Travel Tips

Frequently Asked Questions

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, lodges, transportation, weather and more.

Wildlife Guide

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!

A Closer Look at Nat Hab's Alaska Bear Camp

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 Natural
Habitat Ursus

A Closer Look at the 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

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!

When to Go—The Ebbs and Flows of Grizzly Bear Season

When to Go—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

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

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

Weather & Climate

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

Packing Lists

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! 

Travel Stories & Articles

What’s the Difference Between Grizzly Bears and Brown Bears?

What’s the Difference Between Grizzly Bears and Brown Bears?

—By Emily Goodheart
Brown bears, commonly called grizzlies, have long evoked fascination. These intelligent mammals display dynamic behaviors...

When Is the Best Time to Go to Alaska to See Grizzly Bears?

When Is the Best Time to Go to Alaska to See Grizzly Bears?

—By Emily Goodheart
An excursion into Katmai National Park and Preserve varies widely from one month to the next due to...

The Coastal Grizzlies of Alaska: A Photo Journal

The Coastal Grizzlies of Alaska: A Photo Journal

—By Candice Gaukel Andrews
Having the opportunity to spend time with Alaska’s big brown bears is one of the most authentic wildlife experiences any...

Meet the Manager of Nat Hab’s Alaska Bear Camp

Meet the Manager of Nat Hab’s Alaska Bear Camp

—By Wendy Redal
Caprice Stoner has managed Bear Camp, a remote fly-in wilderness camp in Alaska’s Lake Clark National Park, for 16 years...

Traveler Story: Grizzly Bear Drama in Katmai

Traveler Story: Grizzly Bear Drama in Katmai

—By Mary Glaser
I had so many fond memories from our trip to Katmai National Park, but one of my favorite stories was when we went...

Protecting Alaska: Ecosystem, Economy, and Bear Tourism

Protecting Alaska: Ecosystem, Economy, and Bear Tourism

—By Madison Mitchell
Alaska is home to the world’s largest wild sockeye salmon run, all three species of American wild bears, and some of...

5 Tips for Photographing Grizzly Bears

5 Tips for Photographing Grizzly Bears

—By Peter Davis Krahenbuhl
Images of Alaska’s enormous brown bears are among the most iconic wildlife photos on Earth. If you are fortunate enough to...

Fox Island: A Little Piece of Paradise

Fox Island: A Little Piece of Paradise

—By Renata Haas
One experience that far exceeded my expectations was our visit to Fox Island and the Kenai Fjords Wilderness Lodge. We were welcomed to our private...

Traveler Story: Finding a Personal Connection With Brown Bears

Traveler Story: Finding a Personal Connection With Brown Bears

—By Nat Hab Traveler Valerie Van Griethuysen
I experienced countless memorable moments during my Ultimate Alaska...

Traveler Story: The Magic of Autumn's Solitude at Brooks Falls

Traveler Story: The Magic of Autumn's Solitude at Brooks Falls

—By Phyllis Posner
It is the end of the season. As we walk through Katmai National Park each day, there are several bears left, still filling up on food for winter...

Kenai Fjords Wilderness Lodge, A Must See

Kenai Fjords Wilderness Lodge, A Must See

—By Holly Glessner 
In 2015, I had the privilege of joining an Ultimate Alaska Wildlife Photo Safari for a spectacular 14-day tour of Alaska’s...

Traveler Story: Surrounded by Bears in Alaska

Traveler Story: Surrounded by Bears in Alaska

—By Bob & Norma Schafer
A mother grizzly bear and her two cubs were walking about 5 feet in front of our line of travelers in Katmai National Park, Alaska. There was a small...

Nat Hab’s Bear Adventures Around the Globe

Nat Hab’s Bear Adventures Around the Globe

—By Michelle Peters
We soar by bush plane into the deep Alaska wilderness of Cook Inlet, the ice-clad Aleutian Range and Lake Clark National Park...

13 Facts About Brown Bears (Ursus arctos)

13 Facts About Brown Bears (Ursus arctos)

—By Natural Habitat Adventures
Brown bears have long captured our imaginations in ways that few other wild animals have—they can stand on its two...