Pack Creek

Introducing Pack Creek

From 4000ft in the mountains, Pack Creek flows down Admiralty Island's east side before spilling into Seymour Canal. The extensive tide flats at the mouth of the creek draw a large number of bears to feed on salmon, making the spot a favorite for observing and photographing the animals.

Within this area is Stan Price State Wildlife Sanctuary, named for an Alaskan woodsman who lived on a float house here for almost 40 years. The sanctuary includes an area that has been closed to hunting since the mid-1930s, and due largely to the former presence of Price and his visitors, the bears here have become used to humans. The bears are most abundant in July and August, when the salmon are running.

Most visitors to Pack Creek are day-trippers who arrive and depart on floatplanes. Upon arrival, all visitors are met by a ranger who explains the rules. You must leave all food in a cache provided near the south sand spit. You may not leave the viewing sand spit to get closer to the bears, although you may use a small observation tower - reached by a mile-long trail - that overlooks the creek. No camping is allowed at Pack Creek. The only nearby camping is on the east side of Windfall Island (permit required), a half-mile away and accessible only by boat.

Pack Creek has become so popular that the area buzzes with planes and boats every morning from early July to late August. Anticipating this daily rush hour, most resident bears escape into the forest, but a few bears hang around to feed on salmon, having long since been habituated to the human visitors. Seeing five or six bears would be a good viewing day at Pack Creek. You might see big boars during the mating season from May to mid-June, otherwise it's sows and cubs the rest of the summer.

Last updated: Feb 17, 2009