Bear Lake Scenic Paddle

Bear Lake, a great option for families located just outside Seward!

Bear Lake is a great option for families and for anyone who might be intimidated by the “sea” part of sea kayaking.

The original Iditarod Trail runs along the side of this pristine lake. Take a look at all of the surrounding mountain peaks as you enjoy a relaxing paddle.

Bear Lake is home to several eagles, loons, river otters and the final destinations for thousands of sockeye salmon! The sockeye salmon run in from Resurrection Bay to spawn in Bear Lake. Learn about how important of an impact the salmon have on our environment and lives.

What to Expect

• This trip’s time duration is 3-4hrs. This is a door-to-door time frame. Total Paddling time is about 2-2.5hrs
• What if it’s raining?– Seward is in a temperate rainforest, so assume it will be raining! All our trips run rain or shine. We do supply full rain gear for all of them.
• Is there any wildlife viewing? – Yes! Bear Lake is full of sockeye salmon that run to the lake to spawn. When the season allows, we stop at the salmon weir to watch the salmon fight up a small waterfall. There are also loons, bald eagles, river otters, even bear and moose in the area.
• How many people are on the trips?– We keep a ratio of 1:6 for all our kayaking trips. This does not mean every trip will have this ratio, but it will not exceed this amount. This is a group activity; we will move as fast as our slowest kayakers. Don’t want to join a group kayak trip? Check out our private trip options!
• What kind of kayaks?– All of our guests are in tandem sea kayaks; we do not offer single kayaks for our group trips.

What’s Included

• Full rain gear, dry bags, PFDs, snacks, hot chocolate and hot cider
• Pick up/drop off to and from our local Seward hotels, lodges and campgrounds
• A relaxing paddle on a beautiful Lake!

What to Bring/Wear

• Always bring layers and rain gear if you don’t want to use ours. Your Guide will make sure it’s up to snuff for this trip
• Hat, gloves and sunglasses (it’s always good to stay optimistic!)
• Water bottle and a camera
• A tip for your great Guide!

What to Consider

• NO GLACIERS
• All of our trips run rain or shine. The only time we will cancel a trip is due to high winds in the lake making the kayaking conditions dangerous.
• A signed assumption of risk and acknowledgement of risks is required for anyone to participate!

Our Guides – We take great pride in our guides; one trips with us and you will see why we do! All of our guides are ACA level 2 certified that covers water rescues, group management and plenty more. They have up to date WFR certifications. They go through a 2-week training course every season to sharpen their skills. Our guides always carry Bear Spray, 1st Aid Kits, and essential safety gear for all trips.