Your Ride to McNeil River
Congratulations on winning a permit for the McNeil River Bear Sanctuary!
McNeil River State Game Sanctuary and Refuge is an incredibly special place. Serving the needs of permit winners and Alaska State Fish and Game staff with our beaver (which has served McNeil River for close to 20 years) has been an incredible experience. This unique bear viewing opportunity is only accessible by permit. Anyone from around the world can apply before March 1st each year to enter the lottery for a chance to win an adventure-of-a-lifetime! Winners are selected and assigned a viewing block during the summer. They spend approximately four days viewing bears with the ADF&G McNeil Bear Guides, and their nights enjoying the beautiful views from camp. View the links, maps, and more information below on how to apply for a McNeil Permit and your chance to win an unforgettable experience in Alaska’s backcountry viewing majestic coastal brown bears!
Our Services & Permit Information
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We offer charters to and from McNeil in our De Havilland Beaver. This means you pay for the aircraft for the entire time it is flying for all legs of travel to and from McNeil. For a drop off and pick up would be $5,180.00.
This includes taxes; we do not add any other fees or fuel surcharges. We accept cash or check and credit cards (an additional 3.4% processing fee for this method of payment).
You can work with other permit winners in your block to request a charter and split the costs. We are able to take separate payments for a charter as long as the full cost gets covered.
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We can take up to 4 passengers (possibly 5) on each charter flight to McNeil flying in our De Havilland Beaver on floats. We carry up to 1,200 lbs. which includes passengers fully clothed body weights and all gear/cargo you are bringing with you.
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January 1-
Submit applications then through end of February!
March 1 -Application Deadline
Applications must be submitted online or, if mailed, must be received in the ADF&G office
Early March
Permit winners selected by random lottery
Mid March
Permit winner notification begins
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Need quality camping equipment to withstand the weather at McNeil for a cozy and comfortable experience?
We have you covered with our “McNeil Camp Kit” which includes everything you need and leaves out all the items already provided at McNeil River Camp! All you have to bring is clothing, food, and your camera and leave the rest to us!
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There are some things you don’t need to bring that McNeil River Camp provides.
-chair (crazy creek chairs are provided for back support during bear viewing).
-pots and pans
-cooking utensils
-propane and or stove
-firewood
-water (water is collected by staff and is available each night at the cook shack for boiling). Having a water filter is still be recommended for acquiring water while out of camp.
-bear spray or weapons
-Inappropriate gear incapable of Alaskan conditions such as high profile 2-season tents or large car camping tents. These lower quality tents repeatedly fail in the sustained winds that McNeil Camp experiences.
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Make sure your gear is appropriate to handle the weather conditions McNeil Camp experiences.
Here is a link to a printable list recommend by ADF&G of what to bring. PRINT LIST HERE
If you don’t have these items, check out the Beluga Air page to rent our MCNEIL CAMP KIT, specifically created for McNeil Permit Winners.
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Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game
Division of Wildlife Conservation
Attn: McNeil River State Game Sanctuary
333 Raspberry Rd
Anchorage, AK 99518-1599
(907) 267-2189
dfg.dwc.mcneil-info@alaska.gov
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Adam Dubour, Lands and Refuges Manager
Division of Wildlife Conservation
333 Raspberry Road
Anchorage, AK 99518-1599
(907) 267-2189
adam.dubour@alaska.gov
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“In Wild Trust” by Jeff Fair
This book can be purchased in our office or on our online store.
For thirty years, Larry Aumiller lived in close company with the world’s largest grouping of brown bears, returning by seaplane every spring to the wilderness side of Cook Inlet, two hundred and fifty miles southwest of Anchorage to work as a manager, teacher, guide, and more. Eventually—without the benefit of formal training in wildlife management or ecology—he become one of the world’s leading experts on brown bears, the product of an unprecedented experiment in peaceful coexistence.
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Learn more about the Friends of McNeil River!
The Friends of McNeil River’s purpose is the preservation of the McNeil River State Game Sanctuary's bears, their habitat and to have a voice in its future.
You can also follow the Friends of McNeil on Facebook for up to date information about the bears, Pebble Mine, related events, permit dates, and more!
Maps in slideshow provided by ADF&G and can be also located and downloaded via the link in the “Camp Maps” drop down.
