McNeil River Bear Viewing

Your Ride to McNeil River

McNeil River Bear Sanctuary Only Available By Permit!

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 De Havilland 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!

Your Trip to McNeil River Bear Sanctuary

Congratulations on winning your McNeil permit. Beluga Air is excited to help with getting you there and back safely. Round trip flights start at $1600 per person and we have options to maximize your travel convenience and increase the probability of getting you to McNeil on time. Arrival and departure into McNeil depend on a high tide, for exact dates and times for block permit winners please email info@belugaair.com or call (907) 235-8256 for details.

Option 1

Fly from Homer to McNeil on your scheduled day of arrival and departure. $1600

Option 2

Fly Anchorage to Iliamna then Iliamna to McNeil on your schedule day of arrival departure. $1750

Option 3

You have made it this far! Extend your trip and make a once in a lifetime experience even better.

Intricate Bay Outpost sits just 24 miles from McNeil Sanctuary and is nestled in a perfect cove on Lake Iliamna. Centered between Lake Clark National Park and Katmai National Park, its location provides endless opportunities for adventure. Trips can be before or after your McNeil Permit Block and up to a week if desired.

Enjoy luxury in remote Alaska while exploring Katmai National Park and Lake Clark National Park via day trips. Price is $500 per person per day and includes lodging and all meals. Daily guided activities are $500 per person.

Day trips options from Katmai National Park are:

Bear viewing at Brooks Falls or Moraine Creek
Photo Workshop with Abe Blair master wildlife photographer and lodge manager
Guide Fishing for salmon and world class rainbows
Camping and Backpacking
Hiking

Day trips options from Lake Clark National Park are:

Twin Lakes Proenneke Cabin
Camping and Backpacking
Hiking in Port Alworth

Our Services & Permit Information

Floatplane Charters for Permit Winners

We offer private aircraft 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 $6,200.00. We do not offer single seat fares or scheduled service rates to McNeil, we fly there by charter only

This all-inclusive rate covers all taxes, park permits, and ensures there are no additional fees or fuel surcharges. We accept cash, check and or credit cards.

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 within 10 days of making the reservation.

Aircraft Weight Limits per Permit Holder

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.

Learn more about McNeil and How to Apply

Important Dates to Note

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

What not to bring

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.

What you should bring

Make sure your gear is appropriate to handle the weather conditions McNeil Camp experiences

McNeil River — State Game Sanctuary and Refuge

Permit Winner Information

Camp Maps

Questions on Lottery, Viewing Program & Permits

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

State Game Sanctuary and Refuge Management

Adam Dubour, Lands and Refuges Manager

Division of Wildlife Conservation

333 Raspberry Road

Anchorage, AK 99518-1599

(907) 267-2189

adam.dubour@alaska.gov

Read About McNeil

“In Wild Trust” by Jeff Fair

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.

Support McNeil

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.