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Anan Creek Wildlife Viewing Area
Anan Creek is located approximately 30 miles southeast of Wrangell, Alaska near the mouth of the Bradfield Canal.
Anan is accessible only by boat or floatplane. Several air and boat charter service companies offer trips to Anan from local communities, especially Wrangell and Petersburg. There is a fair anchorage at Anan Bay suitable for most weather likely to be encountered in the summer. Anan Lagoon can only be entered by small boats at high tide. The lagoon often goes dry at low tide, stranding any boats that may be there. Although not prohibited, it is recommended that boats not enter the lagoon since an obvious human presence may displace wildlife and detract from the experience for other visitors.
Anan Creek, supports one of the largest pink salmon runs in Southeast Alaska. A wide variety of fish-eating animals are attracted to the seasonal abundance. Here, visitors may see black and brown bears, bald eagles, and sea lions. Anan is accessible only by floatplane or boat. It features a 1/2 mile long boardwalk and observation platform with a covered shelter.
The Forest Service built an observatory at the falls so that people may view feeding bears in relative safety and comfort. The observatory is accessed by a scenic boardwalk trail that begins at the mouth of Anan Lagoon. It is a moderately easy half mile hike along the shores of the lagoon and creek to the observatory. This hike does require climbing over rocks near the beach.
Black bears are the main wildlife attraction at Anan. Black bears use the entire Anan drainage, but are most commonly seen at the falls near the observatory where they tend to congregate due to the large number of salmon. During the salmon run, from late June to late August, visitors may also see brown bears, bald eagles, several species of gulls, and harbor seals in the area.
Safety First:
Visitors must recognize that Anan is NOT a zoo or a wild animal park where animals and people are safely segregated. Bears at Anan have full access to the entire area including the trail and observatory. Never bring food to the observatory. If you plan on visiting Anan, please carefully review guidelines for behavior in bear country
The weather at Anan can often be cold and rainy, even in mid-summer. A warm jacket and rain gear are recommended. Rubber boots are also advised as the trail can be muddy at times. Hypothermia can be a hazard throughout the year.
Ownership & Management:
USDA Forest Service, Tongass National Forest; Wrangell Ranger District.
* Source USDA Forest Service - Anan Creek Wildlife Viewing Site At a Glance
Petersburg Vacations offers tours, charters, and guided bear viewing packages. this is one of our favorite trips and we encourage all our guests to spend a day at Anan Bay.
For more information contact::
PetersburgAlaska.com
P.O. Box 516, Petersburg, Alaska 99833
Ph: 1-877-442-4010
E-mail: gdoyle@petersburgalaska.com
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