Alaska's Breathtaking Coastal City Is Considered The 'Brown Bear Capital Of The World'

While Alaska is known for its majestic mountain fjords, beautiful Northern Lights, and breathtaking historic trails, its coastal city, Kodiak, has earned a reputation of its own as the "brown bear capital of the world." Hidden in plain sight along the rugged southern shore of Kodiak Island, the quiet coastal city is home to only about 5,400 people. It also offers something few destinations can claim — a front-row seat to the largest bears in the world, the Kodiak brown bears.

According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, the Kodiak Archipelago is home to around 3,500 of those unique bears, which are a subspecies of the brown bear. Since they call the Kodiak Archipelago their home, they've been separated from other bear species for about 12,000 years, making them one of a kind. It's not surprising that bear-viewing is among the most popular activities for visitors on the island, with the city of Kodiak being a perfect jumping-off point to seeing these majestic animals in their natural habitat.

Kodiak is the perfect hub from which to explore Alaska's untouched wilderness. Wildlife enthusiasts who come specifically to see Kodiak bears usually visit from late May to the beginning of fall, which is when they're out of their dens and most active. Several tour destinations offer multi-day expeditions, like the Kodiak Brown Bear Center & Lodge, which offers four- to eight-day treks that include private cabins and meals. For those who just want to spend a day bear-viewing or can't afford an all-inclusive lodge stay, companies like Kodiak Islands Expeditions offer half- and full-day tours that include the time it takes to fly and hike to ideal spots.

Visitors can expect their highly trained guides to lead them to the best bear-viewing locations around Kodiak Island, usually in small groups of eight guests or fewer. These guides will take you where bears gather to graze, catch salmon, or even nurse their cubs, all in full view of curious humans. Expect the knowledgeable tour guides to give fun facts and detailed explanations to teach visitors more about the Kodiak bears and their home. Of course, along the way, you might spot other animals like red foxes, bald eagles, mountain goats, deer, and otters.

The wildlife of Kodiak Island is cared for according to strict rules and conservation efforts by the Alaskan government. Part of these efforts include active management of human-bear interactions to help bears become more accustomed to humans without associating them with food, making bear-viewing safer for both species. Tour operators are also required to hold special-use permits that prioritize non-intrusive observation, which limits the number of visitors and ensures practices do not displace or habituate bears in negative ways.

Once you're inspired to see the Kodiak brown bears for yourself, there are some things you should know before going to Kodiak. Depending on when you're going, you can time other activities such as treks and marine tours with your arrival. The early part of bear-viewing season also overlaps perfectly with the Kodiak Crab Fest, a festive gathering held annually in late May that offers seafood feasts and community events.

To get to Kodiak, visitors will have to take a connecting flight from Anchorage via Alaska Airlines, which takes about an hour. From there, it's a 10-minute drive to the heart of the city, where tourists looking to stay in town can find their way to cozy accommodations like the Best Western Kodiak Inn. Guests who book all-inclusive tours — like the Kodiak Brown Bear Center & Lodge's $7,000 bear-viewing package — can board a float plane from Kodiak, which takes a scenic route that leads right to the lodge where they'll stay for the duration of their tour. Shorter day tours only take around five hours, with operators like Sea Hawk Air offering these at $925 per person at the time of writing.

Whichever you decide, make sure to book these tours and lodging well in advance, as spots can fill quickly during peak months. Don't forget to pack layers, waterproof gear, and a camera with a solid zoom. Most importantly, come with a healthy dose of curiosity and a lot of respect, as Kodiak's wilderness is an awe-inspiring ecosystem where you're a guest in the bears' domain. Tread lightly, stay alert, and savor every wild moment.