Lake Clark National Park is 4 million acres of pristine wilderness, roughly twice the size of Yellowstone. Accessible only by boat or small plane, Silver Salmon Creek Lodge is located along a rich coastal section of this spectacular park in the heart of coastal brown bear habitat. Coastal brown bears are a larger cousin of the grizzly bear, which is another brown bear.

Silver Salmon Creek Lodge, with its prime access to coastal brown bears in their natural habitat, is an extremely desirable destination for photographers from all over the world and reservations are hard to come by—this trip is limited to six guests only. The lodge is rustic but comfortable, and the meals are fabulous!

This is a rare and unique opportunity to spend time close to these majestic animals. This is not a location where we’ll shoot from a bus, as in Denali, or from a platform, as in Brooks Falls. We’ll be on the ground as close as you can safely be! The bears have become habituated to small groups of people, which allows for incredible photo opportunities.

Early July is when new cubs come out for the first time, so we should have amazing opportunities to photograph these adorable newcomers. Often, bears are right out in front of the lodge. But we’ll also walk or be transported by our onsite guides via ATV-pulled carts to where the bears are grazing in tall grasses, digging for clams, playing in the surf, chasing salmon, nursing, or wrestling each other.

In addition, we’ll take a half-day tour by boat over to a puffin rookery. At this time of year, we should be able to photograph adult puffins bringing small fish to their young. We may also find bald eagles, black-legged kittiwakes, black oystercatchers, parakeet auklets, common murres, trumpeter swans, otters, and harbor seals.

The Silver Salmon Creek area boasts stunning scenery, and we’ll have the opportunity to take short hikes. Canoes and kayaks are also available for guests to use.

We’ll share and critique photos and practice post-processing techniques at the lodge during down time and any weather delays. Wayde will be available all day to help you achieve the best photos possible.