A brown bear cub along the shore of Crescent Lake getting himself messy with salmon in Lake Clark Natl Park, Alaska, USAA brown bear cub along the shore of Crescent Lake getting himself messy with salmon in Lake Clark Natl Park, Alaska, USA

When you come to Alaska you want to see bears. You want to get some good bear photos. And the best way to do that is on a bear viewing tour. We book one for Crescent Lake in Lake Clark Natl. Park. You take off and land on lakes in a float plane! It's a big thing here.

Gassing UpGassing up a float plane to go bear viewing in Alaska

So while they're gassing it up they need one more person to steer and they pick Marie! Just kidding, though she did get to sit up front and ride shotgun.

Co-pilot MarieMarie Levandoski sits in the co-pilot seat of a float plane in Alaska

A bear viewing tour boat with tourists on Crescent Lake in Lake Clark NP, Alaska, USAA bear viewing tour boat with tourists on Crescent Lake in Lake Clark NP, Alaska, USA

After landing we cruise around in boats on teal colored glacial fed lakes surrounded by gorgeous mountains and glaciers looking for bears. The guides are very experienced and know where the bears like to hang out.

A brown bear splashing in water while fishing for salmon at Crescent Lake in Lake Clark NP, Alaska, USAA brown bear splashing in water while fishing for salmon at Crescent Lake in Lake Clark NP, Alaska, USA

We were on the water less than five minutes when we spotted this brown bear catching salmon and splashing in the water. He was fixed on the salmon and couldn't care less about us as we came to 15 to 20 yards from him.

A brown bear with a salmon in his mouth on Crescent Lake in Lake Clark NP, Alaska, USAA brown bear with a salmon in his mouth on Crescent Lake in Lake Clark NP, Alaska, USA

After a few attempts he caught his dinner. We watched him catch a couple more salmon before he went off for a nap.

A black bear on rocks along the shore of Crescent Lake in Lake Clark NP, Alaska, USAA black bear on rocks along the shore of Crescent Lake in Lake Clark NP, Alaska, USA

We saw 8 brown bears and 1 black bear. This black bear walked along the shore for about 30 yards posing for a few photos before he made his way into the woods.

A group of tourists bear viewing from a boat on Crescent Lake in Lake Clark NP, Alaska, USAA group of tourists bear viewing from a boat on Crescent Lake in Lake Clark NP, Alaska, USA

The heart pounds and the adrenaline flows hot while 20 - 25 yards away a brown bear lifts his head and looks you in the eye. Then he just goes back to fishing!

A mother brown bear feds her cub a piece of salmon on Crescent Lake in Lake Clark NP, Alaska, USAA mother brown bear feds her cub a piece of salmon on Crescent Lake in Lake Clark NP, Alaska, USA

We also got to watch a mother bear teaching her cub to pull the dead salmon out of the lake for a meal.

A brown bear cub along the shore of Crescent Lake getting himself messy with salmon in Lake Clark Natl Park, Alaska, USAA brown bear cub along the shore of Crescent Lake getting himself messy with salmon in Lake Clark Natl Park, Alaska, USA

This Alaska bear got salmon all over himself while learning what he needs to survive in Alaska. Cute but I wouldn't get too close.

An aerial view Chigmit Mountains of the Aleutian Range in Lake Clark NP, Alaska, USAAn aerial view Chigmit Mountains of the Aleutian Range in Lake Clark NP, Alaska, USA

On the way back we flew over the Alaska Range mountains with 2 active volcanoes. You could see the steam coming off the lava right next to the glaciers.

Dan & JeremyBear viewing guides with Talon Air Dan & Jeremy