About this experience
Island Wings Air Service is owned and operated by Alaska veteran pilot Michelle Masden, who started flying in 1977 and began her business in Ketchikan in 1993. Island Wings takes the time and makes the effort to help you realize your Alaskan dreams. Share our love of flying through our vast Alaskan wilderness. Experience the freedom of flight over the wild grandeur of the mountains, the islands and the endless sea. In business since 1993, Island Wings takes the time and makes the effort to help you realize your Alaskan dreams. Our focus is the quality of your experience. From the handling of your reservation, to the equipment we operate, to the places we visit; we don't compromise and neither should you. The total time for this tour is 4.25 hours including: the flight, three hours onsite at Traitors Cove Bear Viewing Observatory, and fifteen minutes for the pick-up and drop-off.
At a glance
- Duration: 4 hr 15 min
Plan your experience
Set aside 4 hr 15 min for the experience itself, with additional time to reach your meeting or pickup point.
Before you go
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Please wear layered clothing and comfortable walking shoes.
What is included
- We operate well maintained six-passenger DeHavilland Beaver floatplanes
- Guaranteed window seats for all passengers
- Voice activated, noise cancelling headset for each passenger
- Interactive narration with your Pilot
- Pick-up and drop-off by Island WIngs van from the Ketchikan Visitors Bureau on Cruise Ship Berth 2
- US Forest Service Special Use Permit for Bear Viewing within Tongss National Forest
- All inclusive tour
Not included
- No food or beverages, except bottled water, allowed on the flight
- Gratuities
Itinerary and highlights
Between July20th and September 30th you can visit the bear viewing observatory at Traitors Cove. Fly by floatplane along the beautiful waterways of the lush Tongass National Forest across Revillagegedo island to a US Forest Service maintained trail and the Margarete Creek Bear Viewing platform. Bears can be seen plunging into the rushing water to retrieve their meals of wiggling salmon. This is a perfect opportunity to photograph Alaska's real fisherman in action! In addition to bears feeding, you will also see bald eagles picking over the scraps left by the bears and of course, the real stars of the show, the salmon as they battle their way upstream to spawn. Your journey will be accompanied by the Island Wings bear guide who will provide information about the flora and fauna along the way. Combine a short hike, beautiful scenery and a magnificent wildlife experience in one trip. This is a four hour tour that includes a floatplane flight, a one mile drive by van on a US Forest Service road and a short hike along a boardwalk trail to the viewing platform. Be sure to wear comfortable walking shoes and bring plenty of camera batteries! The US Forest Service restricts access to Margarete Observatory
by permit. As a result, only small numbers of people have the opportunity to visit this beautiful site, so book early! The four hour Traitors Cove bear viewing tour includes: a thirty minute flight each way and three hours at Traitors Cove. All tours include complimentary ground transportation to and from our dock which adds fifteen minutes to the beginning and the end of your tour. For this four hour tour you will need to budget four and a half hours total time. Season: July 20th through September 30th.
Meeting and pickup information
- The pick-up and drop-off location is at the Liquid Sunshine Gauge located outside of the Ketchikan Visitors Bureau building in Cruise Berth #2. Tour times vary daily with cruise ship schedules. Please contact us directly for tour pick up time.
Languages and tickets
- English — Guide
- Mobile Only
Tour operator
- Island Wings Air Service
Accessibility and practical details
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Please wear layered clothing and comfortable walking shoes.
- All passengers MUST provide us a contact phone number when booking or call us at (907) 225-2444 to confirm a tour time.
- Passengers travelling via cruise ship MUST provide their cruise ship name to us so that appropriate arrangements can be made.
Cancellation policy
All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
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