Icy Strait Small Group Shore Excursion: We’re going on a bear hunt!

The main draw is simple: you leave Hoonah in search of brown bears in an area National Geographic has called Bear Island. The route also brings you through old-growth forest and muskeg, with stops chosen according to bear movement, feeding patterns, and the day’s temperature.

I like the small maximum group of 12, since a compact vehicle can reposition more easily than a large tour bus. I also like the mix of wildlife and local insight: guides such as Luke and Dalen have shared stories about Hoonah, the forest, and Tlingit life while pointing out eagles, deer, otters, and other animals.

The main caution is that no wildlife tour can promise a bear sighting. Warm weather and early-season timing have reduced sightings before, so book this for the full setting and wildlife search, not for a guaranteed bear photograph.

Key points to know before you book

• Brown bear search in Hoonah: The area is promoted for a very high concentration of brown bears, with short stops based on current conditions.
• Small private group: Only your group participates, with a maximum of 12 people.
• Four hours ashore: The tour includes pickup and return near the cruise tender pier.
• More than bears: Watch for bald eagles, otters, beavers, mink, marten, deer, seabirds, squirrels, ducks, and other wildlife.
• Local perspective: Your guides explain the area and Tlingit culture, adding context to the forest drive.
• Plan ahead: The tour is often reserved well in advance, and cruise passengers must provide ship timing when booking.

Why Hoonah is a strong place for a bear search

Hoonah gives you access to a setting where brown bears are a central part of the experience, not just a lucky extra. The tour information describes the area as having roughly one to two brown bears per square mile, a remarkably high concentration. That does not mean you will see a bear on every bend, but it explains why this port can be a smart choice for a focused wildlife excursion.

The search takes place across a mix of forest, muskeg, and berry country. The island has ten kinds of edible berries, which help explain why bears use the area at different times of year. You are not simply driven to one viewing platform and asked to wait. Your guide can make short stops at several useful points and adjust the search based on recent bear movement, feeding habits, and temperature.

That flexibility is one of the better reasons to choose a small group. A large vehicle has more people to load, more opinions to manage, and less freedom to change course. A group of up to 12 can move with fewer delays. The tour description also says it can reposition quickly, which matters when wildlife is active in a different part of the area.

Still, keep your expectations realistic. Wildlife follows its own schedule. A warm day may push bears out of sight, and an early visit in the season may produce fewer sightings. One excursion had no bear sighting during unusually hot weather, yet the group still saw a doe and very young fawn, an eagle in its nest, and an eagle chasing a hawk. That is a useful picture of how the experience works: the bear is the prize, but the outing is not empty if the bear stays hidden.

From the cruise pier to the forest

Pickup is offered about a five-minute walk from the cruise tender pier. Exact instructions are supplied with your voucher, so read them before leaving the ship. This short walk is convenient, but remember that tender timing can affect how quickly you reach the meeting point. Cruise passengers must provide the ship name, docking time, disembarkation time, and re-boarding time when booking.

The tour lasts about four hours, including transportation, wildlife searching, and interpretation. That is long enough to get beyond the immediate port area without consuming your entire day in Hoonah. You return to the same general port area after the outing, with round-trip transportation included.

The activity is also described as private, meaning only your own group participates. At the same time, the listed maximum is 12 people. In practical terms, you should expect a small private party rather than a one-on-one outing unless your own booking is small.

The vehicle itself is not described in detail, so you should not book this expecting a particular type of bus, van, or open-air ride. What matters here is the small group size and the ability to move between viewing points. Food and drinks are not included, so bring what you need for the four-hour period if your cruise schedule allows it.

Searching the old-growth forest and muskeg

The scenery is part of the reason this trip remains worthwhile even when the animals keep their distance. You may stop to look across a muskeg, a wet open area that contrasts with the surrounding forest. You also get views of old-growth trees and the broader forest setting that makes this part of Alaska feel far removed from the ship terminal.

The route is not presented as a strenuous hike. The supplied information says most people can participate, and the experience is built around transportation and short stops rather than a long walk. That makes it a practical choice if you want wildlife without committing to a demanding trek. However, the exact walking distance and ground conditions are not specified, so ask the operator if you need detailed mobility information.

At each stop, your guide helps turn a quiet patch of forest into a search exercise. You may scan berry areas, forest edges, and open views while learning why bears favor particular places at particular times. This is more satisfying than simply being told to look left or right, because you get a basic sense of how local conditions shape animal behavior.

Bring a camera, but also bring patience. Bear viewing often involves stretches of stillness and careful looking. A telephoto lens can help if you have one, though the tour does not promise a close encounter or a particular viewing distance. You should never assume that a bear will appear in a dramatic open meadow. It may be partly hidden, moving through brush, or absent altogether.

Wildlife beyond the brown bears

The tour promises a good chance of seeing other wildlife, even though no sighting is guaranteed. Bald eagles are among the most likely highlights, and the excursion may also turn up otters, beavers, mink, marten, red squirrels, ducks, seabirds, and Sitka black-tailed deer.

Those smaller sightings help keep the four-hour outing engaging. An otter or beaver can be easy to miss if you are thinking only about bears, while a bald eagle may provide a memorable stop of its own. The animal list is broad, but it is not a promise that you will see every species. Your guide’s ability to watch current conditions is more useful than any fixed checklist.

One particularly appealing possibility is seeing deer with young. A previous outing included a mother deer and a fawn estimated to be only one or two weeks old. Another memorable moment was an eagle in its nest, followed by an eagle chasing a hawk. These details show why you should keep your camera ready during the entire drive, not only at the official bear stops.

The experience can also suit children and mixed-age families because the wildlife search gives everyone something to watch for. The operator says most people can participate, but children’s attention spans, vehicle comfort, and the absence of included food are still worth considering. A family that needs a highly structured attraction may find the slower search less exciting than a more active excursion.

Guides who add local meaning

The guide does more than drive you between viewing points. The tour includes both a driver-guide and a local guide, with interpretation about Hoonah, the surrounding area, and the Tlingit population.

Luke, one of the guides mentioned in the supplied information, has explained Hoonah’s history, daily life, and the Tongass National Forest. Dalen has been praised for making the trip interesting and entertaining while sharing information about the area. Your guide may be someone else, but these examples give you a clear idea of the added value: the forest is presented as a lived-in cultural place, not just a backdrop for animal watching.

That cultural element matters in a port visit. A quick stop in Hoonah can otherwise become a generic scenic drive. Learning about Tlingit life and the local community gives you a better sense of where you are and why the area matters beyond its bears.

The quality of this part depends on your guide, as with any small-group excursion. The supplied experiences include both highly positive accounts and a bear-free trip that still felt worthwhile because of the guide’s explanations and the scenery. I would treat the interpretation as a major part of the tour, not as filler while you wait for wildlife.

Is $379.77 a fair price?

At $379.77 per person, this is an expensive shore excursion. The price makes the most sense if you place a high value on a small private group, round-trip port transport, a local guide, and the chance to search for bears in a strong wildlife area.

You are not paying for a guaranteed encounter. You are paying for access, transport, local guidance, and a focused four-hour search that can adjust more easily than a large group tour. If you see several bears, the cost may feel justified quickly. If you see no bears, the value depends on how much you enjoy the forest, muskeg views, local history, and other wildlife.

The maximum group of 12 improves the comparison with cheaper large-group excursions. You may spend more, but you gain a more personal format and a better chance of changing position when conditions shift. The tour also includes both pickup and drop-off, which saves you the trouble of arranging local transport during a short port call.

I would compare the price with your own priorities. If a bear sighting is the single reason you are visiting Hoonah, the uncertainty makes this a financial gamble. If you want a broad wildlife outing with a serious bear search and local context, the price is easier to defend.

Timing, weather, and what to bring

The season listed for this experience runs from May 1 through September 30, with departures available daily from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Your cruise schedule determines what time works, and you must provide your ship’s timing at booking.

Early-season conditions can affect sightings. One account specifically noted that the group visited a little early in the year and did not see a bear, though the countryside and views remained worthwhile. Unusually hot weather has also kept bears out of sight. These examples are not reasons to avoid the tour, but they are good reasons to avoid absolute expectations.

I would bring:

• A camera with the best zoom you have
• Weather-ready clothing
• Water and a snack, since food and drinks are not included
• Binoculars, if you already own a pair
• Your cruise schedule and pickup instructions

The supplied details do not specify a dress code, walking distance, or vehicle type, so you should ask the operator if any of those points affect you. The tour is offered in English.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations or changes made inside that window are not refunded or accepted. The experience also requires a minimum number of participants, and if that minimum is not met, you will be offered another date or experience, or a full refund.

Who should book this Hoonah excursion?

I would recommend it to you if you enjoy wildlife searches, scenic drives, and small-group guiding. It is especially suited to cruise passengers who want their port visit to include real local context rather than only a short walk around the pier.

It is also a good fit if you can accept uncertainty. You may see four bears, as one outing did, or you may see deer, eagles, and forest scenery without a bear. Both are realistic outcomes.

I would think twice if you need guaranteed wildlife, dislike spending time in a vehicle, or find the price too high for a possibility. A bear hunt is exactly that: a search, not a scheduled animal show.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want the best available chance of finding brown bears in a small group and you will still enjoy the day if the bears stay hidden. The guides, local stories, old-growth forest, muskeg views, and broad range of possible wildlife give the experience more substance than a single animal sighting.

Skip it if your budget is tight or if seeing a bear is non-negotiable. At $379.77, the uncertainty is real. For the right person, though, the flexibility of a group capped at 12 and the chance to see Hoonah through a local guide make this one of the more focused wildlife choices from the port.

FAQ

How long does the Hoonah bear tour last?

The experience lasts approximately four hours, including transportation, wildlife searching, and guided stops.

Where does pickup take place?

Pickup is about a five-minute walk from the cruise tender pier in Hoonah. Exact details are provided with your voucher.

How many people can join the tour?

The maximum group size is 12 people. The activity is also described as private, so only your group participates.

Are bears guaranteed?

No. Wildlife sightings cannot be guaranteed. The tour can reposition based on current conditions, but weather, season, and animal behavior affect what you see.

What other wildlife might I see?

Possible sightings include bald eagles, otters, beavers, mink, marten, red squirrels, seabirds, ducks, Sitka black-tailed deer, and brown bears.

Is food included?

No. Food and drinks are not included in the tour price.

What information must cruise passengers provide when booking?

You must provide your cruise ship name, docking time, disembarkation time, and re-boarding time.