River Fishing and Bear Watching

Overview

Available languages

English

Spanish

4 hours

Mobile ticket

This tour is designed for cruise ship passengers who are looking for an Alaskan excursion that is off the beaten path. We’ll depart Icy Strait Point and drive through the Alaska Native Tlingit village of Hoonah before merging onto old logging roads that will take us to a remote river. During the car ride and along the river it is common to spot wildlife- the island has more brown bears per square mile than almost anywhere else on the planet.

Additional Info

Service animals allowed

Public transportation options are available nearby

Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries

Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health

Travelers should have a high level of physical fitness

Maximum weight: 250lbs

If you have a BMI of 40 or higher, do not consider yourself physically fit, or if you have limited mobility, do not sign up for this trip.

Cancellation Policy

All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.

What‘s Included

Private transportation

Fishing gear and waders.

Fishing license

What To Expect

We'll pick you up and drive through the Alaska Native Tlingit village of Hoonah before merging onto old logging roads that will take us to a remote river where we'll fish for Salmon and/or Trout. The beautiful river is in the Tongass National Forest on Chichagof Island. During the car ride and along the river it is common to spot wildlife- the island has more brown bears per square mile than almost anywhere else on the planet. Depending on the time of year, we can watch salmon spawn and look for wild berries to eat. Upon arriving at the river, we'll put on our waders and walk a short distance to the first fishing hole where we'll fish for Salmon and/or Trout. We can stay at one spot for the duration of the trip, or we can walk along the river to fish in multiple spots. After fishing and looking for bears along the river, we'll drive the old logging roads back to Hoonah and drop you off at the port or your desired destination in Hoonah.

Options

River Fishing and Bear Watching

Pickup included

Reviews

5.00

74 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

Highlight of our Cruise
S636RHnickh,
Oct 16, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
This was by far the best things we did in Alaska. We cruised from Vancouver to Seward with 6 total ports of call and this was the highlight by a long shot. Natalie was our guide and was extremely knowledgeable about the local area, the best fishing, and the wildlife around us. She catered the tour to the wants of the group and made sure we had an amazing day. We fished in and caught the end of the Pink Salmon run but the beginning of the Silver Salmon so were able to catch a variety of fish. Natalie found us the best holes and we caught so many fish we actually stopped taking pictures at one point! If your cruise stops in Icy Strait Point, this is the MUST DO activity.
Great fishing, great guide!
ColeC216,
Oct 14, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
We had such a great time on our fishing trip. Nat was very professional, knowledgeable, and experienced. I am extremely afraid of bears. Nat was so calm and reassuring that I forgot all about the wildlife. She had great facts and information to share about the area. I would recommend a guided trip with her. We also caught tons of fish!
One of the most adventurous charters I've ever done.
mrO5331CV,
Oct 13, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
One of the most adventurous fishing and sightseeing charters I've ever done! As a fisherman, I thoroughly enjoyed the entire experience. Natalie, who is local to the area, is extremely skilled, knowledgeable, and informative. Our family had one of the best experiences we've ever had on a trip like this. From the booking process to the end of the excursion, her communication was clear, professional, and friendly. I highly recommend NATVENTURE to anyone visiting Hoonah — you won’t be disappointed!
Unforgettable Day Fly Fishing in Alaska! 🎣
T1017OZsheilab,
Oct 9, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
My husband and I recently went on a day fly fishing tour in Icy Strait as an excursion during our cruise. We selected NatVenture Tours Icy Strait for the following reasons. #1 woman owed, important for me as I am not an experienced fly fisher and wanted to feel comfortable. #2 local guide. #3 she herself was a guide and handled point to point. The day was absolutely incredible. From start to finish, everything was perfectly organized and exceeded expectations. Natalie was not only knowledgeable and professional but also genuinely passionate about fishing and the Alaskan wilderness. She tailored the trip to our skill level, gave great tips on casting and technique, and took us to some truly breathtaking spots and not another soul in sight. The fish were biting, too! Even if we hadn’t landed anything, the scenery alone was worth the trip. I finally was able to see a brown bear in the wild! All gear was provided and in top-notch condition, and Natalie made sure we were safe, comfortable, and having a blast the entire time. If you’re looking to experience the wild beauty of Alaska and enjoy some world-class fly fishing, this tour is an absolute must.
An Alaska adventure you’ll never forget
brianm917,
Oct 8, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Couldn’t have been more happy that I selected Natalie to be my guide on my first Alaska fishing adventure. She was extremely knowledgeable and professional. You can see she has a passion for what she does and the environment she does it in. Our experience was second to none and would highly recommend Natalie if you were looking for a once in a lifetime experience.
Awesome
alanamL7463RZ,
Oct 8, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Short drive, then a beautiful trek to reach the river. As a novice, I was pretty excited to hook my first salmon (anything really). To have a bear stroll on the banks was amazing. Loved it. Nat is unassuming, humble with her expertise. Just awesome.
An Unforgettable Alaskan Fishing Adventure
F5672ALryana,
Sep 23, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
My wife and I went on this fishing adventure with NatVentures during a stop on our Alaskan cruise, and it turned out to be the highlight of our trip. Each of our excursions was enjoyable, but this one easily stood out as my favorite. The walk through the woods and bogs on the way to the river gave us a true taste of the Alaskan wilderness. Once we reached the river, the salmon were plentiful and eager to bite! I’m not much of a fisherman, but I had a blast catching and releasing dozens of fish over the course of a few hours. Natalie was a fantastic guide. She is extremely knowledgeable about Hoonah, patient with beginners, and passionate about the fishing experience. Her guidance made the trip both fun and relaxing. I would love to make the trek back to Alaska just to do this excursion again. Highly recommend!
Outstanding
Charles H,
Sep 19, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
Nat showed us phenomenal silver fishing! Highly recommended! Great trip all the way around. Super fishing.
Great Fishing and Bear sightings by Natalie, Natventure.
loripM2299EQ,
Sep 19, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Our family of 3 had a great time fishing and exploring with NATVENTURE TOURS. Natalie was our guide and she totally outfitted us with fishing gear and full waders for. the river. We all caught salmon. We had a bear that was across the creek looking for a drink I think. He didnt stay long and was not interested in interacting with us. But, Natalie was prepared with a gun just incase. We enjoyed being taken through the woods to circle back to the car. Then we drove to a bridge close by where with saw a momma bear and 2 cubs catching fish in a stream. Absolute wonderful time. Natalie was charming and could tell you a lot about hunting/fishing in Alaska. Good luck on continuing your guiding Nat.
The best part of our Alaskan adventure
pcjwfeb,
Sep 17, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Awesome excursion and experience. We saw amazing scenery while we hiked to and from the perfect fishing spot, my son and husband caught so many fish that it was the best fishing they've ever done, and not to mention all the bear we saw. Highly recommend. Natalie was a great guide, very knowledgeable and made our trip to Alaska one to remember. Wish we could have did an all-day trip, but we didn't have time.