices and deep waters of the creek and lottery from the Wrangell District Office. through a stairway that is the equivalent to
tend not to plunge into the water and sit down three stories tall. Once at the observatory,
like brown bears.” “It’s very difficult to roll into Wrangell these visitors will be enthralled at seeing bears in
days and expect to go to Anan,” said Eric Yancy their native and natural habitat fishing, eating
Getting to the wildlife observatory requires from Breakaway Adventures. “With the limited and lounging only feet away, offering priceless,
a boat or float plane and a permit, which are number of permits, we start booking the once-in-a lifetime photo opportunities.
regulated by the U.S. Forest Service with previous November and within a few months
only 60 permits given out per day from July we already have dates that are sold out.” These tour operators are based out of
5th-August 25th. Most permits are allocated Wrangell and give tours to the Anan Wildlife
to experienced tour operators such as Beside the issuing of permits, there are Observatory:
Breakaway Adventures, Alaska Charters other advantages to visiting Anan with an
and Adventures, Alaska Vistas, and Alaska experienced guide. Tour operators out of Breakaway Adventures
Peak and Seas, all located in Wrangell. The Wrangell employ local guides who are 907-874-2488

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