Where can I see polar bears?

Alaska is the only U.S. state with three bear species (polar, black, and brown), and you can see all of them in Anchorage. Anchorage is home for wild black and brown bears, and there are several good bear viewing locations in and around Anchorage. While Anchorage isn’t traditional polar bear habitat – that’s much farther north – Anchorage's Alaska Zoo is home to a polar bear named Cranbeary as well.

To see polar bears in the wild, head north to the Arctic Ocean coast of Alaska. Arctic Air Expeditions offers polar bear tours that include airfare from Anchorage, meals, and transportation. The company only offers tours during prime viewing months of October and November, when the highest concentration of bears are present on land. For much of the rest of the year, the bears are on the sea ice.