Know Before You Go

Know Before You Go | Alaska

Whether you're preparing for your upcoming trip to Alaska or just want to learn more about the last frontier, we've got you covered. We've rounded up an array of useful resources, from wildlife guides and packing tips, to nature quizzes and travel stories to inspire your wanderlust.

Frequently Asked Questions

Have questions about Alaska? We've got answers! We've compiled a list of our most frequently asked questions about brown bears, Alaskan wildlife, weather and more.

Wildlife Guide

There is an astounding array of wildlife you can encounter on a trip to Alaska, including coastal brown bears, whales, eagles and so much more!

Photography Tips

Whether you're an experienced photographer or just getting started, you'll want to read these essential photo tips from our Natural Photographer blog before your Alaska grizzly adventure.

A Closer Look at Nat Hab's Alaska Bear Camp

Learn more about Nat Hab's Bear Camp, a sustainable base for exploring Alaska's most pristine coastal grizzly bear habitat, surrounded entirely by Lake Clark National Park.

A Closer Look at the M/V Natural Habitat Ursus

Learn more about the M/V Natural Habitat Ursus—the ideal vessel for exploring the Katmai coast and viewing Alaska’s giant brown bears at exceptionally close range.

Alaskan Wilderness Trivia

Take our Alaska wilderness quiz to put your knowledge to the test, then share it with friends to see who knows the most about the Last Frontier!

The Ebbs and Flows of Grizzly Bear Season

Discover the "ebbs and flows" of grizzly bear migration patterns in Katmai National Park, gleaned from more than a decade of operating brown bear trips in Alaska.

Alaska's Bears and Climate Change

Changes in Alaska’s climate are affecting its bears in some ways that are predictable, and some that have come as a surprise to the scientists who are studying them.

The Bears of Lake Clark National Park

Learn more about Lake Clark National Park and the bears that travelers will encounter during their stay at Nat Hab’s Alaska Bear Camp.

Weather & Climate

Find out the typical weather conditions in Alaska in this month by month breakdown of average temperatures and rainfall.

Packing Lists

Wondering what to bring to Alaska in the summer or fall? Check out our detailed packing lists for tips from our Alaska experts!

Nat Hab Short Film Offers Mesmerizing Portrait of Alaska’s Brown Bears

—By Nat Hab
Watch Nat Hab's short film, The Bear Coast: An Alaska Conservation Story, directed by Andrew Ackerman!

The EPA Blocks Pebble Mine: Bristol Bay and Its Bears Are Saved!

—By Megan Brief
The 13-year battle for Bristol Bay reached a triumphant culmination on January 30, 2023. The EPA invoked its Clean Water Act 404(c) authority and vetoed the Pebble Mine project, securing a future for the lands and waters of Bristol Bay and the wildlife and people they sustain.

Bunk With a Brown Bear: Nat Hab’s New Alaska Bear Camp

—By Michelle Peters
Alaska Bear Camp is set on an empty stretch of sand, where tented cabins blend seamlessly into the natural backdrop of forest and mountains. Your closest neighbors are the incredible brown bears that live here.

See Alaska’s Big Five: Brown Bear, Moose, Gray Wolf, Caribou & Dall Sheep

—By Michelle Peters
There’s a new “Big Five” in town. Well, in Alaska, that is. Go beyond the famous quintuplet of creatures found on an African safari and head north, instead, to the Great Land. There you’ll meet Alaska’s brown bears, moose, gray wolves, caribou and Dall sheep—the “other” Big Five.

5 Memorable Ways to Explore Alaska by Air, Land and Sea

—By Cathy Brown
Discover five of our favorite ways to explore Alaska by land, air and sea! Our naturalist guides can’t wait to share lesser-known Alaska with you.

Mothers & Cubs: Grizzly Photo Roundup

—By Emily Goodheart
Few things are more powerful than witnessing the bond between mother and child—or in this case, cub! In the wilds of Alaska, travelers will observe and photograph fascinating bear behavior and will be treated to affectionate displays between protective mothers and playful cubs.