Breakaway adventures walking tours8/12/2023 ![]() ![]() And then there are the bears.Īnan is a permit-only observatory. There is a primeval feel to this extraordinary forest. ![]() Eagles call from high perches in the forest. Yet bear in mind how critical these spawning salmon are to the rain forest all this lush beauty would not exist if not for the nutrients the returning salmon impart into the ecosystem. It smells fresh, at least until one gets to the observatory where the smell of old salmon is a little off. I never fail to drop my jaw at the beauty of the old growth rain forest surrounding me. There are a few steps here and there on the boardwalk and forest path but it truly is a nice easy walk, even for those who are not veteran hikers. If you are nervous being in the wilderness with bears, it is best to book a guided tour to Anan. Make noise as you move along to alert bears to your presence. Respect the bears and give them a wide berth. Note: These are wild bears although they are used to seeing humans in their midst. The walk to the bear observatory is largely on a well-maintained boardwalk, a path one sometimes shares with passing bears. When you return from your time with the bears that lunch you brought along will taste very good on the boat ride back to Wrangell. For the safety of the bears and you, no food is permitted on the trail to or at the observatory. Leave any foodstuffs-this even includes chewing gum and TicTacs!-at the boat. The Breakaway people will help as will other passengers but one should be reasonably limber to scramble on and off of the boat.īring snacks or a lunch and water and/or soft drinks along on this trip. If one boards the boat at Banana Point and when one leaves/returns to the boat at Anan's trail head, one has to climb up or down a short ladder from the bow of the boat. One note about getting onto and off of the boat: At Wrangell one boards the boat from the dock, a relatively easy thing to do. Keep your eyes peeled while on the water sometimes one sees humpback whales and other marine mammals. You'll need to drive to Banana Point or find transportation in Petersburg but it's a good option if staying in Petersburg. ![]() The village of Wrangell is worth a visit but if you are unable to work it into your travel schedule and still wish to visit Anan Bear Observatory, Breakaway can make this happen from Petersburg. If you are staying in Petersburg rather than Wrangell,for an additional cost Breakaway Adventures will pick one up at Banana Point at the south end of Mitkoff Island and shuttle your party back to Wrangell and the bear observatory. More on the Anan Bear Observatory in a moment but first a few more words about Breakaway Adventures. Overall one will see more black bears than brown bears at Anan Creek but the brown bears frequently make appearances. When salmon are running, hungry black and brown (aka grizzlies outside of Alaska) bears fish for fresh salmon at Anan Creek. I booked the Anan Bear Observatory tour with Breakaway on two occasions (late July and early August, 2011) and found the tours to be rewarding day trips. Breakaway Adventures offers several tour options that are worthwhile. ![]()
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